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Post by paulpogue on Jul 17, 2011 16:53:48 GMT -8
... as we all hold our breath waiting for followup-test results that will determine if the shadow in Armand's stomach is A: a scanning fluke; B: a reasonably survivable secondary tumor; or C: a resurging neuroblastoma tumor with such dismal odds of recovery that doctors measure their success in how many more months you manage to stay alive.   |
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Post by michaelpaciocco on Jul 17, 2011 20:48:03 GMT -8
Rooting for Armand, buddy. Thoughts are with you - just let us know if we can do anything.
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Post by K-Box on Jul 17, 2011 20:50:14 GMT -8
Seconding Michael.
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Post by jensaltmann on Jul 17, 2011 23:05:43 GMT -8
Thirding.
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Post by paulpogue on Jul 18, 2011 8:16:16 GMT -8
Thanks for the support, gang, and for being willing to listen to me talk about the grim stuff I don't always mention everywhere else.
Things are looking good. The main scan came back, with a solid confirmation that whatever the growth it, it is NOT neuroblastoma. Based on Armand's blood counts, his doctor theorizes that it's not a secondary cancerous growth either, because his blood work isn't showing the kind of crazy white-blood-cell activity that would normally accompany a cancer of that size. Best guess at the moment is that it's a benign growth or some sort of cyst. Which, hilariously, is the most statistically improbable of all the options.
We meet with Armand's surgical team Wednesday to discuss further options. As I said, the idea that it's benign is only a hypothesis at this point, so we're going to decide whether to watch, wait and rescan later on, or go ahead and remove it and biopsy now, since even a benign growth isn't something you want just lying around in a cancer survivor's tummy. But we'll see what the surgeons say.
Kat and I's wild guess: The growth actually WAS a recurrent neuroblastoma tumor, which was blasted out of existence by the super-experimental antibody treatment that Armand was on, and is now just a mass of dead cells. If that's the case, it's a significant EPIC WIN for the antibody theory.
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Post by jensaltmann on Jul 18, 2011 8:30:00 GMT -8
Thanks for the support, gang, and for being willing to listen to me talk about the grim stuff I don't always mention everywhere else. That's what we're here for. I don't think I'm the only one to say that if you need to bend an ear, we're all just a phone call away. Things are looking good. The main scan came back, with a solid confirmation that whatever the growth it, it is NOT neuroblastoma. Based on Armand's blood counts, his doctor theorizes that it's not a secondary cancerous growth either, because his blood work isn't showing the kind of crazy white-blood-cell activity that would normally accompany a cancer of that size. Best guess at the moment is that it's a benign growth or some sort of cyst. Which, hilariously, is the most statistically improbable of all the options. We meet with Armand's surgical team Wednesday to discuss further options. As I said, the idea that it's benign is only a hypothesis at this point, so we're going to decide whether to watch, wait and rescan later on, or go ahead and remove it and biopsy now, since even a benign growth isn't something you want just lying around in a cancer survivor's tummy. But we'll see what the surgeons say. Kat and I's wild guess: The growth actually WAS a recurrent neuroblastoma tumor, which was blasted out of existence by the super-experimental antibody treatment that Armand was on, and is now just a mass of dead cells. If that's the case, it's a significant EPIC WIN for the antibody theory. Okay, so I interpret this as: good news, yes? In which case (no offense, I just want to provide a giggle) there might be something else for you to worry about. But not until Ace enters puberty, his healing factor kicks in in full force, he starts calling everyone Bub and sharpens his claws on the furniture. I'm very glad that he rolled the natural 20. |
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Post by paulpogue on Jul 18, 2011 8:51:10 GMT -8
Yes, good news all around  . There still may be not-so-good news in the next few weeks, but based on current information, it will not be of the "you have six months left" variety. |
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Post by michaelpaciocco on Jul 18, 2011 19:50:23 GMT -8
Glad to hear the good news, Paul. I'm happy for you and yours. Be well and try and take a few days to relax.
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. There still may be not-so-good news in the next few weeks, but based on current information, it will not be of the "you have six months left" variety.