Tomorrow (Friday) is the biggie. I went in for another CT scan of the liver today to gauge whether or not there has been any growth at that site. The initial biopsy indicated the liver to be non-cancerous, but on the recommendation of one of the doctors in L.A., we repeated the test today which is about 4 weeks or so after the last scan. I didn’t hear back from Dr. Z today, so we’re going with the belief that no news is good news.
Tomorrow will be an all day process. I have to report to St. Lukes sometime between 10am and 1030am and (wahoo!) get ANOTHER CT scan. This time to insert a locator wire into the chest tumor. Dr. Chest will use the wire to minimize the size of the incision he has to make and eliminate the need to play ‘Where’s Waldo’ with the tumor itself.
After the wire is in place, it’s on to the pre-op area. Mom will be able to go with me for most of the time (she even has her own pass). Surgery is set to begin around 1pm and will probably take 3-4 hours. First, Dr. Chest will go to work (he anticipates this removal will only take a half an hour or so). Then Dr. ENT will step up to the plate. He’s got to remove the remainder of the head tumor and then complete both reconstruction of the scalp and cheek. I know he’s estimated 2 1/2 to 3 hours or so, but let me go on the record as saying….. I sure hope he takes his time. I don’t have anything else planned for the day so he can take as much time as he needs.
Right now, they’re saying I will be in the hospital for at least one night, with a second night being a possibility.
Mom will have my cell phone so feel free to call for updates or, more importantly, just to let her hear a fresh voice throughout the afternoon. I’m sure sitting in that waiting room is going to be nerve wracking. She’ll talk to just about anyone….so keep the calls comin’ !!!!!
