First test results: Good news

The first test results are back, and they contain cause for rejoicing. The news came one week from the diagnosis — to the hour! Blood tests are all normal. CT scan and MRI show only one problem — the “lesion” in the eye.

So we will offer prayers of rejoicing and continue to get paper work squared away.

A tentative date

Marilyn at MD Anderson called this evening to report that we have a tentative appointment with the center. Sept. 10 check in at 6:30 a.m. with our first meeting with Dr. Gombos scheduled for 7:30 a.m. There is an ultrasound test scheduled after the appointment.

The appointment is tentative currently, because they are still dealing with paperwork exchanges, insurance, and so forth. We have been told to expect the first visit will be 3-5 days and that we will receive a packet of information shortly that will include more paperwork for us to fill out.

Scans are done

I checked into Lubbock Radiology at 7:30 this morning, and by 7:45 they had me on the MRI table. After the first half hour or so, the tech actually found a vein in my left arm (right arm had several holes already, but he wanted to go “the road less traveled”) and got an iv set up for the rest of the morning. He then ran me through the machine with some kind of dye running through my body.

After that, he gave me two large cups of some terrible tasting gastro-something, told me to get my things, go out and walk around the lobby and drink that vile stuff. Well, the college football preview issue of SI was in the lobby, so I had something of interest. Get this — they did a huge special section / report on spread offenses, and there was Mike Leach explaining how the Texas Tech spread offense works. Really cool.

About 9:45 they called me in for the CT scan and gave me one of those stylish hospital gowns. Then as I sat on the machine table, they gave me another small dose of that gastro-cyclin something or other. I complained, and the nurse apologized, saying she was not a very good cook.

Well this machine was not nearly as confining, and it talks to you. It tells you when to breathe. Luckily, I passed all the breath-holding tests, and I was out of there by about 10:30. Now, we just have to wait for results. But I do have some more information about the folks in Houston.

Work-up begins

I got to Dr. McCarty’s office before they opened. The receptionist let me in, and as soon as the doctor arrived, they took me in. We chatted a bit as he went over the notes he had from Dr. Allison. He had my blood work from last month handy, so I asked him about liver functions (which I did not remember discussing with him). He said the liver panel they were going to do today was different.

A nurse came and drew three color-coded vials of blood. By the time that was over, the doctor came back in and said that one of the gals in the office would make arrangements for the CT scan and MRI and then they would get back with me. I had paid the co-pay on my way in, so I was on my way out the door, and had actually made it out through the first two sets (of three) doors leading to the parking lot, when Doc McCarty came running (yes, Jack McCarty running — I wish I had a camera) after me.

Emily had already lined up the MRI and CT scans….

First announcement to family

The second eye doctor today wasted little time in diagnosing the problem with my right eye: Choroidal melanoma. He did some confirmatory tests, and then did an immediate — real time — referral to the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. He then got hold of my primary doctor and discussed the “work-up” that needs to be done before I go to Houston.

I start Thursday morning on the first phases of the work-up that will include brain scan, MRI and a raft of blood tests. All this will be done in Lubbock.

If I understand correctly, he is expecting to send us down to Houston some time about 2-3 weeks from now. I don’t know a lot right now.

I went into the doctor’s office at 2 p.m. By 2:45 my eyes were wide open.  By 3:15 he had completed the first exam of both eyes. His first words were, “I’m afraid it’s not good,” and then he used the “m” word. He was very blunt. He said sometimes they can do radiation, “you may lose the eye,” and he suggested, “or worse,” depending on what they find.

The preliminary work-up is designed in part to find evidence of metastasis / other cancer.

I called Nancy in Phoenix almost as soon as I knew, and then I fulfilled my regular Wednesday night temple assignment. At the temple I received a wonderful blessing from President Hendricks and Scott Wells after the 8 p.m. session.

Now you know as much as I do.

Diagnosis melanoma

I had been having some trouble focusing my eyes on reading since May, so I made it a point in my annual checkup visits to ask for a referral to my ophthalmologist. I had mentioned to Nancy that there was something going on in my right eye, but that’s about all. Dr. Boothe saw me on July 31, and said he wanted a retina specialist to see me — Kevin Allison. The referral diagnosis was “retinal edema.”

Scheduling issues prevented me from seeing him until Aug. 20. Because I have a church assignment on Wednesdays, I was watching the clock as the afternoon appointment drew on. I left the doctor’s office some time after 4, headed for home with several conversations going on in my head at once. I thought I had understood Dr. Allison to suggest I would likely lose my eye, and that that might only be the beginning. Do I call Nancy in Phoenix and tell her, or do I wait until she returns? Do I have time to eat dinner? Should I stay home tonight? What does all this mean?

I finally decided that there was no better place to be at such a time than the House of the Lord, and that I needed to call Nancy now. So I grabbed my headset and called her as I left the house for the temple. I was concerned about her response — she was understandably distressed. I think she agreed that there was no better place for me to be than the temple, and she asked that I call when I got home.

I did. And then I composed an e-mail to family, which I sent out late Wednesday.