Hospital Hopscotch

Dateline: Palmerston

Baby Mackenzie Averi Williamson, who weighs in at 7 lbs. and change, is schedule to leave Palmerston & District hospital today and head home to Harriston with proud parents Krystal and Mike. Sorry, no baby pictures yet!


Dateline: Toronto

I've just spoken by phone with radiation oncologist Dr. O'Sullivan to discuss treatment vis-à-vis the pathology report. He confirms the need for chemotherapy and for treating both sides of the neck with radiation (though only lymph nodes level 2 & 3 on the left side, to preserve the salivary gland). These combined treatments will necessitate 6 1/2 weeks of treatment. As for the tongue, it is still "a tough call" as to whether or not it needs radiation treatment as well. I have until my first planning appointment on October 1 to decide. Does anyone else hear the Jeopardy! theme playing?

In the meantime, Dr. O'Sullivan will arrange for me to meet with a medical oncologist, who will also review the pathology report, assess my suitability for chemotherapy, and explain what chemo involves.

I also inquired, based on an inspired suggestion from Aunt Linda, about receiving treatment at Sunnybrook's cancer treatment center. Sunnybrook is 5 minutes away from home, as opposed to PMH which is 40. Dr. O'Sullivan said it is possible, but that I would have to go on a waiting list and that preference is given to those who a) aren't already in the system elsewhere, and b) are coming from out of town via the 401. He also pointed out, while admitting his own bias, that PMH is the largest, most organized, and best developed cancer treatment center in the country. Sounds good to me.

I'm an Uncle-in-Law!

Much happier news!

Last night at 2:30 AM (missing Jeanette's birthday by only 2 1/2 hours) a baby girl was born to Krystal, wife of Jeanette's brother Mike, at the Palmerston and District Hospital in Palmerston, Ontario. This is their first child and everyone is happy and healthy. No word yet on the little gal's name or weight, but rest assured I'll have all the details -- and pictures -- very soon.

Hooray!

Extra-crap-ular

Moments ago Dr. Irish phoned me with the results of the pathology test. Once again, it's a good news, bad news scenario. The good news is that the cancer was only present in 1 of a possible 38 lymph nodes. The bad news is that the cancer was indeed extracapsular. That means it had started to spread beyond that 1 lymph node, which, as Dr. O'Sullivan suggested earlier this week, indicates the need that I be treated with a higher dose of radiation plus chemotherapy.

Tomorrow I'm scheduled to call Dr. O'Sullivan to discuss the treatment specifics now that the pathology report is in. Stay tuned.

That's Good! That's Bad!

Today's post-op appointment with Dr. Irish was full of good and bad. The pathology report wasn't in yet, which was bad, but he was able to get us in to see radiation oncologist Dr. O'Sullivan which was good.

But without the pathology report, Dr. O'Sullivan could only talk about all possible results and corresponding treatments, and that was bad. You see, if the pathology report shows that the cancer was extracapsular (i.e. spread beyond the lymph nodes), then I'll be undergoing chemotherapy simultaneously with my six weeks of radiation, which itself will be at a higher dose and on both sides of my neck (though only halfway up the left side to preserve my salivary gland). If the cancer wasn't extracapsular, then the radiation will be a lower dose on just the right side of my neck, which is, well, not good, but better.

As for the tongue, Dr. O'Sullivan will leave it to me as to whether it should also get zapped. Chances are low that the cancer would recur there, which is good, but chances were also low that the cancer would recur at all and it did, which is bad. If they radiate the tongue, there will be zero chance the cancer will recur there, which is good, but Dr. O'Sullivan reminded me again that a radiated tongue is "very unpleasant", which is bad.

I now have a new series of appointments to prep for treatment which is good, but it means missing more work, which is bad. My six weeks of treatment will begin in about three weeks time. That's good... right?

It's Alive! Alive!!!

Just a quick update to say I am recovering well at home. I'm still pain-free, but my energy levels aren't yet back to normal. Mornings are better, and so I try to get in a little excercise; today I enjoyed a long walk through Mount Pleasant Cemetery. This gave me a chance to listen to a CD of good friends Allegra, Tara, and Derek performing improvised songs and acting silly between such hit tunes as a disco version of the Star Wars theme and the song from Shaft. Thanks, guys! How much will you pay me NOT to post one of your songs here on the blog?

Indeed, thank you to all for your cards, flowers, and goody baskets which have been arriving all week. A very special thanks in particular to my wise-ass sister and her partner Marianne, whose package contained the Frankenstein mask pictured above. I suppose it is important to accessorize with one's wounds. Too bad I didn't receive it earlier; I could have worn it during my morning cemetery stroll. Maybe tomorrow.

A Cutthroat Business

I am home!

As Jeanette posted previously, my neck dissection was a success. Although the scar immediately after surgery was a horrific sight to behold (see above), amaziningly I experienced no pain. Instead, there is a tightness in my neck, rather like the feeling of wearing a t-shrit that's tucked in too far. The stiffness and the intensity of the scar will fade in a few weeks (so much for my surefire Halloween costume), and the only other side effects are a loss of feeling in my right ear and neck, which may or may not return. Not a big deal. My major concern was the risk to my mouth, arm, and head movement; fortunately, Dr. Irish and Dr. Bachar were able to preserve 95% of my muscle tissue and those areas haven't been affected at all. All good news!

The three-day stay at Toronto General Hospital was to allow the excess fluid resulting from the removed tissue to drain out of my body. Two tubes sutured to my chest led to a device the size of a briefcase that had a plastic window to measure the accumulation of the thick red fluid. It was kind of like the tote board at a fundraiser but without the phone pledges. Lucky for me, I had plenty of visitors who brought me reading material over those three days. I don't reccomend watching chest fluid accumulate as a fun way to pass the time.

My thanks to all for your support and words of encouragment, to my Mom and Jeanette for waiting through hours of surgery to be by my side for my groggy awakening, to my friends and family who were able to visit, and to Dr. Irish, Dr. Bachar, Cheryl, Mahadai, Ginette, and the rest of the staff at Toronto General who took care of me.

I'll remain home all this taking it easy. Radiation treatment will begin in about four weeks' time.

It's good to be home!

Post Surgery

My apologies for not updating the blog yesterday, but it was an extremely long and exhausting day.

I'm so pleased to report that David's surgery went as expected. The surgical team removed the growth in level 2 of his lymph nodes as well as a small growth in level 3 (did you know that there are 5 levels of lymph nodes in your neck). They also removed some of the muscle in his neck - the muscle that assists you in raising your arm from shoulder height to above your neck. This was done to create an area of margin. It should not prevent David from waving his arms about in the future.

David is not in any pain and in fact, turned down the pain medication they offered him. He has 2 small tubes draining blood and fluid from his neck. It's a little gross.

(a picture of David and his incision was to be inserted here but blogger is not letting me upload)

We should have results of the pathology report next week. Dr. Irish's office has kept Dr. O'Sullivan apprised of David's situation and we expect to meet with Dr. O'Sullivan in the next couple of weeks to discuss radiation therapy.

David will be discharged in a couple of days - Sunday or Monday. He is up for visitors. It would greatly help fill his days if you could pop in to say hello. He's staying in the Robert McEwen building of TGH which is located in the west wing(University entrance). You'll find David on the 6th floor (6B) in room 158. He has a lovely view of the Delta Chelsea Hotel. Not to be missed.

Thank you to everyone for your prayers and well wishes. We're so lucky to have such many amazing people in our life.

'Twas the Night Before Surgery...

...and all through my neck,
the cancerous tissue would soon be removed, every last speck.

Just a quick update before my surgery tomorrow morning:

Jeanette and I met with Dr. Irish this afternoon, who finally assured us that the recent CT scan did not reveal anything unexpected. This is good news as it means the cancer hasn't spread any further. I check in to Toronto General Hospital tomorrow at 8:00 AM for the 10:00 AM surgery. Mom and Jeanette will hang around for the 3 to 4 hours until it's complete, then they will send out word as to how it went. Watch this space tomorrow for a posting from Jeanette with all the news.

In the meantime, for those interested in seeing some action-packed* footage from our recent trip trip out west, I recommend visiting the blog of our good friends Chad and Janice. Chad was a little over-excited about the video capabilities of his new camera and laptop, as you'll see. Enjoy!

*May not contain only trace elemens of action.