WEEK 2

AUGUST 28TH - SEPTEMBER 2ND, 2017

Where to start.... It has been a long and crazy week, so let's start from the beginning. 

Wednesday, August 30th - Our first meeting with the oncologist, Dr. Cameron with Mitchell Cancer Institute. It was truly a sigh of relief to meet with Dr. Cameron and his staff. The whole atmosphere was family oriented and friendly. Dr. Cameron decided to change the original treatment plan considering a new enlarged lymph node he saw on my CT with contrast pelvic scan. There was one large lymph node that he was concerned about in the left groin area and if it was cancerous he wanted to start with the more aggressive form of chemo first. Since the cancer that I have is aggressive and now could possibly be outside the rectal area we need to do something different in regards to treatment. Dr. Cameron said we need to hit this hard in the beginning with chemo, followed by chemo pill, radiation, resting a couple of weeks, and then surgery. Overall it was an incredible meeting, he thinks outside of the box and really made Kelly and I feel like family and important.  He gave Kelly his cell number and said text him with any questions she may have. 

Dr. Cameron also explained that he was taking my case before the Tumor Board. This is a board of over 30 oncologist, radiologist, geneticist, GI doctors and more. He wanted to confirm and consult with them about my form of treatment and the overall details of my case. Dr. Cameron also sent in orders for me to have a PET Scan and biopsy a piece of the enlarged lymph node that he found which will take place Friday, September 1st. He also ordered for me to have a my port put in for chemo on Tuesday, September 5th, with chemo treatments starting on Wednesday, September 6th. 

Thursday, August 31st - Our first meeting with the surgeon, Dr. Lee Thompson with Cancer Surgery of Mobile at Mobile Infirmary. Dr. Thompson was very informative, some of the info is not what we wanted to hear however, it was the truth so we needed it. In a nutshell we are praying the tumor will shrink enough (microscopically) to be removed and that there will be enough room to attach everything back together. If not I will have to wear a colostomy bag the rest of my life. However, I will tell you exactly what I told Dr. Thompson! I would rather be here and wear the bag that not be here and have a butthole. LOL 

We also met with a geneticist today. They are testing to see if this cancer is caused by a genetic gene mutation because of my family's history and my age. She just put in my maternal grandfather (colon/liver cancer) and my cancer diagnosis in the grid, and it came back with a 38% read in favor of gene mutation. This will play a huge roll in my treatment and research for my family. 

Friday, September 1st - First off, it is my Mom's birthday!!! Secondly, it's PETScan day. We arrived at Mobile Infirmary 65 building to have the scan. They called me back and gave me the radioactive glucose formula and said you can now rest for the next hour until your scan. LET ME TELL YOU..... I haven't slept that good in a long time, I was out cold... They came in a got me for the test and it took about 20 to 30 minutes to complete. After the test they said remember you're radioactive so stay away from close contact with people, avoid children, and pregnant women. So naturally I start humming in my "Radioactive" by Imagine Dragons in my head as I walked out. 

This evening we got the test results back from the scan. The lymph node that Dr. Cameron was concered about came back "hot" which means it is cancerous. Also, there were a couple of other little lymph nodes on the right that came up on this test as well. While this isn't great news.... I call it the "Joy of Knowledge". If we didn't know everything that is going on and where exactly the cancer is then how can it be treated properly? I am overjoyed that Dr. Cameron and Thompson took the time and the effort to dig further. 

So here is my outlook and perspective for you.... Even though it seem likes every prayer has come back with the opposite answer we were wanting; I truly believe God has allowed this diagnoses to be "worst tragedy" in order for it to be the GREATEST VICTORY for HIM. I asked Kelly how much praise would have been given to HIM if one lymph node came back clear versus looking back over the next year from stage 4 cancer and being in REMISSION! God will have the victory and either way I WIN! 

Saturday, September 2nd- ROLL TIDE and that's all.