Update from the Settle Family ♡

Ben went to the hospital with severe abdominal pain on Saturday, May 20, 2023. After extensive testing and four days in the hospital he was diagnosed with stage 4 colo-rectal cancer with tumors in both his colon and liver. 

He completed 11 rounds of systemic chemotherapy (June-October 2023) and underwent liver surgery on December 12, 2023. This surgery was able to clear the whole left lobe of the liver of cancer, while leaving the largest mass in the right lobe to continue to shrink with chemotherapy using a pump that was installed in his abdomen. By the end of January 2024 he completed 25 radiation treatments as well as oral chemotherapy that paired with the radiation targeting the colon. He will have another set of scans in March that will determine the date of the second liver surgery as well as additional steps. 

Ben completed systemic chemotherapy from March through August, every two weeks, increasing the chemo regimen throughout.

As of August 2024, the most recents scans and testing have indicated the cancer continues to grow and spread despite the aggressive treatment. Starting September, he will undergo treatment with some new chemo drugs with the hopes that it will slow the growth of the disease.

As we say to our kids, “Daddy is the strongest person we know” and we are thankful that Ben is not only physically strong, but emotionally, mentally, and spiritually strong as well. We share our story here, not just for information, but as you walk with us, that you will pray for us and alongside us. We are grateful that we know the ultimate Healer and Physician and pray that as we share the word of our testimony (Rev 12:11) that you would also experience Jesus in a new and profound way.