CSTAR

So much to update!
1. The appointments:

Dr. Pelzer continues the positive news about my treatment. Its hard to quantify my prognosis, but he is very optimistic about my future. One thing is for sure, enucleation(eye removal) has been the key to victory. No regrets whatsoever. Most importantly, Dr. Pelzer is certain none of the patients in previous studies had the level of surgeons that I am fortunate to employ. He says that Dr. Chandler was able to remove more tissue than he (Pelzer) could alone because of his neurosurgery expertise. Specifically, he was able to remove bone from the socket, and resect the optic nerve all the way back to where it connects to the other optic nerve, behind the eye socket. Dr. Pelzer is “wildly enthusiastic” that I will continue to be cancer free.

Dr. Mittal (Radiology oncologist – in charge of my radiation treatment) also saw me on Wednesday. We did the mapping process of the area to be radiated. The pictures below are of the mask they made of my head, neck, and shoulders. The mask is made of plastic mesh melted on to my face, and is used to immobolize me during treatment. Movement during radiation would be “bad”. They use a CT scan to map the area to receive radiation (and more importantly the areas to not receive radiation). Radiation treatment (IMRT) will begin in three weeks (14March). The side effects of radiation that we are worried about are: nauseau, fatigue, damage to the good eye, radiation to my brain, and radiation induced cancer. The first two are fairly certain. Radiation damage to my other eye or brain have “extremely low probablilty”. The chance of a radiation induced tumor from this type of treatment (IMRT) is .07%. Dr. Mittal says I would have to be extremely unlucky to develop cancer from the radiation treatment. I laughed and told him I have one of the most rare cancers recorded, so what the hell is .07% to me? Ha Ha. Cancer joke.

Dr. Fine saw me on Thursday and is happy with the progress of the tissue/skin graft. There is one little spot that is taking its sweet time to heal, but it should be “fine” by the time radiation starts. If not, radiation may have to be delayed until the graft heals.

2. The Joy of Joy Cooking is in full effect at 15th and Halsted. We’ve got meatloafs. We’ve got soups. We’ve got blueberry muffins, stewed carrots, and more. More food is coming on Sunday from Mom and the Round Lake chapter of the Schranks.

3. Heart of a Marine is an organization dedicated to providing financial assistance to military personnel with unmet needs. Nancy Diduca (SSgt Diduca’s mom) is a member, and has sent a Visa check card to cover expenses we have incurred from treatment. Dealing with this for the last three months, a lot of relatively small costs quickly add up (i.e. $9 – $20 a day for parking X 6 weeks of radiation, etc). They have also left the door open for any other expenses in the future. Their generosity is humbling. It is even more humbling to consider the vital support they have provided to Marines whose needs far outweigh ours. Thanks SSgt and Jeanette Diduca for introducing us to this organization. The link is: www.heartofamarine.org

4. NOW FOR THE BIG NEWS: Dr. Pelzer and I had to work our butts off to donate my eye. Cancer is normally disqualifying for organ donation. It was a big deal to me to be able to donate, however, and Dr. Pelzer worked with the director of the Illinois Eye Bank to ensure my eye could be donated, since the cancer was not actually in the eye itself. Here is the result (click to enlarge):

I can’t exlain how much this means. It’s such a big deal that someone could benefit. We are pinning this cloud and beating a silver lining out of it when one is not apparent. One more reason that surgery was the right decision. We know now that radiation would not have been enough to cure. My eye would have ended up being removed after radiation failed, and the radiation damage (a sure thing for the left eye) would have prevented organ donation. Fortune smiles on us.