Written Friday, sorry just now posting…
Ahhh… where to start… where did we leave off?
A little recap/refresher:
In May I was scheduled for scans at the end of the month, when my liquid biopsy (guardant360) mid month detected some mutations in my blood. Some of the mutations were consistent with my original tumor biology. We saw this two years ago when I had a reoccurrence. Scans were bumped up and we saw a single spot on my liver. In June I underwent 5 radiation treatments (SBRT). At the end of June I started back up on maintenance chemo (5FU pump only), every other Tuesday. I had been off chemo since November. And let me tell you, it was GLORIOUS!!!!
Early August I had scans to check how things were going. Good news, the spot we treated with radiation appeared to be D-E-D (dead). Treatment successful, thank you Dr Henke (undercover rockstar). With the good news of nothing else showing up, we decided to follow up with another liquid biopsy. This was to check that those pesky mutations that were detected in May were now resolved and hopefully undetectable.
This proved to be wishful thinking. Lol. The liquid biopsy results were astonishing. I’ve always wanted to use that word. The mutations detected in May had increased 10 fold (0.3% to 3%). I’ve never even had a reading over 1%. Quite an increase. Thank God we weren’t just satisfied with the scan results.
This increase prompted the scheduling of a PET scan, at the end of August, in order to look for any other active disease. Results from the PET scan showed that I had a new diseased lymph node near the pancreas and a soft tissue nodule just below my sternum, right at the surface near my skin (hence soft tissue). You could actually feel it. Like a little, shitty marble. My previous MRI scan had missed the lymph node or rather whoever reviewed it. It happens.
The marble: I had asked my doctor about this in May or June, as it was a little uncomfortable. I thought I had pulled something. We passed it off as scar tissue when it was inspected. Apparently, when I had a cryoablation in 2016 it may have left behind a single cell of cancer when the probe was removed from that area. Then it slowly grew until now. Who knew?
Anywho, after having my case reviewed by the tumor board of the best of the bests, they decided the best course of action was dynamite… I mean surgery.
I had to have a few other appointments between now and back then. I’m scheduled to have to lymph node and marble removed October 6th. I will be chopped back open from sternum to belly button. Right along my current scar. They’ll have to deal with getting around some scar tissue and other abnormalities. I think they have to get under or around the intestines to access the pancreatic area. Hence, I will be in the hospital after for 3-5 days recovering. Pretty simple compared to my other surgeries I’ve have. Ha.
This morning I’m waiting to get my presurgical covid test. It’s always nice to have a medical instrument you could pole vault with twisted up your nose in the early morning hours. I feel like they could reach through the sun roof with that thing. Thank God these aren’t performed rectally. Which reminds me of an old joke my friend used to tell: “What’s the difference between a rectal thermometer and an oral thermometer? The taste.” Chew on that.
Back to serious (POCUS), I’ve been consulting with Dr Hawkins for this surgery again. We’ve had a long history now. I have to make up excuses like these nodules to see him now. Jk. He’s a pro. I’m sure he’ll perform the surgery with his eyes closed, as usual. I’m quite confident in his abilities. I feel bad he’ll have to cut and dig through my covid lard to get to these things. Poor chap. Covid cottage cheese. I’ll resume maintenance chemo in November if all goes well. Good times.
That’s it, that’s all. Hope you’re all surviving this year. Liquor sales are up and so can be your “spirits”, if you so choose.
Take care.
Thanks for your encouragement, support and thoughts. Never a dull moment and hopefully never a dull scalpel.
Cheers!!