hello again,
part 2 of 2
The Surgeon came into the examination room where Sue and I were already talking with the his right hand woman. The Doc asked very few questions and then plain told me that the cancer is back and it's growing very aggressively. He told me that there is 5 new tumors in my right lung and 1 new tumor in my left lung. While he was talking I pictured how much I did not enjoy the chemo express because of how sick it made me. But before I could gather all my animosity for chemo therapy, Dr. Cohen still speaking, interrupted my thoughts with the words, "We'll have to operate again!" SLAM !!! goes the door of all my previous thoughts. And before I could say, "WHAT??" He added, but we will have to do the right side first and latter do the left side side. Man, I got to tell ya, that's the last thing I expected to here. As much as I hated chemo, that's what I thought would be the next step if this cancer showed up in Dodge again. The Doc said that it wouldn't be along the same scar this time, it would be a cut from my front along my ribs under my arm to my back. I asked why not do both at the same time. He told me because it would hurt to much. Man, now that's the second thing I wasn't expecting to hear, and frankly, I really didn't like hearing that at all. lol So, I said, I thought that's what the drugs are for? But, laughs were had by none. lol All this will be brought before the Tumor Board at the West Roxbury Veterans Hospital in Boston next Tuesday the 21st and if all goes as the Doc expects, I will have the tentative date of October 7th confirmed for the first of the two surgeries. Just to add a little frosting to the cake, as I left the Doc's examination room, he said, "You do know that this can't keep going on?" I do know that, but hearing it out loud and all really did bring a new level of (not wanting to hear that!!) Needless to say, it was a long, and nearly 3 hour ride home. Sue and I didn't talk much and when we did it was very short sentences. As though we knew what the other was thinking, but, why wouldn't we know, we've been married 35 years. Next to breathing, that's the longest I've done anything with one exception, riding motorcycles. lol I'm still looking for that next long distance ride, my favorite way to mc ride.
Next Tuesday I'll get the call from Boston and the answer to what the Tumor Board has decided about me. But earlier that same day I'm going to meet with my oncology Doc in Vermont to go over all these developments. I'm hoping that he can help me as think out questions that I want to ask the surgeon when he calls me latter that day. I also will have several questions to ask the oncologist while I'm with him as well. As always, Sue will be with me to take notes and ask questions of her own.
I have lots to think about and needless to say, sleep isn't coming to easy these past couple of days. Lately I have felt like the rabbit in Alice in Wonderland, wondering how I'm going to get everything done as I look at my watch (or calendar). Today I started the bi-annual garage transition. Seems winter is on us soon here in NH. I mowed the grass for the last time this year and now the snow-thrower attatchment replaces the lawn mowing deck. I'm always amazed how much junk accumulates in my garage. I think it's because of the cost of tossing things at the dump, it just piles up. Tomorrow is going to be dump day. I hope I have enough dump tickets to pay for the pile I'll be bring. Funny thing is, It's more like the local exchange, because I often times bring stuff home. You know, for those projects and all. lol You've heard the saying, "One mans trash is another mans treasure"? Well, for me it's more like, "One mans trash is my trash now! at least sometimes it feels that way. lol Like tomorrow. Trash day, a lot of stuf is getting returned. lol
Well, thanks for listening, I promise the next up-date will be sooner and shorter.
my warmest wishes go out to you all
Dad, Sam, chappy, friend
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Topic: I might be down, but I'm not out! (Read 262040 times)