Roger had a PET/CT Scan this past Thursday and then Friday had an endoscopic ultrasound. Thursday was uneventful. Friday...Friday the 13th (literally) turned out to be a figurative Friday the 13th also. The backdrop, we had several trials and tribulations trying to get these tests scheduled. Tests were scheduled and unscheduled and rescheduled at least three times. We finally got dates established for this past Thurs 11/12 and Friday 11/13. Only to have a last minute fire drill when I received notice that Roger's procedure on Friday had been erroneously cancelled. Nothing a bunch of emails, a bunch of phone calls and a personal visit to the hospital couldn't fix - though we were on pins and needles until about 11:00...the procedure was scheduled for 3:00.
Friday turned out to be longer than anticipated and even more anxiety-ridden than anticipated. We showed up at the hospital at 2:15. The test was supposed to be at 3:00. They did not take Roger back until 4:00. As he was being taken back to the procedure room, the nurse told me it would be 30 mins for the procedure. I was told once he was in recovery, then they would come get me. 4:30 came and went, 4:45 came and went, 5:00 came and went, 5:15 came and went...my anxiety level increased with each passing 15 minute increment. Finally at 5:30 a nurse came out to tell me that they were just finishing up with Roger. The procedure took longer than expected. Part of the delay was also because one of the necessary pieces of equipment had not been prepared (??!?!?!?) for the procedure. The nurse told me that the doctor would speak to us in the recovery area.
All kinds of crazy things ran through my head. Why the delay Why the delay Why the delay??? What could be taking sooooo long??? I couldn't help but remember (and relive to some degree) over 3 months ago when I was sitting in this same waiting area and the nurse came out to usher me into a private consult room to tell me that the cancer had spread to Roger's lymph nodes. The passing minutes seemed like hours slowly dripping way. There were 2-3 other families also waiting for a loved one. As my anxiety increased, so did the sensitivity of my hearing... I listened intently in the direction of where the recovery area was -hoping to hear a nurse headed my way - only to be distracted by the older couple behind me talking about their ddddaaaawwwwwgggggssss. Dawwgsss???? How about dogs???? Ughhghghghggh ! Why couldn't we all just sit quietly? Its seemed like such a small thing to just sit and be quiet. Fortunately as I thought a scream of frustration my escape my mouth, a nurse came out and called "Wethington".
I found my loopy husband snugged up in blankets in one of the recovery rooms. He was in considerable pain (and has been most of Saturday and a little today) because of the endoscopic procedure after having had radiation so recently...the tissue is very tender. Dr. Al-Haddad came in shortly thereafter to discuss the results of the procedure. He said the esophagus itself looked good and that if he didn't know any better, he never would have known that Roger had radiation to the area. The nodule/tumor was gone from the esophagus. All good things. He took a biopsy of the area and then also took multiple biopsies of the three cancerous lymph nodes. All biopsies were scoped in the operating room and all came back negative for cancer!!! A very good thing. Unfortunately, the doctor didn't stop there. He went on to deflate our balloon slightly when he said "but...." I had to remind myself "breathe in breathe out...focus focus focus". Roger was too loopy from the propafol to actively participate in the conversation.
Apparently, the lymph nodes are still abnormal in size/shape. The doctor had expected them to return to a "normal" shape/size. Sooooo, what does this mean? Well, we're not altogether sure. The preliminary biopsies all showed that the lymph nodes are clear of cancer. We meet with the surgeon on Tuesday in the afternoon and then meet with Dr. Birhiray the oncologist on Wednesday. We'll go in with a list of questions and will do research between now and then.
So the weekend was tougher than expected. We both wanted to be excited and had hopes of going out to dinner Friday night. Unfortunately, Roger was in so much pain and discomfort that he wasn't up for it, and I wasn't up for it because I was trying to process the information the doctor gave us.
Today, Sunday, he still has pain but it is substantially less. He's still a little dehydrated (almost passed out at the hardware store when he stopped there to pick up some things for the house) - but he has learned to pay attention to the "signs" and sit down when the lights start to flash.
So that's where we are as of today. Two steps forward...one step back.
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