THE DIAGNOSIS

I apologize for not posting information sooner, but between dealing with yet another bout of "shock", and then adelphia internet being down all day!..... sigh

Mark, Philip, Megan, Bishop Mike, Tony and I arrived at the oncologists office, yesterday at 3pm. The vampires drew more blood from Tony's arm, and we headed back to a room, anxiously awaiting the doctor's arrival. Dr. Craig arrived with a stack of papers and began going over what he had before him.

Stage 3 Multiple Myeloma

and

Lymphoma

and now the hope-ful news...

Dr. Craig says Tony is a good candidate for the stem cell transplantation procedure, after he undergoes a minimum of 4 rounds (months) of chemo. The chemo will consist of the following,

4 days IV chemo (in-patient)

24 days pill form of chemo (at home)

repeat monthly

Tests will be done during the treatment, to determine if the cancer is responding.

Dr. Craig says that Tony will have up days and down days, but if he's willing and able to take services then do it. He instructed Tony to be careful about too much contact with people, etc. No "passing of the peace", no standing after the service to shake hands, and parishioners who are ill should be encouraged to stay home. We'll have to prevent as much exposure to disease as possible, since his immune system will be totally compromised during chemo.

The not so good news is... Tony will never be "cured" of Multiple Myeloma. The goal is to get it into remission, and keep it there. Dr. Craig said there is a very strong liklihood the Multiple Myeloma will return, it's simply a matter of time, but he used numbers like 3-4 years.

THE LYMPHOMA

Dr. Craig says Tony could have had this lymphoma for a few years, and believes the lymphoma may be a contributing factor to the Multiple Myeloma. Because lymphoma is present, along with a couple of other odd things, he's ordered a Lymph Node biopsy.

Today we spent the entire afternoon visiting the surgeon who will do the biopsy. The surgeon has an impressive background, and was very thorough. They hope to go in and get a sample from the lymph nodes, just under Tony's collar bone. A pathologist will be waiting in the wings to make sure they have what they need to make a final diagnosis. If that group of nodes doesn't pan out, then they move a little deeper, on the left side.... and, if that doesn't do it, then they will enter into the chest cavity, and go deeper. "If" they opt for the third biopsy, Tony will be in the hospital for a few days. He'll be knocked out for the entire procedure.

A week after the biopsy, we should have the final results, and chemo will begin. Next Tuesday Tony will have a permanent IV inserted, in preparation for the chemo.

I'm sure there are things I may have left off. We're still trying to digest it all. Though he's weak, tired and a little bit anxious, Tony's ready to fight it... head on. The road ahead is not going to be an easy one, and I hope you will all stay in touch with him. He's so very tired, and wants so very much to be well again.

Must sleep

PitterPat