The biopsy (pathology) revealed that we're dealing with a type of cancer that is considered very treatable. Horrah! Most of the cells seemed to be affected at a "moderate" aggression level (low, moderate, high), but some of them seemed to be more aggressively affected, so they're going to send them to another lab for a better look. If that doesn't make sense, sorry... I've put it as well as I understand it myself.
Overall cancer prognosis is "Mid Level" (again, between low, medium and high).
The CAT Scan revealed that two of my lymph nodes, near my kidneys, are fairly well enlarged. That means that they are sure that those lymph nodes are affected by the cancer. This is the reason they want to take a closer look at the cells. The cancer has reached my lymphatic system, so it's important to know how aggressive it is - how fast it will travel.
My Urologist believes that the next step is chemotherapy, but he wants me to see an Oncologist for a second opinion. He's a good doctor. I appreciate his willingness to have his own opinion tested by another specialist.
I do not know yet, when I will get to see the Oncologist. Hopefully soon.
; )
30 November 2009
21 November 2009
Post Op
Surgery went very well. I'm healing like a champ and feeling pretty good.
I checked in for surgery at 6am. They knocked me out at about 830am. I was home by 1pm. Couldn't have been better!
Monday, November 30th, we'll go in to discuss the biopsy and CAT Scan results. This is when we'll decide how to proceed, with one or more of the following options:
_Do nothing (cured!)
_Do another surgery (more tumors or affected organs somewhere)
_Do treatment (signs of active cancer cells floating around)
Lately, I've spent quite a lot of time at Harborview Medical Center. There are a lot of people walking or wheeling around that place with serious problems... honestly, I'll take more surgery or treatment with a smile, if God will simply promise to spare me from the horrifying illnesses and disfigurements that crowd the Harborview lobby. I am SO thankful for my life, when I see those people and the looks on their faces... they're faces seems to pleed, "Please, put me out of my misery." My sympathies are with those people.
I checked in for surgery at 6am. They knocked me out at about 830am. I was home by 1pm. Couldn't have been better!
Monday, November 30th, we'll go in to discuss the biopsy and CAT Scan results. This is when we'll decide how to proceed, with one or more of the following options:
_Do nothing (cured!)
_Do another surgery (more tumors or affected organs somewhere)
_Do treatment (signs of active cancer cells floating around)
Lately, I've spent quite a lot of time at Harborview Medical Center. There are a lot of people walking or wheeling around that place with serious problems... honestly, I'll take more surgery or treatment with a smile, if God will simply promise to spare me from the horrifying illnesses and disfigurements that crowd the Harborview lobby. I am SO thankful for my life, when I see those people and the looks on their faces... they're faces seems to pleed, "Please, put me out of my misery." My sympathies are with those people.
18 November 2009
1st Add On
Kay called me today to let me know that they have bumped me up from 2nd to 1st Add On! They want me to be at the hospital at 6am tomorrow. They'll get me in a bed right away and do some preliminary stuff. At 730am, they'll hit me over the head with a club and operate. Horrah!
I'm hoping to be back home in my own bed by lunch time. Don't fret about anything if I don't update on Thursday. Look for news on Friday. Full recovery is supposed to be about 1 month. I predict 2 weeks for me... 3 weeks tops!
; )
I'm hoping to be back home in my own bed by lunch time. Don't fret about anything if I don't update on Thursday. Look for news on Friday. Full recovery is supposed to be about 1 month. I predict 2 weeks for me... 3 weeks tops!
; )
17 November 2009
100%
The financial center at Harborview said that they're going to pay for 100% of my medical bills, surgeries, EVERYTHING, through 17 May 2010!! Hooraah! Thousands and thousands saved, especially if there's any treatment! Thank you, God! And thank you, prayer partners!
My blood test came back excellent! All of my organs are functioning well and my chemical levels etc are within normal ranges.
Today they gave me a chest x-ray and a CAT scan. Hopefully, I'll get to discuss the results on Thursday, before my surgery.
Not sure what time to expect the surgery on Thursday. Dr. McClung doesn't usually do surgery on Thursday's but he wants to make an exception in my case. Dennis, Melissa and I, will arrive at the hospital early (7am) and wait. As soon as an operating room becomes available, they'll get me on the table.
; )
My blood test came back excellent! All of my organs are functioning well and my chemical levels etc are within normal ranges.
Today they gave me a chest x-ray and a CAT scan. Hopefully, I'll get to discuss the results on Thursday, before my surgery.
Not sure what time to expect the surgery on Thursday. Dr. McClung doesn't usually do surgery on Thursday's but he wants to make an exception in my case. Dennis, Melissa and I, will arrive at the hospital early (7am) and wait. As soon as an operating room becomes available, they'll get me on the table.
; )
16 November 2009
Tumor Burden
Tumor Burden is the expression a doctor uses to tell you that the cancer might be spreading through your body.
Two of the Tumor Marker tests came back normal. The third test came back above normal. The Tumor Burden markers were a bit elevated but not much. The doctor said it may or may not be cause for concern. They don't want to take any chances, so they've scheduled me for a CAT Scan at 5pm, tomorrow.
There may be some financial assistance for me. I have an appointment with the Financial Center at Harborview tomorrow, 2:20pm.
They took more blood today. They're going to run a million tests to discover everything there is to know about my body, individual organ function, vitamin levels etc.
Looks like I might have surgery this Thurs. The doctor says there's no risk to my other, functioning parts during this procedure, so we will not worry about spermbanking etc until after we've tested the tumor and have a better idea of what we're dealing with.
We're following a simple plan:
Remove the obvious problem
Test it
Test everything
Interpret
Proceed with one of 3 Steps:
_Do nothing (cured!)
_Do another surgery (more tumors somewhere)
_Do treatment (signs of active cancer cells floating around)
; )
Two of the Tumor Marker tests came back normal. The third test came back above normal. The Tumor Burden markers were a bit elevated but not much. The doctor said it may or may not be cause for concern. They don't want to take any chances, so they've scheduled me for a CAT Scan at 5pm, tomorrow.
There may be some financial assistance for me. I have an appointment with the Financial Center at Harborview tomorrow, 2:20pm.
They took more blood today. They're going to run a million tests to discover everything there is to know about my body, individual organ function, vitamin levels etc.
Looks like I might have surgery this Thurs. The doctor says there's no risk to my other, functioning parts during this procedure, so we will not worry about spermbanking etc until after we've tested the tumor and have a better idea of what we're dealing with.
We're following a simple plan:
Remove the obvious problem
Test it
Test everything
Interpret
Proceed with one of 3 Steps:
_Do nothing (cured!)
_Do another surgery (more tumors somewhere)
_Do treatment (signs of active cancer cells floating around)
; )
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