8-15-10 general updates

I have been getting lots of questions about my upcoming treatments, so I'll tell you what I know for sure.



There. did you get it?  I don't know much.  Radiation will be coming up, I don't know when, how much, or for how long. Chemo may or may not happen.  It has not been shown to be very effective with the type of tumor that I have.   In order for all of this to be decided, several things have to happen first:

       1 - I have a PET scan scheduled for Tuesday morning. 
       2- I'll have an appointment at the Hillman center (UPMC) in Pittsburgh sometime after the scan where treatment options will be decided.
       3-I'll have to get all of the details set up at Arnold Palmer Cancer Center(UPMC) (in Latrobe) where I will get treatment.


The area has to heal before they start radiation, since radiation would slow the healing process, and could cause other problems. 

The tumor that I have is rare, about 5000 people in the US have it at any given time, with about 1000 new diagnosis per year.  To compare, there are about 100,000 new cases of colon cancer per year.  The net result of this is that no one seems to know with anything like certainty what will happen in a few months, years, or decades. 

Also, I think you all will find comfort in the fact that this is a slow growing type of tumor, so, you will likely be stuck with me for years to come :)

I am recovering nicely from the surgery. Every day, I feel a little better. That horrible full feeling in my ear is gone (YAY!!) and I have feeling back in about 50% of my ear. The lobe, and parts of the outer rim are still completely numb, though. Parts of my cheek are all tingly (a good sign that nerves are coming back to life). I am still a little more tired than normal, but that is to be expected. 

The best part of the surgery has been a great combination - I've fit into shorts I haven't worn in years :) and I can eat ice cream at 10 AM with no guilt! (ok, maybe a little residual guilt, but I've lost 9-10 lbs in 1.5 weeks, I can use the calories.)