Corrections

It seems I misunderstood, though we still believe we heard them say that the lymph node had been removed. We've been back to the Surgeon and we now have a different story.

I'll quote them, in the interest of accuracy:
DIAGNOSIS:
MASS, BASE OF NECK, EXCISION:
METASTATIC CARCINOMA CONSISTENT WITH METASTATIC RENAL CELL CARCINOMA [notice: no use of "papillary"]

And a little more which suggests why we may have been confused:
THIS IS A MASS IN WHICH THERE IS NO INDICATION THAT THIS REPRESENTS A LYMPH NODE, OR IF IT WERE A LYMPH NODE, IT HAS BEEN TOTALLY REPLACED. [does that not remind you of petrified wood?]

So the upshot is that the lump in my throat still a lump in my throat, a tumor.

The excised mass was sent to "Foundation One for special studies"; I hope to find out what this foundation is on my meeting with the Oncologist on the thirtieth.

Flying fortress cloud

(cont.)

I haven't wanted to write for a while
and so I haven't
which is an old story but we won't go there now
but I should tell you the results of the biopsy.

First, it was transformed into an -ectomy, specifically, a lymphectomy, except lymphectomy doesn't seem to be a word, they keep suggesting lumpdectomy.

And there is a reason for that: lymph is a fluid not an organ.  The organ would be a lymph node.  I assuming that this node is what the surgeon removed.  Somewhere where the neck meets the chest.

And why would he do that?  He  must have assumed the node was malignant, which is what the pathologists later confirmed.

The oncologist said that the node was in fact malignant with pRCC.  He said it would be highly irregular if the other bumps and growths are not also due to pRCC.  So in addition to the growths in my torso, I've got a few around my head.  The oncologist said it wouldn't make any sense to keep cutting them out, that they would just show up elsewhere.
So this is the bad news I have been digesting.   Currently I am staying on chemo, and there are many types of chemo available, if this one stops working.  So it goes.

Aarrgh!

Biopsy

Thanks for your responses and updates on your moving affairs. 

The biopsy went well, but took all day.  Partly because the Surgeon decided to not just grab a bit for a biopsy but went ahead and took out the whole swollen lymph node.  For which I thank him.   

Later this week we will find out if the node was malignant.

Janet and I are relived, generally .  I'm getting about and can talk, but shouldn't, much.  

Which lymph node was removed, I can't say.  Maps don't show a lymph node under the Adam's Apple.  So what I was feeling must have started somewhere else.   Like most things.

Thanks for your thoughts and prayers.

September already

Where did August go?
Well, if you are still there, there is one new development.
Next Tuesday I'll have a small lump in my throat biopsied.
I complained to the Oncologists of several bumps and they asked a surgeon to pick one to be biopsied.

I can't tell if this is for them or for me.
Are they convinced that all these bumps are pRCC, or, are they convinced it doesn't matter as my body is suffused with their chosen chemo already?

Nevertheless, I should have some news next week.
The Surgeon has already told us that besides the normal risks of this procedure, another is that the mass may be inconclusively identified.
If I didn't love axiology and epistemology, my goose would be a cookin now.

July Update

On Monday I had a bunch of CT scans, pelvis to neck, and today I got the results.

Basically it is as good as I could expect short of more miracles.

There are more spots, but some of the old ones are shrinking.

Nothing egregious right now and the oncologists say that this type of cancer can be slow to change.

So we are going to continue with the current Chemo, that's Votrient.

Maybe two more months if I can stand it.

My immune system and liver and kidney are still functioning fine.

Overall, I believe we are relieved and thankful.

Maybe I can find a before and after picture for you.

time traveler

Good News for June

My oncologists have agreed to let me off chemo for June.

My condition in May was bad enough for them to start the break (for 5 days), and then when I insisted that I be off chemo for our family get together, they realized I might as well resume in July.

Of course, we  still don't know if this stuff is doing any good.

And of course, the tumors now have a chance to surge on.

So it goes, and I am feeling much better about June.

Where did MAY go?

I haven't been able to respond to you individually.  The month of May was not merry.  Both Janet and I suffered. 

I can write now. 

I'm two days off the chemo.  

A temporary test. 

Also dry-run to see if I can travel towards the end of June.  

I think I will. 

Sign off with new drawing.