Friday, 27 February 04
The head mask necessary for radiation treatment was fitted today. A warm, soft mesh is pressed over my head so that it conforms to my face and sides of my head. This mask will ensure that I do not move during the eight minute procedure. The plan is for 30 treatments, daily Monday through Friday, beginning 08 March 2004. At the same time, I will take temozolomide (TMZ) chemotherapy daily, including weekends, a total of 42 treatments. TMZ is a pill I will take at home. It has been shown to augment the effects of radiation. Concurrent radiation and 42 days of TMZ ia considered a very aggressive treatment approach.
Thursday, 26 February 04
Met with radiation-oncologist Dr. L. Chinsoo Cho of the Moncrief Cancer Center. Dr. Cho is an expert at conformal radiation protocols and a welcome addition to the medical team. This type of treatment involves several low intensity, shaped radiation beams that are directed into the tumor cavity (where the tumor was located before surgery) from different angles that provide an additive effect to the tumor site. At the same time the normal brain tissues receive a much lower dosage of radiation.
Its a small world after all...during the visit with Dr. Cho, we discovered that his children are enrolled at our swim school in Flower Mound, Texas, AquaKids. We took an immediate liking to Dr. Cho - his expertise is evident and his personality is warm and sincere.
Wednesday, 25 February 04
Sample tumor tissues were sent to M.D. Anderson and Duke University for 2nd and 3rd opinions at to what the tumor actually is.
Monday, 23 February 04
The dexamethasone steriod is reduced from 8 mg/day to 4 mg/day. I desire to get off of the steriod as soon as possible, as it makes me constantly hungry and provides a certain 'nervous' energy. I also cannot sleep through the night. I wake up at 2:30 am and lie in bed for two hours trying to go back to sleep. Dexamethasone has also given me a mild case of acne on my chest and back. The steriod serves an important purpose - to control inflamation - but I still hope to eliminate the drug soon.
Wednesday, 18 February 04
Baylor pathology issues a report stating that the tumor removed on 2/4/04 is a glioblastoma multiforme, an aggressive tumor and the most difficult type to treat that there is. Extensive calcification is found in the tumor as well, normally indicative of less aggressive meingiomas. Baylor did not run a growth test on the tissue either. The only bit of good news in the Baylor report is that this was a primary tumor, meaning that it did not metastasize from another part of my body. Not satisfied with this report or the fact that it took two weeks to receive it, I determine to obtain 2nd and 3rd opinions.
Monday, 16 February 04
My first day back at work since Friday, January 23rd. The week of January 25th was spent diagnosing the fact that I had a brain tumor. The week of February 1st was required to extract the beast and return home, and the week of February 8th was a week of rest and recovery. It was great to be back at work - every day is a gift from God.
Saturday, 14 February 04
Valentines day, and it snowed! This is unusual for Texas. It was great to play with the children in the snow just a few days after my return home from surgery.
Friday, 13 February 04
Dr. Finn removed the stiches and gave his permission for me to return to work full-time. It has been only nine days since surgery. I have been resting at home this week. We have received much food from our neighbors, along with flowers and plants! Two notable flower arrangements are from EFW, the company I work for, and from Elbit Systems, the company that owns EFW.
Friday, 06 February 04
The post-operation MRI shows a total gross resection of the tumor, meaning that the whole thing was removed. This is the best possible news I can receive at this point. The tumor is sent to Baylor pathology for analysis. Dr. Finn reduced the dexamethasone dosage from 32 mg/day to 8 mg/day and released me from the hospital. I returned home only two days after surgery! There is no other way to describe this surgery and recovery other than a miracle. To God be the glory!
Thursday, 05 February 04
Most of the bibs are removed and I am moved to a room. My rapid post-operation recovery continues, by the grace of God. My wife brings me a huge buritto from Chipotle, which I wiped out with no problem. Later in the day, my niece brought me a hamburger from Wendy's, which was immediately dispatched.
After proving to the staff that I am ambulatory (I can walk on my own), the leg wraps are discontinued. There is no way to get any rest in a hospital. The staff must check you every two hours. If you are asleep, they wake you up. They are doing their job - an important one at that, but I would like to be able to sleep.
Wednesday, 04 February 04
Surgery at Baylor University Medical Center began around 1 pm and concluded at 4 pm. Several bibs (IV ports) were inserted: (1) in my left wrist, (2) near my left elbow (on top), (3) left arm near my shoulder, (4) right arm near my shoulder and (5) artery catheter in my neck. The anesthesia team then proceeded to pump something into bib number 3, and the next thing I remember is the anesthesiologist telling me that the surgery was over. All I could say to him was "fantastic, fantastic!"
The tumor was located in right temporal area, or more accurately sort of on top of the right temporal lobe, just above my right ear, making the traitor 'eminently operable.' This is evidently not a critical part of the brain, so neurosurgeon Dr. Sam Finn was able to extract the entire tumor, at least all that he could see under the microscope. Six screws were used to reattach the piece of my skull that was removed to gain access to the beast. My head was not shaved - the bandage was stapled into my scalp!
So I woke up in the Baylor ICU and basically felt great. I did request one low dosage of morphine to deal with a pain centered around my right eye. With the exception of this single dosage of pain killer, I have not needed any other medication for pain.
There is no way to get much rest in ICU. For one thing, you have to wear leg wraps that are connected to a pump that squeezes blood up your legs to prevent the blood from pooling, thereby minimizing the risk of blood clots. The device serves an important and vital purpose, but is loud and cycles once per minute.
The ICU nurses are a special group of people. They live in a different world of which I was a part for 18 hours. The best way I can describe an ICU nurse at Baylor is that they are like a 'normal' nurse on steriods. Ever vigilant, experienced, sharp as a tack and trained to handle every contingency, these folks offer the best care imaginable to people recovering from surgery.
Monday, 02 February 04
Pre-operation meeting with Dr. S. Sam Finn. Pre-Op tests were also conducted. I feel comfortable with him and am ready to get this done. Finn moves the surgery up one day, to Wednesday, 04 February, due to a cancellation.
A package arrived from First Baptist Church of Richardson containing a pager that vibrates each time someone prays for me. This prayer pager will prove to be a major source of encouragement when I lie awake in the ICU following surgery, and in the days, weeks and months to follow.
