plan B...

Well let's see, we arrived at out lab appt on time, got in on time, went to our next appt, got in on time, talked to the surgeon and asked some very specific questions we had and I have to say he did a great job at relaying the best information possible. We realize there are no sure things when it comes to surgery. One of the things he said that really helped was his answer to my concerns about all of the fluid retention. I have gained about 1 pound a day in fluid since May 1st. Yes, that is 35 pounds! Big concern because I have little to no appetite and I am also only eating about half of whatever I do try to eat, so it's not what I am eating. His responses was that the tumor is restricting the vena cava and he was pretty confident that once the tumor is removed the swelling/fluid retention will stop. As for all of the other ways that I am declining, such as the fatigue, shortness of breath and wheezing, that is because the disease is advancing, and even if I were to have had the surgery a month ago, these things would still occur. Removing the kidney is my best chance. I can finally begin to get behind this idea.

I have several more hurdles to get over next week. 

1. I am going to have another CT scan of my chest and abdomen, this time they will be focusing on the vena cava to see if it is block by the tumor or just being compressed by the tumor. 

2. I will have a Resting EKG also.

Tuesday, I will have the stress test which involves my heart being stressed via a medication to see if my heart can get me through the stress of surgery and anesthesia.

3. Today I had some pulmonary test done and I will meet with a lung specialist next to go over those results to see how far the disease has progressed into my right lung. We already know that all of the lymph nodes are involved and the surgeon want to make sure that I can tolerate the anesthesia.

The best part is....I AM DONE WITH ALL TESTING FOR THIS WEEK and my family has planned a big 5oth birthday bash for me and about 40 of my close friends! I definitely love my birthday. It will also be somewhat bittersweet because I will be the first member of my family to reach 50. As some of you know my mom died of ovarian cancer at age 41 and my dad of colon cancer at age 48. So all of this to say that I am not only looking forward to this weekends celebration but #51, 52, 53 and so on...

until next time...