More of an Update
Early this week, as I reported, we received the very positive news that the carcinoid wasn’t seen anywhere besides where we knew it existed already, in Sarah’s liver. The following day, however, we spoke with another physician who had the official CT scan report which indicated that some lymph nodes were also involved. In addition, while I had earlier reported being about 12 spots in Sarah’s liver, he indicated these translated to roughly 50% of her liver. Neither of those tidbits were particularly good news, nor was his feeling that surgery wasn’t likely to be useful in Sarah’s case.
In the meantime, however, we’ve received more information that calls into question some/part of the CT scan report. Not questioning their efforts on that, just seems that we do need quite a bit more information to say for sure what’s where and where’s what and thusandsuch. Sarah is scheduled for an Octreoscan early next week. That is a two- or three-day high-tech process that should give us better information about all that.
In addition, we’ve requested the complete tissue samples be sent from Poplar Bluff to Columbia, where MU pathologists are scheduled to do some more testing of their own early next week. Again, all aimed at learning more about the type and location of the carcinoid.
Many have asked about the shots, with a few offering to come over and be the punisher. They are going relatively well, seeming to be much worse in anticipation than they are in practice. As I just told someone privately, though, I’m on the good side of that needle.
In the meantime, we’re all doing considerably more research and I’m doing my best to drown the physicians with random tidbits of information that I’m finding useful, but they’re almost certainly finding partially elementary and partially redundant (and partially annoying).
We continue to have great support of friends and family, which helps in both day-to-day activities and in research and contacts that help us figure out what to do next.
Sarah & I are headed to St. Louis tomorrow to go to the Cards-Cubs game, so if you’re interested in any of our stuff, tomorrow night’s the time. We seem to be sitting almost directly behind home plate, up 25 rows or so, so look for us. I’ll be wearing a Gold Mizzou hat, in honor of the fine folks that gave us the tickets. Also because I like the hat and have developed a sun-sensitive upper scalpal region.
Mizzou plays Pepperdine today in the NCAA baseball tournament. Go Tigers. KU plays someone today in the NCAA baseball tournament. Go someone.
Columbia schools are officially out, which means I’m now ready for football season. Tigers, 14-0.