Well let's see the last couple weeks have been good, the weather here in VA has been so mild, gotten time out on the bike and enjoyed it as well. We have been busy with Swim Team and Ashley is have a good year and enjoying herself, Shannon decided not to swim and has been a good cheerleader from the side of the pool!
Got my medi-port removed on Tuesday July 14th, what a way to celebrate Bastille Day! Our neighbor Diana, went with me, so that Marnie didn't have to take any more time off from work. Everything went well and they even gave me the port, so I could show the girls. Will take a couple photos and add them here later tonight. Was out of it most of Tuesday from the sedation & drugs. But then went cold turkey yesterday and just took it easy working from home. Back in the office today and the incision site is still a little swollen and sore, but getting there slowly. Have to be careful how I move my right arm and neck, but otherwise everything is good.
The bummer about this is that I can't ride for 10 days until the incision heals up, and we are having this great weather! But a small price to pay for having the port out of me. I had a constant bruise around it, that appears to be dissipating finally, and think that there could have been a little leakage from the vein were the tube was inserted. But all is removed and closed up now, so things are healing and I'm feeling better.
Next scheduled scan is end of August and I got the results of my last blood work today with everything looking normal, they checked the levels of the tumor markers and they are normal as well. Seems like things are settling back to normal all around, and once the port incision heals can get back to working out and running with Marnie!
Couldn't have done this without the thoughts, support, prayers and myriad of other things that everyone has done for me and the family.
YA'LL ROCK!!
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Watch & Wait begins...
Well back from seeing the Oncologist and we are now officially in the watch and wait mode!
We looked through the results of the PET scan and there was no indication of increased metabolic activity from the area of the metastic tumor by kidney. This would say that the mass left is fibrotic (dead) tissue and thus NO surgery is necessary at this time! WOOO HOOO!
They did see a bright spot on the right side of my neck in one of my lymph nodes. But when this type of testicular cancer (seminoma) spreads, it goes to the chest first (which is clear) and then to the LEFT side of the neck. So it appears to be totally unrelated to my cancer (could be from my port on the right side, or a cold) however, will continue to watch that closely. Additionally when felt it was tender to the touch, a sign of inflammation. A cancerous lymph node is usually swollen but not tender to the touch.
Speaking of ports.. get my Medi-port out in less than two weeks, on 7/14, so that could resolve the whole lymph node thing too. Have my next CT scan at the end of August and they will do an additional scan of my neck to just make sure that there is nothing going on there. Otherwise it will be alternating CT scans and PET scans for the rest of this year, about 2-3 months apart.
Will be good to get the port out though...
Well off to enjoy a nice ride and do a little celebration of what was the best news possible at this point in time!
We looked through the results of the PET scan and there was no indication of increased metabolic activity from the area of the metastic tumor by kidney. This would say that the mass left is fibrotic (dead) tissue and thus NO surgery is necessary at this time! WOOO HOOO!
They did see a bright spot on the right side of my neck in one of my lymph nodes. But when this type of testicular cancer (seminoma) spreads, it goes to the chest first (which is clear) and then to the LEFT side of the neck. So it appears to be totally unrelated to my cancer (could be from my port on the right side, or a cold) however, will continue to watch that closely. Additionally when felt it was tender to the touch, a sign of inflammation. A cancerous lymph node is usually swollen but not tender to the touch.
Speaking of ports.. get my Medi-port out in less than two weeks, on 7/14, so that could resolve the whole lymph node thing too. Have my next CT scan at the end of August and they will do an additional scan of my neck to just make sure that there is nothing going on there. Otherwise it will be alternating CT scans and PET scans for the rest of this year, about 2-3 months apart.
Will be good to get the port out though...
Well off to enjoy a nice ride and do a little celebration of what was the best news possible at this point in time!
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