The Tumor is Out!

Surgery was yesterday - Friday, the 16th.   Dr. Diego came in before surgery and told us that he hoped it would take 2-3 hours, but that it could certainly be longer.  It was longer - 5 1/2 hours, but all went well and the tumor was removed!   It took longer than expected because Mark has a large spleen and it took a lot of maneuvering to relocate the pancreas and kidney to get to the adrenal gland. The incision for the removal is only 2 inches long with 3 small incisions for the arms of the robot. 

Last night was a bit rough, but today he is doing marvelously well!  The doctor thought that Mark would be discharged on Monday, but another doctor just left and saw no reason that he couldn't go home later today or at least by tomorrow!  Wow, we are SO thankful for modern medicine! Laparoscopic surgery makes recovery so much easier.  Mark should be back in the game fairly quickly, and he is ready!  

Thank you for all of your faith and prayers!!! 

The morning after!! 

Surgery Scheduled

We met with and were pleased with the surgeon, Dr. Diego Muilenburg. A CT scan was necessary for him to see the details more clearly than the PET showed, and that was done last Saturday, the 3rd.  The tumor has grown 5% in two weeks so while it isn’t growing fast, it is growing, so the sooner it is removed the better.  Dr. Diego has scheduled the daVinci Robotic surgical machine for September 16^th.  The plan is to make 4-5 small laparoscopic incisions, but there will have to be one larger incision to remove the tumor which is currently 2 by 3 inches.  If all goes well Mark should be home in 2-3 days, We’re happy to have daVinci!  Mark just looked at pictures of it online and exclaimed, “Yikes, what was I thinking?!”  I commented that it looked better to me than a big knife held over him!

We will be at Providence Portland Hospital one week from today at 9:00 am.  (Yea, not the early bird check-in!) We feel very good about the way this is working out.  

This verse brought comfort, “…be of good cheer…for I am in your midst, and I have not forsaken you:” We certainly feel that, and also appreciate the love and support from family and friends!  Thank-you!!

Bad News, Good News

On the 11^th of July we met with Dr. Urba.  Since Mark looked so good he saw no reason for a PET scan even though it’s been a year since the last one.  He did have blood drawn, as usual.  Several days later Mark saw the lab results and e-mailed Dr. Urba as the LD total count was bit high. Normal is 100 to 210 and it was 275.  The only other time that has happened was when the tumor was growing in the adrenal gland.  Dr. Urba agreed that it was high but also indicated that this test is not a very accurate or definitive test for metastatic melanoma.  He ordered another blood draw for one month later and indicated that if it was still evaluated we would proceed with a PET scan.  On August 11^th Mark had another blood draw and the count was still elevated and a bit higher than before at 298.  Dr. Urba ordered a PET scan which was done last Friday, the 19^th. 

This morning Dr. Urba called to tell us that the PET scan was not totally clear – a tumor is growing once again in the same adrenal gland. He is a bit baffled as to why that is the only place, but that is GOOD!  The adrenal gland can be removed and studied to determine what may be different.  He has already called one of the best surgeons in the US that deals with this type of cancer surgery and Dr. Vern agreed that removing the adrenal gland would be best.  Dr. Vern is in Tampa, Florida but he recommended a surgeon in Portland whom he personally trained and considers excellent.  Dr. Urba has contacted Dr. Diego Muilenburg.  His office will contact us to schedule an appointment to discuss the next steps and whether the surgery can be laparoscopic or incision. For now Mark will stop using the current medications as he has started having nausea.  He might as well get a rest from the side effects.  We will keep you posted as we learn more.  We are SO grateful that we are not immediately facing the more invasive treatments!  All is well!! 

Four years ago TODAY!!!

Four years ago today as we were celebrating a late Valentine’s Day we found out that Mark had some tumors in his lungs. That day is stamped into our memory, especially the phone call during dinner that he needed a CT scan as soon as possible.  We went right back to the lab for the scan and later in the evening while shopping the call came from our doctor indicating that a biopsy was needed.  Those calls should have put us in high alarm mode, but we were having such a good day that it didn’t affect us much.  It wasn’t until the following day that we grasped the gravity of the situation – that Mark probably didn’t have long to live. 

Well, he is still going strong!  When we saw Dr. Urba this past Monday he indicated that he saw no need for a scan since Mark is feeling and looking so well.  He will stay on the medications and see Dr. Urba again in June.

Dr. Urba summarized for us a report that was recently published indicating that there are a small number of patients who have been on the combination therapy for 5-6 years and are still progression free.  Part of the conclusion was that those who had the most positive responses had less invasive situations. Dr. Urba emphasized that Mark’s diagnosis was as bad as it could get, so his response is highly unusual.  

Today we’re going out to celebrate Valentine’s Day at the same restaurant!  How grateful we are!!!