Bryce had scans yesterday. Today was results day, For the first time since he started this journey, I didn't go with him to the results appointment. That is where a lot of my anxiety stemmed from yesterday. Today, I boldly went into work with the promise that Bryce would video me in via Google Hangouts. He did as promised.I wish I could say that he got another few weeks of reprieve, but that isn't the case. Six weeks ago we went to Houston for scans. Actually..... let me back up to his surgery in May.
In May, they did the major surgery that removed the bone that housed the last tumor. They removed the top portion of his sternum, some of his collar bones and the first couple of ribs that connected to the portion of the sternum that they removed. When he came out of surgery, we knew that there were two spots on his trachea that showed cancer. The cancerous cells were marked with little metal pins so that they could watch them and look closely at his scans. They were microscopic cells. Cancer has to be a certain size to show up in a CT scan. These two spots were so small, they did not show up in his pre-surgical scans. But we knew that they were there.
He healed up and did GREAT! He has felt better after this surgery than he has in well over a year. The first scan was clear. We went on our amazing road trip of a lifetime. Then he had the scan six weeks ago that had that place that looked a little fishy that was near one of the markers put in during surgery. So, there was that. Then, the scan yesterday. Today was results day.
So we're back in reality. The fun vacations are done. I'm at work while he's at the doctor. Cancer is happening again. The fishy spot has turned into a grape. For all of my throwing up yesterday, and cuss words for... OK.... all of the time..... but none of the throwing up or cuss words got him different results. It's back. It sucks. We weren't blindsided, but it still sucks.
Here are the questions we get a lot of:
- What's the prognosis?
- Our doctors don't really give us that anymore. He's been terminal for a year and a half. They also told him over a year ago that he could be dead by now. Here's the deal...... We pray. God has got this. He's got Bryce. He's got me. He's got the boys.
- Radiation or Surgery?
- Radiation will probably cause his heart to explode because his sternum is missing, but his surgeon will talk to his radiation oncologist (Dr. Cronowski). The surgeon doesn't feel comfortable with surgery because he has that other marker that could grow AND this is kinda too close to the carotid, They aren't into allluh THAT.
- Next Steps:
- She's looking into STUFF. However, we've stayed in touch with his oncologist that is here in Austin at Texas Oncology (Dr. Yorio) that has administered the chemo the last two times up here. This guy's running a clinical trial that has just started that is specific to Bryce's cancer. Bryce will go see him on Monday. Meanwhile, Dr. P will talk to Dr. Y & Dr. Jasani (medical oncologist at MD) to see if this is the best way to go.
- So, there's Monday. That's been covered.
- He also has to "confirm" that he has cancer with a biopsy. MD is working on getting him an appointment on Wednesday for that.
Basically, things are in motion. They've been in constant motion. It's not that we always expect the worst, but we are starting to get used to how it all works. And trust me..... we're both over it. And we continue to pray. Prayer has been key this week. We invited Pastor Mike and his wife, Rhonda, over here to pray with us. We had a really good time talking about LOTS of things. This was also a chance for us to get to know them.
*Don't worry: I told them that I come with a disclaimer*
And here's the deal: we keep praying. Bryce needed measurable disease to qualify for this chemo. Now he has it. Now we pray that it works. God has big plans for the Stobb family. Just you wait and see,.....
You'll see..... you'll all see.....
No comments:
Post a Comment