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. 

Gentle update

April 27, 2014, Sunday

It's not fair to keep silent as that has been taken as a sign that I'm feeling too bad to communicate.
That is not the case.

This new chemo is much more tolerable.
The oncologist says my liver, kidney and immune system are still functioning well.


We won't know till summer whether it is doing any good.

Cheerio.
Dale

CHEMO: round 3

VOTRIENT

This time we are going to try a different type of chemo than the first two.  Perhaps it will not be as damaging.  Perhaps it might even slow down the cancer.  Only one way to find out. 

It has side effects very much like Sutent, so I won't go into details. 

Tomorrow, at least an hour before any breakfast, I'm to down 800mg of the stuff with a glass of water.  Then lie back and see what happens. 

Just for comparison, Janet took a picture of me today, to stand as a Before Votrient picture.  Sutent, you may remember, made me look more Scandinavian. 

Tuesday, 4 March, 2014