Up in the Mountains, Under the Knife

Jeanette and I safely arrived in Canmore yesterday. This is my view out the window as I type this:

It was also the view I had when I received the phone call from Princess Margaret Hospital earlier this morning. I am now officially booked for surgery on Thursday, September 6 at 8:00 AM -- which means I have to be at the hospital for 6:00 AM. Yeesh! There's no anaesthetic to the dull the pain of getting up that early.

I haven't yet spoken directly with Dr. Irish (the call came from Barbara, his nurse at the Head & Neck Clinic), but evidently the CT scan results confirm the need for surgery. Barbara said he's in the OR today, but that she'd pass on a message reminding him to call. I'll post another update if he does get in touch with more information.

Triopsy

Jeanette and I returned to Princess Margaret Hospital this morning and met with Dr. Gideon Bachar (who took the sample for biopsy last week), Dr. Irish, and a biopsy technician. Dr. Irish tells me it's not uncommon for a tissue sample to yield insufficient cells for a proper diagnosis. The technician was present today to check right away that the new sample was sufficient.

So, once again, Dr. Bachar inserted a needle into my neck and jiggled it around to obtain a sample. Alas, the technician gave it another thumbs down. Third time's a charm they say, but there was nothing charming about the longer needle Dr. Irish used on the third attempt. He didn't say whether or not he got what he needed, but he did take pity on my aching neck and said that was all they would do today. Jeanette agreed I looked a little like a vampire victim.

Next will be the CT scan tomorrow night. To discuss the results, we've arranged for Dr. Iris to call me on Friday in Canmore where we'll be on holiday. Next week is vacation time for the good doctor as well, so it's unlikely any treatment will take place until September, but I'll know more on Friday. If need be, I'm prepared to return early from our trip out west.

More news on Friday.

My Cancer's Back and There's Gonna Be Trouble (hey la, hey la, my cancer's back)

Just when things were growing quiet here at the ol' blog, I'm sorry to report that a suspicious lump has appeared in my neck. I noticed it a week ago Sunday and was in to see Dr. Irish the following Wednesday. He immediately took a sample to biopsy, booked me for a CT scan (the evening of August 22), and had me sign the consent forms for more surgery.

Although Dr. Irish can't confirm the lump is cancerous until the biopsy results come in, its location is exactly where they'd expect any previously undetectable microscopic cancer cells to have grown. Treatment will be more surgery (less invasive than the tongue procedure, but with a longer hospital stay of two or more days) and likely radiation therapy. I'll be reuniting with radiation oncologist Dr. O'Sullivan soon.

I was hoping for the biopsy results today, but I just received a call requesting I come in for a second biopsy -- the nurse didn't have any information as to the need for a second. So, it's back to Dr. Irish's office tomorrow morning. Stay tuned for more news.

I swear this isn't a ratings grab. (Don't forget to cast your vote for "But I'm an Aries" at the 2007 Weblog Awards.)