CSTAR

Here’s the latest:

1. Dr. Pelzer (otolaryngolical surgeon) relayed the final pathology report from the craniotomy surgery today. He couldn’t be more pleased with the results. He doesn’t think there is any cancer left, even on a microscopic level. We are going ahead with radiation therapy on principle alone.

2. The pathology report indicates that the cancer had started on some of the nerves in the eye socket. This could have been very serious. We’ll never know how seriously my life was in danger, but this information alone completely validates our decision to remove everything.

3. We also saw Dr. Chandler (neurosurgeon) today. He is very pleased with my recovery from the craniotomy. He thinks I shouldn’t do much for a while, but we’ll see if Dr. Pelzer will override that next week.

4. We saw Dr. Fine (plastic surgeon) earlier this week. He is also very happy with the way my head and face are healing. He removed the covering of the stitches on my head, and also removed the padding on my “eye”. I still have a gauze dressing on my “eye” that has to be changed every other day until next week. He will remove the stitches next thursday.

5. I talked to Dr. Pelzer about the long term characteristics of my treatment. Basically, we will do another CT/MRI a few months after radiation to determine whether I am officially cancer free. Dr. Pelzer has agreed to stay on as my doctor for the “long haul”. He has affirmed that no matter where in the world I am, he will obtain my CT/MRI scans electronically or physically and interpret them to ensure I am continuing to be without cancer. He didnt seem to be concerned whether Tricare would support this or not. Dr. Pelzer has been our biggest asset in this whole process and continues to pay dividends.

I feel really good right now. Physically, its a long recovery. Mentally and emotionally, though, I am in a great place. I think the worst is over until radiation therapy. Most of the shoulder pain is now gone, and every day I wake up feeling better than the day before. The recovery part is proving to be much easier than the anxiety before surgery. I have something to do now, so I am attacking it. I take this recovery seriously. I’m focused on getting back to a normal life as soon as possible.

Thanks everyone for all the support, and especially to Joy for the food. If you don’t know, Joy makes the best chicken pot pie in the world.