Dan

It has been a most challenging day. First, just getting through the heavy traffic, wondering, "Will the road construction make us late for Dan's appointment,"...that was a challenge. But when we went into the huge lobby, I felt overwhelmed. It was like being in a huge train station with people rushing somewhere, solemn faces all around us. It was painful looking in the face of the unknown -- but here reality stares us in the face. Young men, mothers, teenage girls, young fathers with their family, elderly, all ages, here - they have cancer.

After fighting the traffic and the clock to get here, we were only 5 minutes late checking in. But it was 3 hours later before we began the process to prepare us to meet with Dr. Lin. During the next hour, we met privately with 3 people before Dr. Lin came into the examining room. Our 1:30 appointment with him actually took place at 4 p.m. Dr. Lin said that the first MDA committee that studied the biopsy slides concluded that the sarcoma was an Extra Osseos (?sp) - on the outside of the bone/not in the bone, but the mass had bone fragments in it. We did not think to ask what the bone fragments in the mass indicate.

Dan saw Dr. Lin/radiologist in Sarcoma Unit, then at 5 p.m. had very painful blood work done by clumsy technicians, and finished with chest and femur x-rays at 7 p.m. The last thing to be done at MDA will be an MRI Thursday. Then we can return to NRH. Two, possibly three committees will study everything. After that Dr. Lin will phone Dan and tell him their conclusions and recommendations.

Chemo is not an option. Dr. Lin said that the MRI will show if more surgery is needed. Radiation over 5+ weeks is what they are talking about now. The committees may have other suggestions. We still intend to have treatment done at Texas Oncology Center in Bedford.

Paul Bourland, Physician's Assistant who worships at RHCC said this about the MDA opinion- "Extra Osseos (?sp)" means outside the bone. I'm not an expert in this, but, that sounds like very good news! Encapsulated in tissue is good. You don't want it in the bone because that's where you make red blood cells and any malignancy there will spread. A neoplasm in tissue can be removed and may be years before it grows again, or may never come back. "

It was a real blessing to visit with Adolf, and Attila K. on Skype as soon as I connected my laptop to MDA's wireless system. From Romania, they "talked" me through my worse moments of anxiety right after we sat down in MDA. Dottie "talked" me through when the anxiety was trying to take over again in late afternoon. Now, tonight, we are both tired, but calm. God is our pilot, our tour guide. He is carrying us because He knows how difficult it is for us to walk on our own right now. The Psalmist said, "Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him...." Psalm 37:7 We can do that because of your prayers. Thank you.
-- Anne and Dan