Cancer Update II

I met with the surgeon today and discussed the upcoming medical excitement I'll have this summer. I will undergo two separate surgeries. The first one will laproscopically remove my right adrenal gland which has a small tumor inside. The surgery itself will last 2-4 hours and keep me in the hospital around 5 days or so (if any complications, then longer). I will just have to undergo tests every so often in the future to monitor my left adrenal gland. I won't have to take steroids unless the left one is removed at some point.

Approximately 2 weeks later, I will have my thyroid removed. An incision will be made at the base of my neck (underneath my chin) about 3 inches wide. One piece of good news is that it does not look like I will need a lateral incision on either side of my neck because my lymph nodes checked out relatively normal. This surgery will last 3-5 hours but will only keep me in the hospital 2 days, pending no complications. For the next few weeks (from now), I will be taking an "alpha blocker" (I think that's what it's called) that will lower my blood pressure. I will be a bit lethargic for a while and will need to have my blood pressure checked every week. This is to prepare me for the adrenalectomy. I meet with the anesthesiologist next Friday to discuss what all gettin knocked out is about.

Well, there's your mass amount of confusing medical information. I should know within the next week the specific dates for the surgeries. They will likely occur in late June or early July. I will post them as soon as I find out. The downside, other than the obvious, is that I'll likely miss work for a few weeks. The only other "big" things I really fret about (and considering this is cancer we're working with, don't worry, I'm counting my blessings) are the risk of damage to the vocal chord nerves (10-20%) and the pain from the adrenalectomy. According to the doctor, they will make 4-5 two-inch holes in my right side that are essentially (in his own words) the painful equivalent of being stabbed a few times. That sounds a bit dramatic but they will have me on pain medication for about a week so I got that goin for me.

Those of you in Indiana will be seeing me this weekend. My lady friend and I will be trekking north late Thursday evening and returning home sometime on Monday. It will be a nice vacation away from everything. Don't forget tomorrow evening is Lost's season finale so stop by sometime after if you get a chance. Just keep stopping by folks, I got more coming soon...