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So Tuesday was an experience for sure. We went to Walter Reed hospital and someone met us as soon as we walked in. We were ushered thru the hospital and finally came to a door at the end of the hall. So this is the Executive Health area of Walter Reed.
Once I got over the shock, we were brought into a large boardroom where at least 10 different doctors were brought in. Surgical oncologist, radiation oncologist, hematologist oncologist, dermatologist and a few more more that I have forgotten. As Micki said...that's a whole lot of "gists". We discussed what options we have and they explained the MANY tests they wanted to do that day. They then shuffled me around from department to department through the back hallways. I had an EKG, echocardiogram, MRI of my brain (not fun), a biopsy of the affected nodes (also not fun), and a few other scans and blood tests that I can't even remember what they were for. Basically, it was about 6 hours of poking and prodding. It was truly amazing though, I probably had a months worth of tests in one day. I went back and forth between saying that I am not worthy of all of this and that I felt like I was at a very strange spa with my robe and slippers.
So now we are waiting for all the results to come back and then hopefully will form a plan of attack. I am also going to NIH tomorrow to learn about a trial they have going on. They would love to do my surgery and have the lymph nodes for their research since I am "young-ish" and I don't have any other health issues going on besides this. The usual patients trying to get into the trial are people that have been sick for a long time and have tried many things and have been unsuccessful...so according to them, this kind of makes me the perfect participant. The trial (in my very limited understanding) would use the cancer cells in my lymph nodes to create customized chemo. I wouldn't be able to use it this time around, but if this every comes back AGAIN in 8 years...I could come back to NIH. They explain it like it's money in the bank...and if I have another reoccurrence I could come back and get the fancy tailor made chemo.
So anyway, hopefully I will have some more info for a better update soon. Love you all!
Selfie in my presidential robe at the END of the 6 hours. Looking wrinkled and rough. ;)