Some Midnight Truths

I need to clarify that this last tumor was identified by the pathologist as metastatic (mets) osteosarcoma. It is a spread of the osteosarcoma. I may have mets in my left lung, too.

That is one reason I am trying to charge toward the next level of treatment should it be chemotherapy or whatever.

I don't know what my sarcoma doctor will recommend. For some reason he wants me to heal and then deal with the next stages.

The tumor and tissue removal was complete and successful, but there is always the microscopic level of the disease.

Sarcomas travel though the blood stream.

Because this is a long battle I sometimes I feel like the "not-dead-yet" man ( from Monty Python and the Holy Grail ). The scene is during the days of the black plague. Someone is calling "throw out your dead" and bodies are coming out of windows onto a wagon. One fellow claims he is not dead, yet.

Fortunately there is much to be done and I came going to do those things as long as it makes sense to me.

Oh and I put on 5 lbs from pre-op to today. Time to walk more.

It's October

About 6:30 this morning my eyes slammed open.

I am still here, pretty calm and comfortable.

The pre-surgery, surgery and in hospital recovery was intense and saved my life.

They did not have to take as much vertebra or muscle as they feared. They did not have to end one of the four arteries to my brain, as we feared. The osteosarcoma was removed in 3 pieces. The pathology report shows clear margins on those last two side pieces. Not sure if I am being clear or now since I am still on muscle relaxers, pain meds and the happy side of major surgery.

I have a Facebook page. It's easy. I posted the status "Home" when I arrived in Austin this past Sat. It is easy and can draw my energy away from the blog. It does not chronicle my experience, share what I can with adults with osteosarcoma like the blog does.

So for today

I am back resting at home (Mom's apartment).I feel as though I look like cartoon character Ziggy ( my hair is short and spiky) and walk like Frankenstein, but I am a little loopy on drugs still.

I can turn my head, walk, smile and healing up. It is hard to not constantly prepare for battle. I found myself impatiently wanting to get the score on chemo and radiation. However, decisions on long term therapies like that will wait for November after I have a few more tests and see my sarcoma doctor.

The doctor prescribed that I wear Charley' Hawaiian shirts. Really!

I am living the best scenario.