Since Jody's esophagectomy we have been going back every 3 months for check ups. Last May when he hit his one year all clear anniversary with no sign of cancer coming back he was moved to every six months.
October 21, 2019
Our first time going six months between check ups. Jody had blood work and a ct today.
October 22, 2019
We met with our Oncologist today. He told us Jody's CEA markers were elevated and Jody had a pleural effusion. Dr. Meiri, our oncologist, wants us to get a pet scan tomorrow and meet with the Pulmonologist the day after.
October 24, 2019
The Pulmonologist looked at yesterdays pet scan and said it showed two active lymph nodes. He will do a thoracentesis today.
October 25, 2019
We met with Dr. Miller, our thoracic surgeon, today. He said if the resilts our negative from yesterdays thoracentesis (there is a 40% chance of a false negative) he will go in and take out the lymph node in the chest cavity and look around in there. If the results are positive we will not have to have the procedure done and Jody will start treatment.
October 28, 2019
Dr. Miller called and said the results are negative. We are going to Kennesaw for the procedure October 31st.
October 31, 2019
Jody had the procedure done today. We really did not expect results back for at least a week. After the procedure Dr. Miller came out and talked with me. He explained that he took the lymph node out and then lifted the lung to look around behind it. He found cancer on the aorta between the lung and the spine. He said it looks localized. Then he said it. The words a wife never wants to hear. "It's stage IV..." What does a person do with that. We were positive after all the test last week that it was back and in the lymph nodes but, in no part of my mind was I ready to hear someone tell me it was back and was stage IV. Jody was still asleep from surgery, people were messaging and asking how he was, and I was trying to process what our surgeon just said.