Life Came At Me Fast

Hello all –

This is one of those posts which are not fun. J and I now wait for Monday for a consult with Dr. K (one of my surgeons). Dr. K and a neuroradiologist are going to make heads or tails of an MRI I had only a few days ago. It seems the MRI was 1st read by a radiologist who feels there is a possibility of recurrent disease, meaning my cancer could be back already. There is plenty if medical-ese I could throw out, but the net sum is we are waiting for neuroradiologist and my surgeon(not someone who has never met me) to read the film and let us know.

If there is recurrent disease, the potential impact is serious. My chemo and radiation, which is yet to be undertaken, will be significantly higher doses. This increase in radiation creates more “scatter” which is radiation bouncing off its intended target into friendly organs. Also, the area which must be treated is very close to my optic nerve. In my case, my RIGHT eye nerve could be in jeopardy, potentially blinding me.

J and I are not new to this emotion or state of mind. Since I have been diagnosed with cancer, much of our time is spent in a hurry-up-and-wait mode. We wait for test results and wait for opinions. We wait for treatment to start or for the weekend to expire so we can see the doctor. This is life. It came at us fast! (Sorry – I could not pass that up).

Here is some good news to hang our hats on: only two weeks ago I had another PET scan (a cancer specific scan) which came back clean. Is it possible to have recurrent disease only two weeks later? We will soon see. Also, the area which could have the recurrent disease is the very same area the surgeons hacked up. Is the ‘recurrent disease’ merely my own scar tissue? Again, we will see.

My surgeon will read the films with an associate who specializes in head and neck post surgical reads, so we certainly have the right guys on the case. Would you believe they have a specialist in that?

I also want to give special mention to my associates from work, RM, KH and BF. These kind souls are responsible for a fundraiser/company golf outing! Proceeds from the sale of mulligans will go to my family to help with our medical expenses. Thanks RM and KH for putting together the fundraiser mulligan sale. Thanks BF for making it all possible. God bless. J, S and I will definitely be at the 19th hole to meet and greet.