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I got the feeling this morning at church that our friends have lots more questions than I have answered on this blog. So I will try to explain things a little better.

Justin was temporarily diagnosed with a low-grade glioma, which is a type of brain tumor. It begins in the brain, so it didn't start somewhere else and end up in the brain. It is not fully operable, but that is not a concern right now. We are waiting for confirmation from the biopsy that it is positively a low-grade glioma. They should know within a week.

I asked one of the doctors if he knew how long it had been there and he said, "this is like taking a picture of someone running on the beach. You have no idea where they came from or where they are going. All you have is a snapshot in time." The tumor is slow growing, but we have no idea if it has been there for 2 years or 20 years. Nor do we know what "slow growing" will mean in 1 year, 5 years, or 10 years.

There is no data to suggest that treating it right away has any value compared to waiting. Therefore, the doctors want to wait 2 months for another MRI to see if there is any change. As long as there is no change, no treatment will be done. They will continue monitoring it for life, I assume. If it changes, then the doctors will get more aggressive with the treatment. They can do chemo and/or radiation, as well as take some of the tumor with surgery. They don't want to do that because it is in the area of his brain that controls speech and emotions, so the risks are big. Since they can't get it all, they don't really want to get in there if they don't have to. They would only do it to relieve some pressure or something like that.

So now we wait. Because he has two other problems, we will be in Iowa City for appointments and treatments over the next few months. I will update often, even if there isn't much news. Keep praying! We have been greatly encouraged by the support and prayers of our friends and family.