Personal Journey Entry # 17

Medical screenings are incredible tools until they are inconclusive and force you to make a choice on the unknown. When the PET Scan I had last week, which came back clean, we saw a clear lane to remission. Then the results came in for the Endoscopy/Ultrasound I had on Friday, and that clear lane got congested. The Ultrasound saw a swelling of one of my lymph nodes, the one adjacent to the cancer was swollen by 5mm, or the size of a pea. There is no test that can be done within the body to test the node, so in the world of cancer, it is deemed a carcinoma until proven otherwise. It changed my Esophageal Cancer from Stage 1 to 2, and thus the choices.

Choice #1 was to treat the possibility of systemic cancer outside my esophagus with radiation and immunotherapy. This would delay the esophagectomy until the fall but not eliminate the surgery.

Choice #2 was to proceed with the surgery and send the node to the lab. If it came back negative for cancer, then pass Go and collect $200, and you’re done. If it came back positive, then a combo of immunotherapy and chemotherapy. But, the cancer in the esophagus is isolated and can do no more harm.

Dr Lassaletta pushed #1, while Federico chose Box number 2. That is why their partnership works. I went with #2 and have faith that the swollen lymph is just that, swollen. The doctors and I have a date in the OR on April 8.

We did get some good news on the surgery. The improvements in treatments and procedures are proof that two or three-year-old videos on YouTube are obsolete. There may be more, but smaller incisions because the operation will be robotic. I have another endoscopy on Monday to see if the robot will have to go in through my neck, but the good news is that there is no feeding tube. For the eight days I am in the hospital, I will be getting nutrients via IV, but I should be eating soft food before I go home and eating somewhat normally in one month. That should eliminate the need for home nurses, and I will likely go from the hospital to Turner Highlands. I am hoping to be back to work by June 1st to finish the year with my kids.

I do not know why, but I have lots of anxiety but little fear about the surgery. I have complete confidence in the process. I can only attribute that to faith in God’s will and the plethora of prayers being sent my way from my incredible support team. Please keep them coming.

Thanks for stopping by. Love you and God Bless