Biopsy

When we visited the surgeon on Tuesday, he took three tissue samples from the area in my mouth where the original cancer was found. Today he called back with the lab results. Yes, I have another round of cancer treatments to go through. This time, the surgery will be hard, since the area affected in in my cheek bone. I will lose that bone, and skin around the area. The team of doctors will expand to include plastic surgeons who will borrow skin from somewhere and rebuild that area. What it all ends up looking like is anyone's guess for now. But the only other options leave me with only a year or two, and Cheryl and I are not ready for that yet!

Hmmm, Austin has a bunch of film folks around, perhaps the special effects folks can come up with something for me to wear if it looks too bad!

We are trying to figure out when this can all happen. I am smack in the middle of a semester at school, and having the surgery during this term will make a mess of all that, but the doctors do not want the cancer to spread, so that will take priority, no matter what.

So we have started on another round of doctor's visits to see what we can put together. So far, my primary care doctor says I am healthy, with the lungs of a 45 year old! Thank running for that! He suggested that I work on getting back in shape, so the ordeal will go better. It is hard to get charged up for that, but I will end up doing it. Running helps clear my mind.