To recap:
I lost my left eye to ocular melanoma just over six years ago. It is a metastatic cancer. It likes the liver and the lungs if it returns. To date, the only real side affect for the last six years had been a terrible case of drivers tourettes syndrome.
Anyway, during the first four years I got two MRI’s, bloodwork and a chest X-Ray. Year five, my oncolgist, Dr. Tony Tsai, felt that we could bring it down to one ultrasound. So far, so good. Year six ultrasound. Not so good. There is a lesion on my liver. It is metastatic cancer of the liver.
Current Affairs - Dr. Tony Tsai referred me to another oncologist. Dr Kevin Kim, perhaps the best oncologist in the country for this type of cancer. As a side note but critically important. I think oncologists can easily be categorized as direct and clinical. Which is in part true. But there is not a soft way to say - You have cancer. In my limited experiecne (I wish I had none) I find them to be some of the most passionate and compassionate medical professionals in the field. They are with you for the long haul - and we don’t all make it.
The last few weeks have been something else.
Mela and I drove to San Francisco on Sunday the 13th and stayed with our kids for an early morning liver biopsy on the 14th. Medical tidbit. While you are only sedated for the biopsy and I felt fine - you need to stay for four hours of bedrest becasue it may bleed. Very long day. Followed by a up and back to San Francisco on Friday the 18th for lab work.
Monday the 21st, We drove back to San Francisco for an early morning MRI and CT scan on Tuesday - and a 2 PM with my oncologist. Between the CT scan and the 2 PM we ate our way up and down Fillmore Street at the Taco Bar, Johnny’s Donuts and Salt and Straw for ice cream. The Filmore St. Eats Blog is coming. Wait to read about the Lobster Rolls. Catchier title than Lunch amidst oncologq visits.
Dr. Kim had the MRI and CT scan results for our appointment and the cancer has not spread anywhere which is great news! The lesion - the size of my pinky nail - has not grown at all in the last six weeks. More good news! I take what I can get.
Again, we are very grateful we have perhaps the top oncologist in the country two hours from our home and kids have a beautiful home in San Francisco where we can stay that is only 10 minutes from the hospital.
Gratitude and perspective change in the blink of an eye. Mela and I have a vacation next week and will start treatment after that. Very grateful for my loving wife, Mela, my Life Group and all the friends, family and prayers in the last few weeks.
God Bless, Stay Strong, Be Kind