Tests Tests Tests

We have tests scheduled for Thursday, next Monday, next Thursday. Can't begin to imagine  the price tags attached to these things. TG for insurance and Medicare. What does a cancer victim do without insurance? And these are just preliminaries, BEFORE treatment starts! The mind boggles.

Feeling our way

It seems everyone I know has a comforting, encouraging story to tell. I know that their anecdotes are selective (no on is going to tell me about so-and-so's neighbor who didn't make it). I still love to hear them.
And Michael Douglas! My God, I feel like a groupie. I can't read enough about him. I never paid much attention to celebrity gossip (never even read People) but I sure do eat it up now. And has anyone noticed how much I look like Catherine Zeta-Jones? ;-o

Some News

To All Our Dear Friends,

Please forgive this shortcut method of conveying some bad news. It's quicker and easier than conventional phone calls. Certainly we'll be talking to you all individually in the coming months.

Bob has been diagnosed with throat cancer. We do not yet know the extent to which it has spread or the stage. It started on his hypopharynx and has spread to a lymph node on his neck. This is the only symptom that he had. He noticed the lump on his neck this summer. The doctor suspects squamous carcinoma since this is the most common kind affecting smokers. He has, of course, now stopped smoking. After the Petscan next week and more preliminary preparations he will be undergoing chemotherapy and radiation at LIJ. His doctor is Douglas Frank, reputedly the best in the biz. The therapies will last 6 or 8 weeks. No surgery is indicated at this time. 

This is the same kind of cancer Michael Douglas had last year, but in a slightly different location. And MD is now deemed cancer-free, according to all reports. That's encouraging. 

Our yearly Florida trip is on hold for now. Hopefully, Bob and I will be able to come down later in the season, if the doctor ok's it. 

As far as our other plans, we are adopting a wait-see attitude. I'm thinking of starting a blog so that our loved ones can stay connected but it's kind of a daunting task and I'm not too sure how to go about it. Our friends Meghan and Tommy Nicchi had a wonderful one when their daughter Brooklyn was so ill last year. It was a great comfort to their many friends (certainly it was a comfort to me) so I'm going to try to work something up. Maybe Dan can help me. I hear he's pretty good with computers. 

Facebook and emails are really welcome right now. We know you all care for Bob, but it's always good to hear it out loud, so to speak. 

Next year at this time, it will all be behind us. We are determined to believe that!

Love,

Susan and Bob