Appointments

Yesterday (12/30/09) I was scheduled for 4 more appointments at M.D. Anderson.
8 - MRI
10 - Radiation Oncology
10:30 - Dr. Martin, Dental Oncology
11:30 - Dr. Gidley, Head & Neck Center (ear specialist)

I won't go into details, but we weren't exactly kept on the above schedule. I guess I should learn now to plan on about 2 hours wait each time. We finished at 2pm and never got to see the dentist so that's been rescheduled for 1/19/10.

The MRI went fine. I've had so many now that I'm used to it. The tight space doesn't bother me... just close my eyes and go somewhere else.

Radiation Oncology
I met with a resident (didn't catch his name) and Dr. Adam Garden. They explained the procedure, risks & complications. Their hope is that the radiation treatments (daily, M-F, for 6 weeks) will stop future growth of the tumor(s). Of course, there are no guarantees and since I'm young, there's more time for them to re-surface. The treatments will start about 4 weeks after surgery. I'll go in the week before to be fitted for a mask so that each treatment hits the exact same spot each time. Each session should last about 20 minutes... plan to be there for an hour. Short term/temporary side effects are skin irritation, sore throat & dry mouth. Long term risks are hearing loss and tooth damage (I'll learn more about that when I see the dentist).

Head & Neck - Ear specialist
Dr. Osborn (resident) and Dr. Paul Gidley. So far, Dr. Gidley is, by far, my favorite. He spent plenty of time going over details of the surgery and asked several times if I had any more questions. Never seemed to be in a rush. I don't mind waiting if that's the treatment I get! Here's what I got out of what he said: There will be two incisions: 1 will follow the original incision and there will be a second one behind my ear. That's where they will drill into the mastoid bone to find the main branch of the facial nerve. They'll follow that up and clean up tumors as they go (I suppose). They have to start at the "beginning" because the nerves on my face will be full of scar tissue and it's easier to start at the beginning than jumping into that big mess. Also, if they end up sacrificing the nerve (pray they don't), then they'll have a "clean stump" to attach a nerve graft. We're anticipating having to have skin removed too because the tumors are so close to (possibly embedded in) the skin that it can't be separated. That will probably lead to a skin graft. (I meet with Plastics on the 19th too.) With the "basic" surgery of removing the tumors and also doing a skin graft (not counting on a nerve graft), the surgery will take 10-12 hours. Good thing I'll be asleep! I feel sorry for my family. It will suck for them to wait. So the hope is that they will preserve the facial nerve, however, this type of surgery (and the fact it's my 3rd) is very traumatic to the nerve so I've been told to expect at least a temporary weakening (and/or paralysis) on the right side of my face. Guess that means I can't wink at the cute boys anymore... at least not for a while. That could last weeks or months. The risks/complications for the bone drilling part are hearing loss (rare), ringing sound (rare), dizziness (rare), facial weakness (probable), change of taste (unlikely).

I'm still scheduled for surgery on 2/10/10 which means radiation would start mid-March. My next appointments are 1/19/10 so that'll probably be my next update. Praying for another richly blessed year in 2010!