Weds, 7pm, CT scan results

I arrived early today, early enough to be here with Anne when Dr. Ebrahim came.  Laurie was here too.

Anne said she had a good night sleeping, and she was continuing to have a good morning.  Very sociable and alert. 

Dr. Ebrahim came with the news from the CT Scan.  He told us Anne's cancer spots, one on her liver, and one near her windpipe, were maybe twice as big as they were last October when they were discovered.

He told us what else he learned from the CT scan.  He understood why the diuretics were no longer as effective at removing the fluid to the extent that he had hoped.  He said the tumor in the liver is putting pressure on the IVC (inferior vena cava).  That is the largest vein we have which brings fluids to the heart from the lower half of our body.  With that pressure, the fluid cannot get to the heart, therefore cannot get to the kidneys, therefore cannot leave the body.

He talked about the possibility of having a stent placed in there to open the channel.  If it can be done, Anne could get down to her normal weight before she goes home.  She would also be more comfortable, and more mobile on her feet once home.  He was going to have a talk with the people here that do this, in interventional radiology.  He would study the CT Scan with them and ask for their opinion on the possible benefits, risks, etc..

Later, Dr. Chris Anderson, an interventional radiologist, came here to visit us and he spent time talking about the stent procedure.  He was very informative and helpful, and he answered all of our questions.  It is a non-invasive procedure, where they go in from the groin.  They can do a pre- exam and go in and look into the area before actually doing the procedure.  They can make a fairly good determination of their chances for success.  He says they do these every day, and as outpatient procedures.  There is very little of a recovery time involved.  All of this is going to be up to Anne and how she feels about having another procedure.  She has had a very good last 36 hours.  We'll see.

He did state that the recurring esophageal cancer is pretty agressive, and it will grow without treatment, and possibly cause other problems along the way.  At this point we don't know whether Anne will opt for any further cancer treatment.  I'm thinking not, but she never ceases to amaze you know.  So, the cancer could grow and over come the stent in the future.  No one knows.

Anne and I will sleep on it, pray about it, and make a decision tomorrow when Dr. Ebrahim comes back to see us.  It's alot for her to think about.  I have spent time explaining all of this to her when she has been alert.  We agree that we should sleep on it and pray. 

This could be done tomorrow if Anne opts for it.  After that a few more days of fluid removal with diuretics, and then she'd come home as long as any extensive Physical Therapy are not needed.  Anne would only go to one place for PT, and that would be the Brighton Campus of MMC.  That's where she went after her brain surgery, and more recently where she went to volunteer with Dixie, her therapy dog, on Friday mornings during the summer.  They know and love here there.

Please pray with us tonight.  Pray that we are guided to make the right decision, and do the right thing for Anne.