Awaiting info from Dr Amato

Joe saw Dr Carolyn Jones today - a pulminary oncologist at Strong concerning his chest CT scan. Dr Kohli was looking for a pulminary embolism and didn't find one (blood clot) which is good news. Dr Jones went over the scans and cited 'something' happening in the lungs. Joe has had a small pleural effusion for quite some time now, however, it has grown. The fluid is not IN his lungs, but around one of them. The effusion looks to have grown since the CT scan in Strong in April, however, Dr Amato has more recent scans from July which, too, cited the fluid. So what do we do? We are waiting for Dr Amato to call us tomorrow with his decision to tap the fluid here in Rochester or wait for his own tests Friday in Houston and make a determination as to what is happening in the lungs then.

If Dr Amato wants to have the fluid removed and tested, he will have the Thorascentesis on Wednesday morning at Strong Memorial as an outpatient. There is a risk to puncture the lungs if done improperly. Although they complete the procedure under ultrasound guide , it's no secret how uncomfortable I am with anything done at Strong memorial - - - we're a little worried about jeopardizing our trip on Friday with Dr Amato. If he does have the procedure, he cannot take his Lovenox (blood clot) medicine Tuesday night or Wednesday morning.

So here we wait. Dr Jones was unclear as to whether it's an infection (either pneumonia or a bacterial fungal infection), fluid accumulation or additional cancer tumors in the lungs. At this point we do not know. If they do tap the fluid perhaps Joe will have some relief from the coughing and breathlessness that he is experiencing, plus perhaps he can lie down to sleep. At that time they will culture the fluid and take it to cytology where they will determine if there are cancer cells present in the fluid. Since there are cancer cells present in his abdominal fluid, there is a good chance that they are present in the pleural fluid as well. They also talked about applying a talc into the pleural space to stop the fluid from building up - however that is an inpatient procedure. Again, we will wait to see what Dr Amato suggests.

In the meantime, we had a wonderful dinner provided by the Potters and Ferrantes with Paul and Maureen while we sat and reminisced about his mother. Thank you both so much.

We are still hopeful that the Trovax/IL-2 trial is successful with Joe and that on Monday the 18th we will receive positive news from Dr Amato, even though we are now faced with this additional issue. Whatever the outcome, we will find a treatment that will work for Joe - of that I am positive. So for now, we will maintain a quiet watchful wait to see what Dr A has in mind. Above all, we trust he and Dr Kohli to make the best recommendation for Joe's treatment.

My mother was released from the hospital today and is home happily resting comfortably. Thank you to my parents for their generous gift of money to keep us going to Houston.

My Godfather emails me jokes and wonderfully spiritual quotes daily which keep me going. Thank you Uncle Tony - I am very lucky to have you as my godfather! I thought I would share his thoughts that he sent to me today:

Good Morning !!!!
This morning when I wakened
And saw the sun above,
I softly said, "Good morning, Lord,
Bless everyone I love"

Right away I thought of you
And said a loving prayer,
That He would bless you specially,
And keep you free from care.

I thought of all the happiness
A day could hold in store,
I wished it all for you because
No one deserves it more.

I felt so warm and good inside,
My heart was all aglow.
I know God heard my prayers for you,
He hears them all, you know.

May God hear my prayers to have Joe cured.

With love and continued hope
Vicki, Gina & Tom