path report is back, and how to tell husband?

Great Report! Congratulations.......but i did warn you about that fried cabbage!..Pat

OK, we're back from the staple removal/path discussion, and I have to say this first of all (turn down your speakers) "DR. O'DONNELL IS SIMPLY AWESOME.!!!" ;D ;D ;D

Sorry, to shout, but it went SO well. Here is a close to verbatim report of what he said (as closely as I could scribble)

the edges up to the ureters were negative
the prostate was negative, as were the edges
there were some residual cells in the bladder, and some Cis
all margins were free of cancer
of 31 nodes, 2 on the right side were positive, small, probably early
it is possible that the surgery itself was curative, but it is statistically possible that it could occur somewhere else (60-70%), and that could improve by 25-30% with chemo, which he will start in 6-8 weeks. (gen and cisplat)

This simple recitation of facts was very easy to understand, and my husband said "well, I didn't go through all of this to stop now, so get me scheduled."

He will have his "leak-check" in two weeks, and then a week later, they will cap the lower tube, and teach him to use the stoma.

I found out today that they have a "Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy" program there, and I have scheduled an intake-interview, to see if this would be of help.

Whew! Sorry to write such a long note, but this is a pretty good day.

Except for my poor husband, who had his worst case of gas ever on the way home, and we're all glad we're not in the car anymore.

Gotta go carry some more water.

Stephany in Iowa

Thanks, everyone. I left a note with Dr. O'Donnell this morning, and asked him to call me when he is ready to tell my husband, and to give me a copy of the path report, so I could google to my heart's content. I haven't heard from him yet. My husband told me he was in this morning, and he was too sleeply to talk to him, so I assume he'll be back this afternoon, surrounded by that large crop of new residents.

Doran's spirits are much better today, after 12 hours of sleep (they gave him his Xanax PRN so he's feeling more in control), but he's afraid to take it now, because he thinks that is why he slept so much. So I talked to his nurse, and she said he can have half a tablet, so if he gets to feeling worse, we can work at it.

He took a longer walk, and sat in a chair a while, which is much better. And he's no longer hung like a bull, but like a calf, so his walking is more comfortable. 8)

Since this is Friday, I'm hoping we get a chance to discuss the path report before the weekend, and that will give him time to mull it over.

He's definately going to get chemo, but not until he heals.

Stephany in Iowa

Hi Stephany and Pat,

Stephany...Zach gave great advice, can't think of anything to add.

Pat...this just shows me that protocols certainly vary, as some doctors would say even one positive lymph node would call for chemo. There could also be the chance that the positive node is now removed and has not had a chance to spread into the blood stream, that Stephany's husband is actually cured. Unfortunately there is no way that we can track micro-metastasis or any mets until they are big enough to show on scans.

I'm sorry about your husband's anger and frustration but it does sound pretty normal under these incredibly stressful circumstances. He sure is lucky to have you to take it out on....that's what spouses are for, I guess.

I wish you and your husband all the best in the coming days.
Wendy

Sorry Stephanie...Zachary is right......i was such a bear after my surgery...i really don't do well with drugs....evil Pat lives within me and really takes advantage of me when they put me on pain killers. I'm pretty sure i told everyone off at some point and accused one of the nurses of having an affair with my husband.....i also could hear them talking in another room...(play theme music from Twilight Zone here).......so let it go over your head...he doesn't mean it...he probably won't remember it.
Hopefully tomorrow a better day......and yes, let the doctor tell him.
Am i imagining this or was i told at some point that if they found anything in 5 or more lymph nodes that i would need chemo......I don't remember what the prognosis is for less than that? Pat

oops, I forgot to check your profile. Turns out I read your journal this afternoon, very carefully I might add, and thought about showing it to my husband when his head clears.

thanks for writing it.

Stephany in Iowa