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You are welcome to apply any part of this article to your own personal use. Please do NOT publish any part of the article or apply any part of it to any non-personal use without the express written concent of the author.
Hi all,
You've all heard the expression: "It ain't over until the fat lady sings." Well, right now the fat lady is on stage, the conductor has raised his baton, he's waiting for her to start singing the final aria, but she's got something caught in her throat. Everybody (the audience, the orchestra, the chorus...) has to wait for a bit until she can start singing. So we're in for a bit more drama.
Translation: The preliminary pathology report on the tissue sample from my leg has been replaced with an uncertain diagnosis. The lab called my neurosurgeon and said that they are "concerned" that there are some "aggressive tendencies" and a possible "invasion of surrounding tissues" in the early stages. They feel they cannot give a definitive diagnosis, and have forwarded the samples to a more expert pathology group. We won't have the response from those folks for several days.
So, instead of being 90-95% certain that the growth is benign, it's now only 50%. With apologies to R. Wagner and his "Ring" operas, I feel like one of the Niebelungs has hit me between the eyes with his hammer.
Of course, given our vivid imaginations, I've automatically calculated it in my mind as a 95% certainty that the growth is malignant. So, becoming Capt. Peg-Leg may not be that far fetched. Fortunately I already have a parrot to carry on my shoulder, so my retraining should be a piece of cake.
At least, that's the most negative image my mind has generated. I have to keep reminding myself to wait for more definitive news before believing it.
Assuming that the growth has some "aggressive tendencies," my neurosurgeon is recommending the most aggressive treatment available at the earliest practical date. He says that, given my age and health, and given how early we're catching it, there's every reason to plan on a 100% cure.
My neurosurgeon is also referring me to a specialist in peripheral nerves in Gainsville, Florida, just a few hours drive away. We already have an appointment there on November 18, in the mid-afternoon. We'll be seeing the new guy regardless of what the expert pathology people say. He's apparently one of the best peripheral nerve guys in the country. Another reason for going to Gainsville is that the same hospital has one of the country's best orthopedic oncologists, the type of medical specialty required to treat this growth. Lots of preliminary red tape is being ignored to get me this appointment this quickly, thanks to my neurosurgeon.
In the next few days we can expect word from the expert pathologists. I'll pass on that info as soon as I get it. For now I'll be looking up the musical score for the opera -- maybe the fat lady doesn't sing quite yet and there's another act to follow.
Fair winds,
Capt. Edmund "Bear" Downing
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