Good News and...

Let’s get right to it! I have good news and…well…news.

Good news… Dr. Kamat used words like cure, cured, recover. News… He also used words like kill, dead and done (as in dead). For this post we’ll focus on the first group of words. The diagnosis in “Bob” words is T1 tumor that has begun to invade the bladder wall. The “Doctor” words are TUMOR, RIGHT LATERAL WALL: PAPILLARY UROTHELIAL CARCINOMA, HIGH GRADE (GRADE 3), with FOCAL INVASION INTO SUPERFICIAL LAMINA PROPRIA.

Hmm, I thought a FOCAL INVASION was when Hung and Jim looked through the window to see Cheryl having her morning coffee.

So… On Monday, March 23 Dr. Kamat will surgically remove my bladder, lymph nodes, prostate and any other parts that appear to be at risk. This is the safest option and has an 80% success rate of eradicating the cancer completely. He will build a new bladder that, after rehab, will function pretty much like the original. In fact, if all goes well “everything” will function like original equipment.

Hospital stay will be 7-10 days with 6-8 weeks recovery. He said I could be running, or at least walking within 6-7 weeks after surgery. YES!!! He said that apart from cancer in my bladder my body is very healthy, strong and, get this, very young. Exercise works…

More good news! The M.D. Anderson Clinical Research group invited me to take part in a trial. I’m taking an experimental chemo drug that has shrunk tumors in rats. IT WORKED IN RATS! Why not me? Hmm, I wonder how those rats are doing… Will it alleviate my need for surgery? Probably not but miracles do happen! If it shrinks my tumor at all it is a success and might help the next person that gets this disease.

Are there risks? Yes. Will the cancer come back? Don’t know but I wasn’t expecting it the first time so I’m not going to worry about a second time. And remember, there is only one other alternative (see second group of words in second paragraph).

Well, there you have it. Bob’s Excellent Adventure continues.

All kidding aside, I’m anxiously awaiting that first day when I wake up and the pain is gone. I know its coming. In the meantime I’ll keep my family and friends in my thoughts and prayers. You folks have kept me going…