Pam cancer sequel chap. 2 (11/21/2008)

I suppose if you have gone through cancer or serious illness (yourself or with a relative), you'll understand the first part of this email. Pam's experience the first time around taught to me to take notes. Let me share with you my notes from today so you can get a feel for the cancer patient visiting the doctors office (you have to hate going to any doctor, but when his office is called Peoria CANCER Center, double that). Also I should mention Pam really likes her oncologist.

Notes:
*
Doctor enters, says "Good to see you Pam...
...I mean bad to see you."
*
Doctor says "This is a local recurrance of your previous cancer, local is good...
...but this is serious."
*
Doctor says "The pattern of the spreading of this cancer is expected...
...however, your case is not common."
*
Doctor says "The PET and CT scans showed that the cancer is contained in the lymphnodes which is much better than a metastatic recurrance in say the bones or lungs...
...but PET/CT scans don't alway light up these types of slow growing cells,
so let's schedule you for a bone scan and CAT scan."
*
Doctor says "This is likely the least-worst situation...
...but it is serious." (used the S word twice!)
*
Doctor says "I recommend surgery to remove the nodes. The nodes will be dissected giving clearer direction as to follow up treatments such as radiation and/or hormone therapy...
...and/or chemotherapy or all three." (Chemo is a bad, bad word in Pam's cancer world.)
*
good/bad/good/bad/good/bad...argh.

Now, I may have quoted her doctor's words out of order, but you get my drift. It is a recurrance of her original cancer from 4 years ago. It looks as though it is the best situation as far as the location of the recurrance for treatment. Her doctor will proceed with more tests to gain a certainty with what she actually has going on within her before establishing a treatment plan. That is greatly appreciated after what Pam experienced before. So, more tests, more appointments, a little surgery and as yet to be determined treatment...Happy Holidays!

It may seem odd to some that we throw Pam's medical information out so openly. It is simple. Our faith is very important. Part of that faith is the understanding that prayer comforts and heals. It is very encouraging to know people are praying. So I harness a little fraction of the www and send out the information, selfishly hoping some will pray. Thank you to those who do.

I didn't post this on a blog yet (yes I did)... seems like that would be giving in (guess I did). The blond in the pic above is Pam. She is handling this quite well, though some folks wonder. When you have cancer, you find yourself in the hospital, a doctors office, or diagnostic center a lot. There are a lot of germs in those places. In the past 7 days Pam has been in 5 different medical facilities. At some point she picked up a cold and lost her voice. She also ended up with pink eye. So if you see her, it will look like she has been crying. If you hear her on the phone, she will sound terrifically distressed. Don't worry, she is doing very well considering.

Thanks for the concern and the prayers.