Praise the Lord for helping me to get through the 5 days of Gamma Knife radiation treatment on my brain last week. We now got used to leaving home early and driving up to San Francisco. The treatment started particularly early at 7am on Thursday which meant that we got to wake up at 5am. During each session, I had to lay still for 50 minutes with a tight mask over my head to minimize any movement. The nurses Billy and Angie took great care of me and made the process much more bearable. After the completion, Thomas and I celebrated with some good hummus at Stanford Shopping Center.

Another important event last week was the release of the UCSF500 report which did not show any actionable mutation for first line targeted therapy. The Stanford medical team invited me to join a clinical trial. My oncologist at UCSF also agreed that the clinical trial might be the best treatment option for me. With the agreement from both teams, we have peace in our hearts to proceed with the Stanford team.

While I intend to enroll into the clinical trial, I still have to go through the screening process with lots of blood tests to see if I am eligible for it. There is a long list of inclusion and exclusion criteria. I am eager to participate in this clinical trial because:

• In addition to the standard chemotherapy regimen, I might be able to get a fourth drug related to immunotherapy
• According to a doctor, patients under clinical trials get more attention
• Getting treatment at Stanford saves us a lot of commute time into San Francisco

I am praying to God that I can enter this clinical trial and get the new regimen. I look forward to this trial even though it carries its own set of risks. The result cannot be predicted. I think these additional risks are worth taking. The Stanford clinical trial team gave me a consent form and I happily signed it to start the screening process.

There is another type of trials which I definitely do not want to enroll. This type of trials are described in James 1:2-4.

² Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴ Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

My recent cancer diagnosis is for sure the biggest trial I have ever faced in my life. If God asks me to sign a consent form to enter into this trial, I will immediately throw it away. Are you kidding? I do not know any christian who might be willing to sign this consent form.

The clinical trial tests a new chemo regimen and hopes to produce a new and more effective treatment option for lung cancer patients. The trial described in James 1 tests our faith and produces perseverance and maturity.

I am ready to enter the first type but I am scared about the second type. I have a choice with the first one but not with the second one. It will be a constant struggle for me to fully embrace James 1:12.

¹² Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

May the Lord have mercy on me and sustain me to go through this trial with perseverance.