Sunday, November 18, 2007

Cancer, Part 1

A few months ago I was diagnosed with cancer.

Imagine you are a guy (or girl) sitting at work and getting a call from a doctor saying that they have found cancer in a biopsy. What would you initial reaction be? I just sat in the "pink chair" in stunned silence. I didn't know how to react, since I had never been truly sick before. I called my boss and told him the story and he sent me off for the day.

I did not know what to do next. So, I drove to where my mom works, since I handle their computer network, and talked with her and caught up on some nagging issues with their system. Needless to say, she was devastated.

The whole reason I got cancer to begin with is, in itself, unusual. Years ago, my wisdom teeth had grown in, and I was going to have them removed. The problem was I had no insurance and didn't have the $750 to have it done. Mom said that she would pay, but I told her no, that I should pay. My wisdom teeth were not bothering me so I left them alone. Needless to say, big mistake.

Fast forward to 2007...I had a nagging sore in my mouth. One of my wisdom teeth had grown in crooked and I was literally chewing on my cheek. It was really bothering me, so I made an appointment with my dentist. He referred me to an oral surgeon, Dr. K. At the first appointment, he felt sorry for me and removed the offending tooth, and the remainder would be removed two weeks later.

At my next appointment, Dr. K was shocked. The lesion in my cheek had doubled in size. This concerned him, so he removed it and sent it off to a lab for checks. This is when I had gotten the call. It was cancer, but the margins were clear which is supposed to mean that they got it all. So, it may not be a problem but he referred me to an ear, nose and throat specialist, Dr. S, for follow-up.

At the follow-up appointment, Dr. S checked me out and got me signed up for a CAT scan, but determined that everything seems to be OK, for now. He recommended several follow-ups to make sure nothing was happening abnormal. At the next appointment, they told me that they discovered in the CAT scan three places in my neck and jaw that were suspect.

Dr. S sent me to a local hospital for a "ultrasound-guided needle biopsy" of a tumor in my neck. This, in and of itself, was an intriguing experience. I was able to watch the whole thing on the computer monitor...the same monitor that the doctor was using to direct the needle. He showed me where the tumor was and the needle as it collected cells in the tumor. Interestingly enough, this was a painless procedure. The most painless of the whole ordeal, to be sure.

The results were returned. It was indeed cancer. So, Dr. S referred me to a radiation oncologist, Dr. M1, as well as a medical oncologist, Dr. M2.

Needless to say, mom is hysterical. I, on the other hand, seem to be calm, cool and collected. I decided to go into this thinking that it is an interesting and unique experience. I have to say, that it was and still is interesting. I never knew how high tech the medical community was for cancer care. I was, however, unprepared for the things to come.

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