First we would like to say that we hope everyone had a fun and safe labor day.
We apologize for the long delay in updates over the past 7 weeks. Barry has been super busy between juggling work, frequent appointments back and forth to Sloan Kettering for various scans, tests and biopsy.
August 29, 2013 – Monthly Follow-up, Lab’s and MRI
The MRI was performed and showed no signs of any change in the mass, tissues and/or bones, which would/could indicate a re-occurrence of some form of cancer. At this point it was a matter of waiting on the MRI results in order to follow up with the “Surgical Team” in regards to the arthroscopic procedure.
September 3, 2013 – Surgical Team Follow-up, MRI results and X-rays
To be posted tomorrow….
August 12, 2013 – Arthroscopic Biopsy on the same specimen.
Barry had his pre-admission appointment August 7, 2013, where the went over the procedure and risks involved. The procedure involved the surgeon to make four incisions in Barry’s right mid section where they would try to remove four samples to biopsy. Obtaining the tissue samples was a success but unfortunately we experienced one of the complications. The risk of tearing, puncturing or collapsing a lung while obtaining the samples. One tissue sample was obtained at/near the T9 vertebrae, another sample from an area that was touching the right lung, and two other samples from the middle area between the spine and right lung.
Due to Barry’s lung issue, he was admitted to the hospital and required to have a chest tube inserted in his right side to allow his lung to drain, stop leaking and remained there from Monday August 12 until Thursday evening August 15. He was discharged Thursday evening and was told to rest, not lift anything in excess of 15 pounds and no physical activity. Follow-up date set for August 29, 2013.
August 20, 2013 – Biopsy Results
Barry received a the call from his “Team” around 2:00pm EST and the biopsy results came back as the following:
1. Necrotic tumor – (Dead tumor)
2. Necrotic tumor cells consistent with Ewing’s (Dead cancer cells)
3 & 4. Benign fragments of fibrous tissue.
The results are good however the results do not reflect what Barry’s PET/CT scans reflected in July which showed high uptake (cellular activity) in the area where the samples were taken from. At this point the “Team” did not feel comfortable telling him that is was nothing, but they also did not want him to worry that this was bad. So they ordered for an MRI to be performed on August 29, 2013 to re-evaluate, and confirm the findings.
Being that it is very uncommon for Scans to reflect such high activity and the biopsy showing no signs, they informed Barry he would the topic of discussion at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centers “Tumor Board” meetings that are held twice a week with 20 of the top minds in the field.
August 29, 2013 – Monthly Follow-up, Lab’s and MRI
The MRI was performed and showed no signs of any change in the mass, tissues and/or bones, which would/could indicate a re-occurrence of some form of cancer. At this point it was a matter of waiting on the MRI results in order to follow up with the “Surgical Team” in regards to the arthroscopic procedure.
September 3, 2013 – Surgical Team Follow-up, MRI results and X-rays
To be posted tomorrow….