Amusing quote of the day: Doctors “practice” medicine.
Note: Andrew is feeling slightly fed up with healthcare right now.
Monday, July 11, noon – We’re at the hospital, again. In Radiology, again. To see the radiologist, again. So I can get another needle biopsy, again.
This is the third needle biopsy this year, after the ones in January and March. And we’re not counting the Chamberlain procedure in April where they took out a section of rib to get a lot of tissue. So we’re back at option 1 again. More tissue.
Why? Why need more tissue? These needle biopsies get 5-6 pieces of tissue the size of a grain of rice, and they’ve done 2 of them so far. The Chamberlain procedure yielded tissue sample as big as 3cm in diameter! Yet we still need more tissue. Why?
Because. Because the doctor said so, that’s why. And because my latest CT scan shows that the hot node in my chest seems to be growing outward towards the scar from the Chamberlain procedure. The doctor is hoping we can get a “better” sample this time.
What defines “better“?
“Better” in this context is being able to get out of this “waiting game” we’ve been in since the end of December.
“Better” means getting a tissue sample that has Reed Sternberg cells, which are the characteristic cancer cells of Hodgkins Lymphoma.
“Better” means having a diagnosis that makes sense in Western Medicine.
“Better” means being proving I still have cancer, which means “treatment” can continue.
What defines “treatment“?
“Treatment” means a stem cell transplant, consisting of several steps. First, ICE chemo to make sure it’s actually cancer. Second, harvest my stem cells. Third, High Dose chemo to wipe out all my white blood cells (since Reed Sternberg cells are actually morphed white blood cells). And fourth, put my stem cells back in me in hopes to regrow them and rebuild my immune system. This whole process would take about 4 months. It would be harder than the 6 months of chemo I went through last year, yet the doctors argue that it will be easier because it happens over a shorter period of time. Maybe there is some truth to that, but it’s still going to be rough.
So that is WHY I get to go get stuck again today, and have more tissue taken.
We’ll find out the results of the biopsy on Thursday, July 14, and we appreciate all your prayers and support.
In addition to the option 1 of more tissue, I have also been pursuing the Option 5 of seeking out alternative forms of treatment in addition to the current regimen. I have started to see someone who does energy work on the body, and is working with the chakras and energy meridians in my body to help the healing process. I think it is a good thing, and look forward to continuing that.
It is a long slow road to recovery, and I am plodding along, marching towards good health, and tremendously encouraged by all your support. Thank you so much.
P.S. It is going to be a long day at the hospital. Hopefully we will be out by 6pm tonight. If anyone wants to make Jacqui and I dinner, we would love you forever.
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