"C" Throat Cancer FIGHT begins NOW...updated

UPDATE:  April 30, 2014

  Here’s an update from “C” whom we have been praying for - answered prayers below: 

Doing pretty well. Feeling better every day. Docs seem over-the-moon happy with everything.  (Keep wanting to asking them if they pray!)  I still have pretty much swelling in my neck where they removed nodes.  And my tongue is still swollen.  But, each day swelling is a bit less.  I am supposed to massage my neck to help with swelling and re-establish the lymph system that's no longer there.  Keeping up my weight.  Dodged the PEG tube bullet last Friday.  Surgeon wanted to have gastro guy insert feeding tube while I was still in the hospital.  I just could not bring myself to go back to the OR one week after the first surgery.  So, I promised that I could keep up my weight and I'm doing it.  Throwing everything in the Nutra Bullet.  Been eating hummus with brown rice, and cottage cheese and fruit puree for snacks.  Figured out how to make pureed cheese "omelet" for breakfast.  Can't chew because tongue still swollen.  Hope this improves soon!

Again, thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all the prayers!  Please keep them coming!

Love, C

First Request:  April 18, 2014

Bock - I just heard from C's husband Michael....C's surgery will go until at least 9pm tonight ....they must be doing some type of reconstruction ...I couldn't sleep all night ...had made a huge YOU ARE LOVED sign to hang at her house on my way to the gym this morning...I must have fallen asleep just before alarm went off at 430am....that I NEVER heard! Victor said he tried waking me but i didn't budge.  Ugh. So I texted her a picture of the sign and hope she saw it before she got to hospital. 

So it seems her treatments / order of things are a little different from yours...I don't recall her saying she has to do the treatments for her teeth...which I was quite interested in as I know of children who have such dental issues after treatment...is that relatively new??  And that you had the swallowing / speech evals before all began, which I was also impressed with.  

Thank you so much for update so that we can be praying for specific intentions and the time to be praying for them.  - blessings, Syl 

Richard Bockwinkel fighting Squamous cell carcinoma

Looking for UPDATES?  Click "Rick Bockwinkel Page" button.


I promised an update...it follows.  But first I want to thank the many MANY people who have called, emailed and texted me their support and prayers.  Each of you bring to heart my favorite movie..."It's a Wonderful Life."

Remember, George: No man is a failure who has friends. (It's a Wonderful Life, Clarence's Book Inscription.)

So...where are we today...? 

At this point, the doctor does not know for 100% sure...but it looks like we are going to be in a fight with (click this link for more info) Squamous cell carcinoma.

This particular form of cancer is QUITE CURABLE.

After two CT scans, two scopes down the nasal passage and a PET Scan, Dr. Kiran Kakarala has recommended outpatient surgery to do a biopsy of the small lump on the base of my tongue.  He wants to be 100% sure of what this is, and this test will guide treatment options.

In preparation for this surgery, this afternoon I visited several more experts; pharmacists, RN for Blood Labs and EKG, and an Anesthesiologist.  All this amounts to the Preanesthesia Testing that needs to be done before this biopsy event.  This one-hour base-of-the-tongue biopsy surgery is scheduled for March 11th; no time set yet.

Before that test, they are trying to schedule a Thallium Stress Test to be sure my cardio system is up to this minor surgery/anesthesia.  They hope to cram this test into my Monday morning, on March 10th.  (Have I ever told you how much I crave Thallium Stress Tests?)

This outpatient surgery on Tuesday will provide information to Dr. Kakarala to share with his Tumor Board.  From their review they plan to define with clarity the severity of my condition so that the options that follow can be weighed.

OPTIONS:

1. Surgery/Biopsy determines it is NOT Cancer (low likelihood...But maybe with your  prayers... NOT finding Cancer is the finding!!).  However...If they do find cancer...the next three options come in to consideration...
2. Chemo/Radiation: 7 weeks.  Daily out/patient doses about an hour each visit..maybe gets it done.  If not...surgery.  OR...
3. Micro-Robotic Surgery...followed by Chemo/Radiation; requires less radiation due to the surgery removing all or most of the cancer.  Also would have surgery to remove swollen lymph glands.  OR...
4. Major Surgery...crack open my jaw and go after it...followed by Chemo/Radiation.  This would be ugly and possibly affect my ability to speak clearly...and taste a good Manhattan.  So this option is one that I hope that I am NOT forced to take.

Any of the Options 2-4 will ultimately scar my throat; and the latter two will remove part of my tongue.  So...they have another test for me to do to provide guidelines to potential therapists to help me "learn to swallow again".:  Video Fluoroscopic Swallowing Exam (VFSE).  Click that to read all about it.  This test is scheduled for March 18th.

If you read this far...I hope you had a cocktail in your hand.  It's 5 O'Clock somewhere.

Thanks for your prayers...they help.

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