Kristy's Story...Good News On New MRI

Kristy and Michael have just called me from Duke Hospital. Michael had his MRI early today and then they met with Dr. Friedman to go over the results. Finally some good news, the tumor has shrank some. They cannot tell if the tumor is still alive or if it is dead cells unless they do a biopsy. Doctor Friedman does not want to do a biopsy yet, he wants more time to watch it first. Michael is to continue on the Temadol chemotherapy and the Avastin treatments then do another MRI in eight weeks.

I want to give a special thank you to my friend Debbie. If she had not been able to get us hooked up with a radiologist so quickly we may have had a different result today. With Debbie's help and the quick actions of Eric and Dr. Mansur of Washington University, may have saved Michaels' life. A million thank yous to Debbie!

Kristy's Story...Washington University and Dr. Friedman Agree on Treatment

Dr. Friedman from Duke Hospital phoned over the weekend to say he was in agreement with the treatment plan Washington U doctors decided to try on Michael. Michael and Kristy are at Siteman Cancer Center today to get a mouth plate fitted for the first of five radiation treatments scheduled for Wednesday. After they finish with the mouth plate they will be meeting with a chemo-therapist to get started with the Temadol chemo pills.

Kristy's Story...New Treatments to Start Next Week

We aren't sure where, Washington University or Duke University, but new treatments will start next week. Michael has an appointment Monday at Washington U to be fitted for a mouth plate. He has to wear it for the radiation treatment scheduled for Wednesday. He also has an appointment with a chemo-therapist Monday to get him started on Temadol chemo pills. But all this depends on what Duke U comes up with.

The recent MRI and all records from Washington U have been sent to Dr. Friedman at Duke. He called today to say he has received everything and will be working on a plan tomorrow. Once we know Duke's plan we can make our decision. Duke may want us to go on with the treatment with Washington U.

I will let you know what decision we make.

Kristy's Story...Life Goes From Bad to Worse

Shane had a new MRI done Monday. Yesterday Michael and Kristy went to Siteman Cancer Center to get him prepared for the Gamma Knife procedure. I had the kids here so they stopped to pick them up after their appointment. I knew as soon as I saw them there was big trouble. They both looked like they had been crying and Kristy could hardly walk. Michael's tumor had grown so big they can't do the Gamma Knife. It is close to the size it was when Dr. Friedman removed it less than a month ago. The Washington University doctor said he has never seen a tumor grow that fast. He then told Michael he was not going to survive and there was nothing that could be done.

But Eric, the first person we met with at Washington University, was also in the room with them and as they were leaving he stopped them. He said there was one other option, he could use an extension to the Gamma Knife. There are only four in the country and he has one of them. It is a radiation treatment with the precision and strength between regular radiation and the Gamma Knife. The radiation treatment would have to be done over several days by sectioning the tumor off into smaller sections. He wants to see them on the 31st to go over his radiation plan and start Shane on chemotherapy.

In the mean time they have calls in to Dr. Friedman at Duke. They want his opinion and maybe even the possibility of removing it again. We should have an answer from him soon. Pam (Kristy's mom)

Kristy's Story...Call From Dr. Friedman

I called Dr. Friedman, the surgeon from Duke Hospital, to find out why so much of the tumor was not removed when we were told only micro cells remained. He called me back Friday afternoon. He said he did not see that much (about an inch of tumor was left) but knew he could not remove any more. Dr. Friedman said the tumor was growing into the brain at that section and removing it would cause Michael permanent damage.

I informed Dr. Friedman of what was going on here with seeking radiation and chemotherapy treatments. I told him the radiologist at Siteman Cancer Center is considering using the Gamma Knife or another surgery to remove more of the tumor and also put Michael on chemo pills. He recommended no more surgery at this time and no Gamma Knife. He wants Michael to have regular radiation treatments and start chemo immediately.

Now we have to wait until Monday to find out what the doctors recommend from Siteman and compare the two. If we get two totally different recommendations how do we choose???

Kristy's Story...Hospital Stay After Surgery

Kristy and Michael have met with Dr. Friedman this morning. Dr. Friedman wants Michael to stay close to the hospital until next Wednesday. Michael is doing good but he wants the pathology report back on the tumor he removed before they return home. Depending on the pathology report there may be other treatments needed, such as chemo. He said Michael will be able to leave the hospital and check into a hotel until he is released. That will be later today or tomorrow.

Michael is walking but very slowly. He will still need a lot of help after leaving the hospital. He is having headaches but thinks it is from the surgery, not the tumor. They have him on some pretty strong pain medicine right now. He has been unable to sleep since the surgery, nurses in and out at all hours, so maybe a quiet hotel room will help.

Kristy and Michael are still very nervous about this whole ordeal. They were hoping for a definite answer to the question "Is the tumor and cancer gone?" Because of the possibility of micro cancer cells they don't have the answer they want to hear. The doctor is doing another MRI as I write this to see if anything shows up.

I will update this story again soon.

Kristy's Story...Day After Surgery

Michael is doing great and already messing with the nurses. He feels better than he has in some time now and wants to get out of bed and move around. He will be released from ICU soon and put in a private room. Dr. Friedman has stopped by briefly to check on him but has not sat down to talk with him and Kristy yet. They really like Dr. Friedman, not only is he a great surgeon but a super nice man.

Kristy will update me after they talk with the doctor more.