The Panama Canal back in the day. A man, a plan, a canal, Panama- is a palindrome (the same forward as back like radar or race car or go hang a salami I’m a lasagna hog).
Friday I had an MRI. My neuro-surgeon was around so he reviewed the images. Monday I have a phone-call with my neuro-oncologist to discuss more. From the images it looks like there are 3 areas of concern: 1) behind my left ear in the cerebellum, 2) in the cavity of the original tumor site, and 3) in the front right part of my brain. The solution we settled on, when looking at the calendar, is a surgery on Friday, April 3. It can still be adjusted, it can still be cancelled, but that’s the plan right now. Surgery on the 3rd to remove the concerning area behind my left ear.
This isn’t a great time to hang out at the hospital (is there ever?). But the reasoning is there is a lot of unknown and this is a way to resolve some of the unknown. All the tumors are likely the same because that’s a thing in the brain - tumor - world which I am, unfortunately, a part of. (I wish I were apart instead.) By removing one spot, that spot no longer needs to be dealt with by other means. Surgery provides matter that can be tested to see what therapies might be the most effective on the remaining spots that aren’t as accessible for surgery. This particular spot also houses some seeming liquid that is good to get out of there. Liquid, like blood or something, has the potential to spread baby stem cells of the tumor to other areas, so getting that out as soon as possible seems wise.
That’s also why surgery now - or soon. To do it right requires some prep work, and there’s my discussion with my neuro-onncologist Monday. And it provides a chance to gather relevant questions from family and friends. And it provides me a chance to breathe. And my neuro-surgeon could do it then (mostly that).
Amidst the Covid craziness (trademark) the hospital has some restrictions on the surgery and such. The biggest is that I’ll only be allowed one visitor (spoiler Julie’s going to be that visitor). Even when I come home, after a few days, we will probably maintain our quarantine - I’ll be even more susceptible after surgery. So no visitors but I’m open to well wishes and good thoughts. Things will probably only get crazier in the coming week, and weeks, so the sooner I have surgery the better. I don’t have any inside info. That’s just an educated guess.