Dr. Diehl finally called late yesterday afternoon to tell me the results of the MRI....now I knew he was going to talk surgery and possibly resection....but I really wasn't prepared for hearing him tell me this...
According to what I heard -- this is what was said....
- He and the radiologist found 5 things...2 (two) hemagoma's (not sure of word or spelling) in the liver that are NOT cancer. -- good thing!
- They did find three (3) lesions...leaving surgical resection with a 40% cure.
- with a potential of a possible forth (4) lesion not seen in the scan.
- one (1) lesion is next to a main vessel vein - way in the back of the liver....(this is where the surgery would take longer...main vessel...could possibly die from bleeding to death....hmmm - best way to go - I'd be under and feel NO pain!) I have to find something to laugh about.
- two (2) lesions are okay and close to the front of the liver....if that was the only surgical removal it would be fast - 10 minutes!
- He seemed to be concerned that he would have to remove the 'right lobe of the liver'...50% resection!!!! I found it interesting - well kind of - that he was concerned with that...
Can't shoot chemo into the one (1) lesion - chemo doesn't cure cancerous tumors....long term survivors need a resection - cut it/them all out!
- He said if we proceed with the surgery he would first do an ultra sound - probe the liver to make sure here are only three and not more...if more - then NO surgery....this, again, would take away 50% of my liver (which regenerates itself)...and he said that 66% do well.
- The surgery would take about 3 - 4 hours - a week stay in the hospital - and about 4 to 6 weeks of feeling like a truck hit me - (funny, he said a 'small' truck).
- He also said that he'd like to talk to my oncologist, Dr. May on Tuesday (he has a meeting on Monday) to discuss this MRI.
I asked if opening me would spread the cancer - he said 'no'.
The incision would be in the front.
With all this said...now I'm not sure if I want to go through with this surgery. I really have to take one step at a time...see what Dr. May says about this.....then I guess I will make my decision on having surgery or what will happen next. No meds to take the rest of my life, I'd be colon cancer free...but because cancer is in my blood, it could come back to any organ or any other part of my body....so many things to consider!
4 to 6 weeks is a long time! I would hate to have to put everyone out for that long....It's summer and the kids have their own lives...the season is too short to begin with and having to have them 'hang' around here for that long a period is not fair to them. I'm feeling fine now...there are a few questions that I have for Dr. May also....but like I said, I have to take one step at a time.
