Cancer Clinic Appointment

It seems like forever since last Monday's appt with Doctor Durham, but apparently the biopsy is under review by the Pathology dept at VGH, but I have been told the chances are pretty slim that it's a misdiagnosis, apparently anything that comes to VGH that was not actually done there or at UBC is automatically sent for further review.

I have an appointment with the Cancer Clinic August 13, 2007 at 7:45 am. This is a consultation with one of the doctors there and when I spoke to the receptionist there today she said they will discuss my options for treatment, if I have any. She does not know obviously. She did say that whatever Dr Durham wants he will get, and that he may even attend part of the appointment on the 13th. Apparently he is the best neck/throat surgeon. I have been told though that surgery is not an option, perhaps this appointment will give me another option than just radiation. I don't think so though. I was all pumped that just 6 weeks of radiation and then I would be done, I was not thinking of what the Radiation will do to the rest of the good parts of my neck....it's not a nice thought.

So, until then I just have to do wait. I feel OK. I won't be posting until after Aug 13th unless somthing happens with the results being reviewed.

Cheers!

Kim

doctors....

I have been feeling really uneasy today about the way my appointmetn went yesterday. I don't want to get lost in the shuffle of a doctor who doesn't think I have what a pathology test shows I have. So....

I called Dr.Miller's office and spoke to the receptionist for a while as Dr Miller is teaching today. She agreed with all of my concerns and called Dr Miller and told her what i said, even the comment about Bby hospital. He is going to speak to Dr Durham directly and call me back once he has done that. She seems to think that Dr Durham wants to perhaps go over the pathology results with the head of that department, just to be sure of the findings. I personally think that they are being like this due to my age and the fact that this Dr has never seen this in someone so young. I get it, i am too young to have this, but I do so let's get on with treatment and get it out of me! OR do another biopsy and be sure. Either way, I still feel optomistic.

thanks again for all the support, it's working!

update

So I went to the new doctor at VGH today. I left there feeling.....well, it's hard to say. The doctor looked perplexed. He kept saying, you are just not the type of person to get this sort of cancer, too young, didn't smoke or drink enough to make this happen so early in life. He wants to review my file with the panel at the Cancer clinic and speak to Dr Miller to go over everything and make sure they are all in agreement before we proceed with any treatment. I saw for the first time what it actually looks like in my throat.....not bad actually. My vocal cords all look good and all the white spots that we saw (he again thought it looked more like an infection than Cancer) he said looked superficial and that if it is in fact Cancer that they have not penetrated deep into the tissue. Cure? Radiation. Six weeks of daily radiation. I am so Ok with this as i really have been stressed out about losing my voice box or worse. So I am going to be put in contact with the Cancer clininc and hopefully get in there next week to look at starting treatment. In the meantime the doctors can get together and figure out what they think......I don't want to give myself any false hope of a misdiagnosis, I just want to get this overwith and stop coughing. I think that's pretty good news, but keep praying just in case.

Kim

Thoughts...

I was thinking last night about going to the doctor today, and what he might say to me. I also started to think how unlucky I am. Lot's of people smoke and drink, and that is the primary cause of this type of Cancer....I beleive it's why i have it. There are not a lot of cases of this type, especially in my age group. It will be one year Aug 2nd that i have quit smoking, but I do continue to drink my wine! Could that really be an issue? I will ask my doctor today. As for those of you reading this who used to smoke or continue to smoke, I hope it is a wake up call. It's never to early to get yourself checked out. Since I quit I have tried not to be a nag, I was just ready to quit when I did so it was easy. If my unfortunate situation can even get one person to quit I can't say whether it is worth it or not, but at least it might save someones life. I am still trying to be strong and to believe that it's all going to be OK.

If i lose my hair....who's gonna shave theirs as well?

Thanks

I just want to say "thanks" for all the calls, comments and e-mails i have received. Your thoughts and prayers mean a lot. I don't have any new news yet, but i will post aft I see the doctor on Monday the 23rd.

Thanks again,

Kim

Thursday June 28, 2007

This is the start of a blog that i hope ends well.

I have had this nagging cough for quite some time now, due to my past smoking habit no doubt. I have been going several times to doctors for chest x-rays and such...all OK. Doctors have thought it might be a nasal drip, or acid reflux and i have taken medicaiton for all of it with no change.

On Thursday June 28th i went for what is called a Microlaryngoscopy with a biopsy. I was to rest my voice for about two weeks after that so it could heal. Yesterday was two weeks.

One Tuesday July10th, I was told that the biopsy came back positive for what is called Hypopharyneged Carcinoma. Cancer.

I have been back to see Dr Miller who did the Microlaryngoscopy and he has given me some good news. The Cancer is at stage zero, so they have caught it very early. I went today for a CT Scan of my neck and I will be seeing a new Dr on Monday July 23rd at VGH to discuss the results of the CT scan and see where we go from here. Dr J. Scott Durham is suppose to be a very good surgeon and will be taking care of me through this whole thing i beleive.

I have been told the options are surgery on the neck, radiation and/or chemo. I do not know what to expect now, but i am trying to be as positive as i can.

I wanted to create this blog so the people around me can keep updated on my progress and know what is going on as it is a very sensitive area to have Cancer in, and at times i most likely will not be able to talk.

i will accept all prayers.