[Previous entry: "Who is on Steroids?"] [Next entry: "Sweetness"]

05/29/2007: "Moving Forward - But Not Taking Off"

So Friday, Jeanette and I went and sat down with a Neurosurgeon to look over my MRI and to discuss options for treatment for my spine. After looking over the films, he feels that surgery is necessary. My pain will continue unless I receive temporary steroid injections in the spine or stay on the oral steroids (neither are possible for extended periods). At this point the bone itself looks completely taken over by the tumor. This means that it would most likely need to be replaced through a surgery.

The operation was explained to be about a 6-hour process where they would go in through both the front and back of the neck to take out the bone and replace it with a fake. They may take bone from my hip to contribute to this area. Recovery would be the tough part and probably lay me up for several weeks.

My Oncologist and others are concerned at this point that the bone is pretty week and could fracture easily. This could cause me to become paralyzed and move the surgery to an emergency situation. Needless to say, she is adamant about me traveling overseas. So the trip to Germany and Austria is off for tomorrow. Today is a search for a good Neurosurgeon who can move forward with process.

Also this morning I had the pleasure of talking with British Airways once again to figure out what I can do with my ticket. Since it is non-refundable the only way I am not out the $1,600 is if I pay another $200 to make a change and pick another travel date between now and next year. So it looks like I will be traveling back to Germany again some time. However, this will have to wait until Fall or Winter as the Dendritic Cell treatments do not seem to be successful and this Summer looks to be a busy one.