After visiting with a few surgeons Mark (and the family) have decided to have the surgery done at the University of Washington in Seattle. No surgery date set yet, we're anticipating middle to end of January. Mark will travel over to Seattle one more time before the surgery for a pre-surgery consultation and a consultation with a urology specialist.
We hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas season!
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
This just in.....
Here are most of the updates from the most recent Dr. visits:
Mark needs rotor cuff surgery on his right shoulder. He popped a tendon in his bicep muscle last week just plugging in the vacuum. They told him it would eventually heal, and they could reattach it when they do the surgery. For now his upper arm is an interesting shade of violet.
He visited with the oncology Dr. and everything seems to be going well. His body is healing from the radiation and chemo and they're preparing him for the surgery. Wednesday or Thursday Mark should be able to pick the surgeon and get the surgery date scheduled.
Good news from the urologist, and the catheter is out.
More good news from the lung specialist. The Dr. thinks it's a great idea to get Mark off the steroid drug in preparation for the surgery (the drug can inhibit healing, and they were hoping the condition of his lungs allowed for him to stop the steroid for awhile). So Mark will go down in dosage for 7-10 days, and then stop taking it. He'll also be able to stop taking his antibiotic and prilosec once he stops the steroid pill (since those two were prescribed to help with side effects of the steroid). The Dr. said his lungs looked and sounded great and there is a small chance that he may not need to go back on the steroid again. But they're re-evaluate once the surgery is done.
Mark needs rotor cuff surgery on his right shoulder. He popped a tendon in his bicep muscle last week just plugging in the vacuum. They told him it would eventually heal, and they could reattach it when they do the surgery. For now his upper arm is an interesting shade of violet.
He visited with the oncology Dr. and everything seems to be going well. His body is healing from the radiation and chemo and they're preparing him for the surgery. Wednesday or Thursday Mark should be able to pick the surgeon and get the surgery date scheduled.
Good news from the urologist, and the catheter is out.
More good news from the lung specialist. The Dr. thinks it's a great idea to get Mark off the steroid drug in preparation for the surgery (the drug can inhibit healing, and they were hoping the condition of his lungs allowed for him to stop the steroid for awhile). So Mark will go down in dosage for 7-10 days, and then stop taking it. He'll also be able to stop taking his antibiotic and prilosec once he stops the steroid pill (since those two were prescribed to help with side effects of the steroid). The Dr. said his lungs looked and sounded great and there is a small chance that he may not need to go back on the steroid again. But they're re-evaluate once the surgery is done.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Coming up....
Next week might get a little busy, although we've all been enjoying not traveling to radiation every day, especially Mark.
Monday Mark has check ups with the urologist, the oncologist, and the specialist that has helped him with his lungs. He's going to see the lung specialist about reducing one of his medications (it might interfere with the healing process when he has his surgery).
Tuesday he's going to the orthopedic Dr. to talk about his shoulder.
Then Wednesday he'll be off to Seattle to talk with a surgeon recommended by a friend for the tumor removal. Hopefully by the end of next week we'll be able to post a date for the surgery.
Monday Mark has check ups with the urologist, the oncologist, and the specialist that has helped him with his lungs. He's going to see the lung specialist about reducing one of his medications (it might interfere with the healing process when he has his surgery).
Tuesday he's going to the orthopedic Dr. to talk about his shoulder.
Then Wednesday he'll be off to Seattle to talk with a surgeon recommended by a friend for the tumor removal. Hopefully by the end of next week we'll be able to post a date for the surgery.
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