Paul's Cancer Blog
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly!
Continuing with my follow-up visits on the latest cancer findings. On Monday I had a PET/CT scan. I asked to keep my arms down instead of over my head, due to shoulder pain, and was allowed. The scan was like the five others I took, but this time the doctor came out, which never happened before, after I thought we finished, and proceeded to ask a few questions regarding my mouth, possibly due to the biopsy the ENT took of my tongue, and the positive FNA.. Then put a head and neck brace on me, placed gauze in my mouth and proceeded to take additional scans of my neck. Afterwards, I received a disk copy of the scan, and all the others I took there previously.
On Tuesday I spoke on the telephone with my Radiation Oncologist. She is not interested in doing reirridation since it is dangerous, and rarely done twice, which I already knew, but in December I was going to have it again at this same location, and even had the mask made with simulation scans, but two days before I was to begin the doctor called, and said they were not doing it since it was too risky? Anyway, the RO said she will look at my scans, but after someone tells me no once, I don’t think I would have confidence in them if they want to proceed in the future?
Today I met with my ENT and reviewed all the reports. The cancerous left nodule showed up on the PET, as did a small hot spot on the right lateral tongue and a very small right neck node in level II, which he believes both are from the tongue biopsy done last week, which can happen, he said, but wants to have another FNA done on Friday, although, the tongue biopsy came back negative :), which is good! Dr. said I need surgery for the positive node, and reirridation, and set up an appointment tomorrow at Mt Sinai Hospital to see the RO there, after hearing my local RO may not want to do any. Where surgery will be done on the left neck it was explained that there is a very real possibility of losing my left shoulder and left finger movement due to the location of the tumor in level V area. If they can find the nodule by FNA, with sonogram, and it comes back positive, I would need major surgery also on the right side…neck dissection. If not, he may just proceed with one surgery on the left nodule, laryngoscope with biopsy, and monitor the suspicious right nodule by PET scan in three months. On Tuesady I see my oncologist, but doubt she would want to do any type of chemo or alternative?
So, that’s it in a nutshell. Just two weeks ago I was doing fine, seeing doctors less, feeling improvements in energy with the increased hemoglobin, and then you get hit again with this news, more dr visits and pre-op testing. I guess I’ll just have to roll with the punches for now. So far, we are looking at the end of June for surgery, but next month is when I’m due to change over to medicare, and decided to go with original Medicare with the best supplemental and drug plan I can get, which Ii can always change in the future.
On Saturday, I still plan on attending a camp reunion for the Boy’s Athletic League in Harriman State Park in Upstate State NY, near Bear Mountain, that I went to every summer in my youth from 1972-1980. I plan on cooking some items..two marinated pork tenderloins..Cuban Mojo, and Jamaican Jerk, Potato salad, mango and black bean quinua salad, and a DRINK! Maybe a Michelada (beer with similar spices for a bloody Mary).
This picture is me in 1977 in the park on one of our overnight hiking trips. 
Well what can one say other than cancer sucks. I know you will continue to fight and will overcome this as well, just another setback.
On another note the camp reunion sounds like a good time, the items you are cooking sound delish wish I could be there.
Have fun, stay positive, take care. As always you continue to be in my prayers.
Posted on Thanks Vince. Just another setback, but will keep up the fight. Hope things are well with yourself.
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