Cheers and claps filled the Moffitt Cancer Center exam room as Dr. Shadir announced to us that the cancer hadn't spread to any other part of the body. It's kinda sad how excited we were for stage 3 cancer, but the most important thing is that it is curable at this stage! The doctor did have a "but." In the PET scan they saw an issue with the tumor effecting my Dad's trachea. It is either putting pressure on it or invading it. If the tumor is in fact invading the trachea than they cannot perform surgery as planned after the radiation and chemo. And they would need to install a stint into the trachea to help my Dad breathe. We're hoping it is just pressure so that they can surgically remove the effected area after treatment. This will be determined by a pulmonary doctor at USF examining the trachea. This is the next step. And on Tuesday my Dad has an endoscopy with Dr. Barthel so determine which type of chemo they are going to proceed with to get rid of this giant tumor in his esophagus!
The doctor showed us the PET scan. It was crazy to look at. The tumor takes up pretty much the whole esophagus and it was glowing on the scan. They inject $7,000 worth of nuclear radiation to read this scan. It is a mix of a CAT scan and an MRI. Wherever there are cancer cells, they say you will light up like a Christmas tree. Thank God the esophagus was the only glowing part. It isn't stage 4!!!
My Dad also volunteered for them to take some of his cells to run a study on to help future patients. They will treat the cells with different types of chemo and see the results. Anything to help cancer research!
They are planning to start radiation on Dec. 20th. They have to scope out the trachea, esophagus and install golden radiation balls in him to get the treatment going. It is amazing how much time, tests and research all of this takes.
Today we are spending the day decorating the house for Christmas while jamming out to Christmas music! We've spent many Christmas' in FL but this our first official FL Christmas living here so it is pretty exciting! All of this has made me really appreciate the little moments like these. Every Christmas it is always my Dad and I that place the tree topper. Ever since I can remember he would pick me up to put the Angel on top of the tree or hold me as I stood on a chair (obviously I'm not a little girl to be just picked up anymore!). Well back to decorating. Thank you everyone so much for your prayers and thoughts. We're so thankful that it didn't spread and that he is curable!! Keep them coming!
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