Update on yesterday's visit to UVA and a race against Cancer!

Yesterday we spent all day at UVA, bouncing around between appointments. Sheila was a real trooper for me and passed out for the night, an hour or two after getting home.

I learned that I might need a few doses of Chemo after all. 

Dr. Read the head RAD/ONC MD, with Dr. Wilson, told me that there was a study done by Univ of Washington in Seattle, that 100 cancer patients took part in. Basically, 2 out of every 50 that declined a few doses of a certain Chemo therapy, ended up having their Cancer return later and it was worse for them.

I told him, I have so much to live for with our first child on the way. I need to be able to take care of Sheila once she gets to her 3rd trimester and that I am only taking this Cancer ride ONCE.

I told him I was ok with the Chemo, if it meant this monster can never come back and haunt me. 

The pathology report will be ''broken down'' by the entire team treating me this Thursday. Dr.s Levine, Shonka, Jameson, Nguyen, Read, and Wilson from the Rad dept. will all be present at this meeting.

(I wish I could be there too..I think it would be interesting to hear them discuss my case) 

Dr. Read was the last appt for me yesterday, but knows I am in full support of his decision and will communicate that to the others.

Granted, I was upset at first when at my earlier appt Dr. Nguyen and Shonka mentioned the slight possibility of Chemo. 

Once I was with Dr. Read and Wilson, I felt more calm about the idea upon his counsel to Sheila and I.  

I took one look at my wife and knew in my heart, it had to be done. I don't want to have to repeat this journey ever again, nor put her through the emotional throes of it again either. 

Im still healing from the dissection and was given the DVD of PT therapy that survivor/volunteer Larry created. I'll begin those exercises today.  I go back to UVA on the 30th for my follow up and will then get a CT scan and be fitted for my radiation pet mask. 

Onward and forward into battle!!  LET'S DO THIS. 

P.S. An incredible friend of mine named Thomas is running in my honor for this year's DetermiNATION race sponsored by the American Cancer Society.  If you have 1 dollar to donate, or 5 dollars, or whatever you can give, to help further the destruction of this horrible disease, please donate.  

Your simple gesture of kindess and love, will go a long way to ensure that a child, teenager, or adult gets to make it to another Birthday. 

 Here is the link to his page, its tax deductible too.  He doesn't race until October, so there is time. 

Please if you can, donate. Even if its just one dollar....that one dollar will go a tremendous distance. 

http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?px=29856259&pg=personal&fr_id=47552&fl=en_US&et=2UtS_mE3i8SN30rwXxQk5w&s_tafId=975667

 with love and more soon, God bless!