More Information Please
Gail and I met with our surgical oncologist this morning to get his opinion about possible surgery. After reviewing the CT scans, he came back with a "fuzzy maybe". The "fuzzy" part comes from the latest CT scan; the tumor covering the vein is fuzzy but the artery looks clear. This is good news - if the tumor grows over the artery then surgery is not an option.
The surgeon actually needs a more information so I'll be scheduled for an endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) with my G/I doctor which is the procedure used to first diagnose the tumor. The EUS will tell what comprises the mass; tumor, dead cells, inflammation and/or scar tissue. If the mass around the vein is dead cells then surgery looks more viable. Reading back what I've written, there's a certain banality throughout so it's time for a picture:
I snagged this from a larger poster the surgeons office while we were waiting. My tumor actually covers part of the blue thing (vein) but it's the red thing (artery) that we have to watch. They can reconstruct the vein but not the artery. The tumor is also putting pressure on the ducts (pale green thing and the light red thing) which caused the jaundice. They put a metal stent in the pale green thing so that the bile can get to where it needs to get to.
So, for now, I'm back on my chemo regimen (pills and infusion), will be scheduled for the EUS, will meet with oncologist on Monday for a normal follow-up and then a follow-up with surgical oncologist in a couple of weeks which should be after the EUS. All of this seems a little chaotic but I'd much rather be doing something then just taking chemo for the next six weeks. Plus, my deductibles are all met so that's nice.
I'll let you know when the EUS is scheduled. Erin Bradley reminded me of the older, mature Peter writing to various churches:
"In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ."
Praise and glory and honor ... it doesn't get much better.
P.S. I got a visitor in my office Friday ...
... a bouncing baby Eva Marie!
In the Palm of His Hand,
Rod Bayron
The surgeon actually needs a more information so I'll be scheduled for an endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) with my G/I doctor which is the procedure used to first diagnose the tumor. The EUS will tell what comprises the mass; tumor, dead cells, inflammation and/or scar tissue. If the mass around the vein is dead cells then surgery looks more viable. Reading back what I've written, there's a certain banality throughout so it's time for a picture:
So, for now, I'm back on my chemo regimen (pills and infusion), will be scheduled for the EUS, will meet with oncologist on Monday for a normal follow-up and then a follow-up with surgical oncologist in a couple of weeks which should be after the EUS. All of this seems a little chaotic but I'd much rather be doing something then just taking chemo for the next six weeks. Plus, my deductibles are all met so that's nice.
I'll let you know when the EUS is scheduled. Erin Bradley reminded me of the older, mature Peter writing to various churches:
"In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ."
Praise and glory and honor ... it doesn't get much better.
P.S. I got a visitor in my office Friday ...
... a bouncing baby Eva Marie!
In the Palm of His Hand,
Rod Bayron
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