Hello All,
First, I would like to that all of you who sent emails, and PM's with well wishes and concern over the past few days...
Now to the Topic at Hand......
My husbands Oncologist is on sabbatical working for the FDA...We aren't as familiar with the other members of the Team because we always saw Dr. Torti.
Angelo was admitted to the hospital this past Thurs. for Pain Management issues. On Friday he was scheduled for an MRI to see if there was anything new going on in the area in question. The MRI lasts for between 45 min to an hour. Since his pain wasn't under control this was impossible to do and he couldn't finish the test. He was re-scheduled for Mon., and with the help of an Ativan Sedation completed the test.
On Tues. AM we had a consult and were given the results. It showed that the cancer at the head of his right femur (where it connects to the hip/pelvis area) was severely damaged by the cancer...so much "They said" that just sitting, rolling over, or putting any weight on his leg could actually "Break" the bone. "They" also said that if the bone were to break, it could hit the main artery and he could actually bleed to death. As you can imagine we were devastated...Every time he had to be moved they were using 4 people to do it...I was sure that he couldn't possibly come home, how could I preform this feat? After he was given his pain medication, and Xanax he fell asleep, and I left the hospital in tears...
When I arrived home I couldn't stop thinking...I decided to look for a Orthopedic Oncologist...I found the main man in the area Dr. William Ward...it turned out he was also associated with Wake Forest Baptist...I called his office and asked if he could read the scans that were done on Mon. and give us his opinion as to whether there was anything he could do. He actually came to the room that night (after office hrs. no less) at about 8:00 PM...ordered a CT Scan...and at 10:00 PM Angelo was off to get it done.
This morning Dr. Ward arrived...HE asked if Angelo could get out of the bed...So, Angelo stood up...He asked to observe him walking...and so Angelo showed him what he was capable of. He then sat us down, and said, You know a plane could crash into the hospital at any time...We looked at each other and were thinking "What is this guy talking about" He went on to say that yes, the leg COULD break, but it is not likely...He saw evidence that the bone was trying to rejuvenate itself, and felt that with radiation the bone would do just that. Angelo's lesions are Osteoblastic, not Osteolytic. Osteoblastic lesions rarely cause fractures, and in his 18 years he has never seen one.
Angelo will be mapped tomorrow or Friday for Radiation in the area needed, and will start Radiation on Mon.
This just PROVES that a second opinion...no matter how advanced a disease is...or how superficial something may seem to be...should be Mandatory...
If we had just listened to the first set of Dr's. (who weren't Orthopedic Oncologists or even Orthopedic Dr's) I would have been searching for a facility for Angelo...He wouldn't be coming home...and we would have been so afraid that something would break, he may have never gotten out of bed, or walked again!!
Be your own advocate...and always search for the best Dr. for whatever your needs are...Don't just accept one Dr's opinion...get an opinion from someone who specializes in the area in question...
This was the main area where the problem is, and the MRI, and CT Scans showed very little change in any other areas. His lungs, liver, & kidneys are clear, his EKG was great...his metabolic profile is still perfect...Even though he has terminal cancer...he is otherwise in great health...
So for now I am resting easier...His pain is slowly being controlled...he is up to 30mg of Oxycontin SR (Slow Release) in the AM, and again in the PM...Dilaudid is available every 2 hrs. for breakthrough...they will probably adjust the Oxycontin again until he stops requesting the dilaudid as often...They are going to keep him in the hospital until after the Radiation is complete, and then he will be home...
I feel so much better that I am having the maid come in the morning, and she is even going to do my laundry, I am getting a manicure & pedicure, and massage tomorrow, and I told Angelo I would be at the hospital after 4:00!
Thanks everyone, and remember...BE YOUR OWN OR YOUR LOVED ONES ADVOVCATE...DON'T EXCEPT A "NO" FROM SOMEONE WHO CAN'T ANSWER "YES"...
Confucius says: NEVER ORDER A STEAK AT A CHINESE RESTURANT...IE...go to the specialist!!!
Love to All,
Karen
