Sorry it took so long for me to post. I had the surgery and a portion of the right 10th rib was removed. While the surgeon was in there..the blob on the scan was actually a hernia allowing the liver to squeeze into my chest cavity...and while he was looking at my liver he noticed a small spot on the liver. He removed the spot, which was cancer, fixed the hernia, put some prosthetic mesh material where the rib was and closed me up.
This was a very painful sugery, I was out of work for about 4 weeks. Doing better now but still get very stiff and sore at times.
Now I wait. The next CT scan is July 21st. Maybe I can get an extended period without having to deal with this cancer.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Vegas Baby!
Did I mention I’m off to Las Vegas this evening? I was invited to participate in a company bowling tournament. It should be fun even though I am a very average bowler.
Anyway, a little fun before the surgery.
Anyway, a little fun before the surgery.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Another Surgery Scheduled...
Well, the Doctor at Vanderbilt called me this past Sunday, April 6th, to say that he “over read” the scans and that it wasn’t as bad as he thought and that the tumor was still isolated to just the rib. What a relief.
I made the trip to Vanderbilt yesterday, April 9th, to meet the Thoracic surgeon…nice guy…dry sense of humor…made me laugh. Anyway, he showed me the scans that caused the hubub, the PET scan shows activity on the rib and not in the lung…the recent CT scan shows either a scan anomoly or a huge tumor coming from the rib into the lung. If it’s tumor on the lung it’s big and you’d think I’d feel it or have symptoms but the doctor said himself, he didn’t know but since he was going to be cutting me open he’d go ahead and take a look and if it’s there, he’ll take it out. Thanks doc. It’s interesting to note that the radiologist report for that CT simply states lungs are clear, so I have to think it’s a scan anomoly.
So anyway, surgery is on April 29th, I will go up on the 28th for pre-op stuff. He will cut out as much rib as necessary and whatever else he sees. Don’t know how long I’ll be there, a couple of days I would imagine. He said it would be a good 4 to 6 week recovery but I think I can beat that.
I’ll be honest, I really don’t feel like doing another surgery but know I have to. It’s getting old but I must continue to fight this cancer. After this though, unless it’s an easy to get tumor, I think it’s time for a trip to hell and try High Dose IL2. I haven’t been avoiding it…just going on the advice of doctors…now this doctor says if or when the cancer comes back, it’s time to give it a shot. It’s really the only chance I have at a lasting remission. I just don’t like all the hospital time and missed work.
I’ll do what I have to do.
I made the trip to Vanderbilt yesterday, April 9th, to meet the Thoracic surgeon…nice guy…dry sense of humor…made me laugh. Anyway, he showed me the scans that caused the hubub, the PET scan shows activity on the rib and not in the lung…the recent CT scan shows either a scan anomoly or a huge tumor coming from the rib into the lung. If it’s tumor on the lung it’s big and you’d think I’d feel it or have symptoms but the doctor said himself, he didn’t know but since he was going to be cutting me open he’d go ahead and take a look and if it’s there, he’ll take it out. Thanks doc. It’s interesting to note that the radiologist report for that CT simply states lungs are clear, so I have to think it’s a scan anomoly.
So anyway, surgery is on April 29th, I will go up on the 28th for pre-op stuff. He will cut out as much rib as necessary and whatever else he sees. Don’t know how long I’ll be there, a couple of days I would imagine. He said it would be a good 4 to 6 week recovery but I think I can beat that.
I’ll be honest, I really don’t feel like doing another surgery but know I have to. It’s getting old but I must continue to fight this cancer. After this though, unless it’s an easy to get tumor, I think it’s time for a trip to hell and try High Dose IL2. I haven’t been avoiding it…just going on the advice of doctors…now this doctor says if or when the cancer comes back, it’s time to give it a shot. It’s really the only chance I have at a lasting remission. I just don’t like all the hospital time and missed work.
I’ll do what I have to do.
Friday, April 4, 2008
What to do about the rib
After further review and needlessly watching…the rib tumor has grown and grown into the chest cavity. Not sure if it’s at the lung. I will meet with a Thoracic surgeon next week to see if it can be got. Otherwise I will be looking at Cyberknife or drug treatment.
I’m a litte pissed because we knew it was there back in January but because the gallbladder reared it’s head, the rib took a backseat and now when we finally get to it, it’s grown and into a bad spot.
The Dr. suggested that this be my last surgery. He wants to move on to HD IL2 or other systemic treatment in the future. We’ll see.
I’m a litte pissed because we knew it was there back in January but because the gallbladder reared it’s head, the rib took a backseat and now when we finally get to it, it’s grown and into a bad spot.
The Dr. suggested that this be my last surgery. He wants to move on to HD IL2 or other systemic treatment in the future. We’ll see.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Gallbladder Gone
Had scans on January 16th…gallbladder had a tumor on it and something still showing around that 10th right rib. Had surgery on February 7th at Vanderbilt to remove the gallbladder. It was done laparoscopically so it wasn’t too bad, still a little sore. Going back on the 25th for follow up and discuss what to do about the rib.
Fortunately the gallbladder isn’t required but eventually I’m going to run out of parts to remove. Hopefully if we take care of the rib that will be it for a while.
Fortunately the gallbladder isn’t required but eventually I’m going to run out of parts to remove. Hopefully if we take care of the rib that will be it for a while.
Thursday, December 27, 2007
My New Doctor
I met with Dr. Sosman at Vanderbilt on 12/13/07. He seems very knowledgeable and compassionate. He will be managing my care/treatment from here on out. It’s also much easier for me to get to Nashville from Atlanta than to Houston. He insisted that I find a local oncologist to coordinate starting treatment with Zometa since I had the bone metastasis. I start that tomorrow 12/28/07. It’s supposed to help strengthen the bone and since I am also on daily steroids it will also help ward off osteoporosis. I can’t believe I’m talking about osteoporosis at 45 but I guess it’s better than pushing up daisies!
I will go back to Vanderbilt on January 16th for CT scan, brain MRI and bone scan. Basically the works to see where I stand and give Dr. Sosman a baseline to work from. He mentioned that when my next recurrance happens, if it does, that we will talk about High Dose IL2. Since that’s the only shot at a prolonged remission I will eventually need to try it while I’m strong.
Anyway, I seem to be doing well. Gaining too much weight though, I think it’s the steroids making me eat more…that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
I will go back to Vanderbilt on January 16th for CT scan, brain MRI and bone scan. Basically the works to see where I stand and give Dr. Sosman a baseline to work from. He mentioned that when my next recurrance happens, if it does, that we will talk about High Dose IL2. Since that’s the only shot at a prolonged remission I will eventually need to try it while I’m strong.
Anyway, I seem to be doing well. Gaining too much weight though, I think it’s the steroids making me eat more…that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Doing OK
It’s been another while since I’ve posted. I went for CT scans at the NCI on October 17th and they say all is clear except the rib which is still healing in their words.
The rib is still sore and has a noticeable lump so I think it will need more treatment as we move forward but we will see.
My youngest daughter went into the Air Force on October 30th and got sick from the immunizations or something else and now they are going to discharge her. She hasn’t even seen a doctor or received any treatment other than ibuprofen. She is so discouraged that now she can’t wait to get out. But I want her treated first. Anyway that my latest stress.
The rib is still sore and has a noticeable lump so I think it will need more treatment as we move forward but we will see.
My youngest daughter went into the Air Force on October 30th and got sick from the immunizations or something else and now they are going to discharge her. She hasn’t even seen a doctor or received any treatment other than ibuprofen. She is so discouraged that now she can’t wait to get out. But I want her treated first. Anyway that my latest stress.
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