Game On

Today, Mom met with the cardiothoracic surgeon, Dr. Seligson. This man was AMAZING! He had already reviewed Mom's case prior to our arrival, spoke with other physicians involved (Dr. Brook, the pulmonologist and also the radiologist that read the PET scan), and was ready to give her a few options complete with in depth explanations.

We discussed what she's up against surgically and physically. He explained that due to the size of the tumor it is unclear if lymph nodes are involved. He added that lymph nodes can also light up on PET scan due to some sort of inflammatory process or infection...remember, she did have pneumonia at the beginning of this. He also explained that the three tiny spots on her liver are not a huge concern at this time as he has reviewed their significance on the PET scan with the radiologist.

Dr. Seligson and Mom came to a great plan of attack. First, he will do the bronchoscopy to look for any airway obstruction and possibly take biopsies of the tumor. Second, he will do the mediastinoscopy. This is the procedure where he will make an incision at the notch of her sternum and take a scope and look inside the mediastinum and look at the lymph nodes. From here he will take biopsies of the lymph nodes and the pathologist will be waiting to look at them (all the biopsies taken) in the lab. He told us that we will have results in about 15-30 minutes. From this point, the game can take one of two turns. If the lymph nodes are positive (have cancer), he closes up and she will be in the hospital for about 23hours. Then she will more than likely need chemo and radiation prior to any tumor removal. However, if the lymph nodes are clear (no cancer), he will proceed with a thoracotomy and lobectomy (taking out the lobe with the tumor in it). It gets a little tricky though. Best case, the tumor is contained in the upper lobe and the surrounded blood vessels are not affected and the tumor can be removed without complication. Because he does not know until he is in there how attached the tumor is, there is a chance that it can be aggressively attached to the pulmonary artery and disrupting the flow of blood from the heart to the lung.

We have been so very lucky during this journey with things falling into place that we have every confidence in Dr. Seligson to help Mom on her road to recovery. When Dr. Seligson was taking Mom's history, he was getting an estimate on her lung function and how well she does when going up stairs. Then he asked her how far she thought she could walk on flat ground. Dad and I looked at each other and simultaneously said, "The Las Vegas Strip." Dr. Seligson laughed and is pretty confident she will do fine after surgery with that answer. By the way, she has gained 2.2 pounds! Thanks Heather!

She needs to get a few more test completed before the surgery and attend a prior engagement she has been looking forward to for the last 44 years that she wouldn't miss for the world. Therefore, the BIG DAY to remove George (Yup, she named the tumor!) is Monday, March 30th at 7:30am.