I realized lately it has been over a year since I did any blogging. Not that anything hasn’t happened in the last year. Isn’t it amazing how life comes at you fast, steals your time away, exhausts you, and suddenly you find yourself asking, “Where did the time go?”
If you already know me, you know that little things can irritate me. So, when my fingernails started breaking apart a few months ago, it frustrated me to say the least.

Come to find out, the weak and broken nails are a side effect of the new medication I have been taking for about a year. Over time, my nails have grown weaker and weaker to the point that they break extremely easy, get snagged on everything and are not useful for anything at all. I didn’t realize how much I used them to do simple things like open a box, open an energy drink, coke, etc. Even something as simple as putting my hand in my pocket for keys/wallet/etc can be a pain and break off part of my nail.
But, before I get to my point about whining about my nails, let me catch you up on my health.
A year and a half ago, my previous oncologist stopped practicing here in town and I needed to find a new oncologist. Through the advice and referral of Jim Bradford, a man who has been a constant source of Godly wisdom, I went to Dr. Beck at Highland’s Oncology. It was there that I heard of a medicine called Everilomus. It is a drug used primarily for transplant patients. However, it has shown some success with Neuroendocrine Cancer. I also found out I was a candidate for a procedure called Y-90. This is a procedure that implants glass vials of radiation directly on the liver tumors. The radiation then goes right to the tumor and shrinks it, or at least keeps it from growing any more than it already has.
November of 2021 and January of 2022 I had two different Y-90 procedures on my liver. This procedure can be repeated as needed over time. However, this procedure is not able to be done on the tumor on my pancreas. That is where the Everilomus comes into play. The hope is that it will keep the tumor on my pancreas from increasing in size.
In the last year and a half, none of the 3 tumors on my liver and pancreas have grown. In contrast, the two on my liver have slightly shrunk over time.
4 years ago this past week I was diagnosed with Neuroendocrine Cancer. By God’s grace, 4 years later, I am still able to do all the things I want to do and spend time with the family/friends God has given me. I don’t know what God’s plan is for me. However, I do know that each day is a gift from Him. I do know that these last 4 years have been a gift from Him. I do know that I can trust Him with whatever the future holds. I do know that whatever happens, it will always be for His best.
Back to the fingernails. Does it frustrate me? To no end. Every day. Every time I try and do something with my hands.
However, if that is part of what I have to deal with along my cancer journey, then I will TAKE it! In the big picture of life, broken nails are not that big of a deal.
In life, there will be things that frustrate us, take away our joy, depress us, etc. There will be days that seem like they will never end. It’s during those times that we need to remind ourselves that what God has given us already is far greater than what we are going through right now. What God will give us eternally is far greater than what we are going through right now. With that in mind, I will do my best to accept my broken nails and thank God continuously for all He continues to do.
Enjoy the rest of your week!