Leaving a Mark

March 9, 2015

I met with my Oncologist today to find out the next steps.  He told me the IR doctor said I am a candidate for the procedure and I meet with him Wednesday morning.  

Here is a description of what they will be doing:

 Radiofrequency ablation is a relatively new treatment modality. For this procedure, a small (15- to 18-gauge) needle, attached to a radiofrequency device that heats the end of the needle, is inserted into a tumor, causing coagulation necrosis of the surrounding tumor. Early reports on the applications of this procedure in liver tumors have been quite promising,12–16 with one-year disease-free survival rates often exceeding 50 percent.12,15,16

They may have to deflate my lung to get to one of the tumors.  They consider this same day surgery unless they have to deflate my lung to the extreme and then put a chest tube in .  But that is worse case.    The good news about this is that they have had success with it and they can do the procedure over and over.   I am keeping my fingers crossed that this will work.   We are holding off on any other method to fight the cancer unless this does not work.  They will know quickly if it works unlike radiation where it can take up to 9 months for the full effect,  

“What Cancer Cannot Do – Cancer is so limited… It cannot cripple love, It cannot shatter hope, It cannot corrode faith, It cannot destroy peace, It cannot kill friendship, It cannot suppress memories, It cannot silence courage, It cannot invade the soul, It cannot steal eternal life, It cannot conquer the spirit.”