Updates

Everyone is asking and I hate to be evasive but honestly, we don't know much more than we did 2 weeks ago. Here's where we stand now.

Bob had a Petscan a couple of weeks ago. The biopsy of his throat was done the following day at LIJ hospital by the ENT Superstar Dr Douglas Frank. Before the surgery, he told us that the Petscan had shown another cancer on his esophagus, in addition to the one we already knew about which is on his hypo pharynx. He was able to successfully biopsy those. They test positive as squamous cancer. The doctor was not significantly alarmed by this since it was what he had suspected and the treatment would not change because of this new esophagus cancer.

HOWEVER he was concerned about another very small spot that showed up on the Petscan. This is on Bob's spine. The doctor had no idea what it could be but he had to find out because it could significantly change the treatment. If it was cancerous then the treatment would have to aim for remission rather than eradication of the cancers at the two other sites.

So now we needed another biopsy. Unfortunately this was a complicated procedure because of the spinal location. We needed to go to a different hospital (North Shore University) because special equipment was needed and three different specialties had to be present. It took more than a week to coordinate everything. Yesterday, Bob finally had the second biopsy. The surgeon was optimistic that he got the samples he needed but couldn't guarantee it because Bob started to wake up and move around toward the end and the anesthesiologist refused to administer more drugs. So the surgeon had to pull out all the needles, etc, in fear that Bob's spine could be damaged.

Now we have to wait until Monday to get the results (hopefully). The oncologist tells us that bone biopsies take much longer to analyze than tissue because first the calcium in the sample has to be dissolved.
Once we have these answers Dr Frank and the oncologist team will decide how to treat.

In the meanwhile, we are in good spirits. Bob is not in any pain, except from the biopsies, which Percoset is handling ok. We even got to spend a few days in Florida between procedures (and also to see his dentist who had to get involved). We bought iPhones while we were there so learning how to use them is a major project and great distraction. How does anybody type on that tiny keyboard? I have small fingers and it's still a chore.

Right now Bob is still sleeping (snoring) while I type this in bed. I'm posting this right now before he wakes up and makes me change it.

Thank you all for your calls and letters. Keep 'em coming.  Have a Happy Thanksgiving.

Love, Susan