Bless your hearts, Mike and Jill.. We will all be holding you in our hearts, minds, and prayers. I wish we could be close to help you with other things...Jeanne -------Original Message------- From: Jill Hammond Date: 9/3/2009 6:47:19 PM To: tmic-list@eskimo.com Subject: [TMIC] Update on Mike Well, everyone, here is your first update. Before I begin, however, I would like to thank all of you who have kept me and my family in your prayers, it means a lot. Dont stop, though, as the next 7 weeks or so are going to be a little rough. I especially want to thank my family, without their help and support; I cannot imagine where I would be. For those that like to be very specific, I found out I do not have what I told you last time. What I have is a tumor in the Maxillary Sinus. This tumor is a Neuro-endocrine type (small cell) of cancer. There, that should make it clear as mud. Went in yesterday to the Chemo doc, and when he heard that we had to wait until next Thursday for our radiation Doc appointment, left the room, came back and told us as soon as we were through with him, we could go downstairs and talk to the radiation doctor. The right people and a little help from above just cut off another 8 days of waiting. I can start fighting back. Today I went in to the doctors office and got fitted for my Hannibal Lector mask. This mask ensures that you do not move your head at all while receiving radiation. Radiation for this is received from a Tomography machine which produces the rays electronically. I will tell you that I could not even open my eyes while wearing the mask.. Very claustrophobic, so a little Xanac helped. Now, I go back in for my very first radiation treatment next Thursday. During this 7 week, five day a week treatment, I will receive at least 6,000 RAD (Radiation Absorbed Dose) to the cancer. For those who are not aware, just let me say that 6,000 RAD is a LOT. Unfortunately, my right optic nerve may receive much of this. The optic nerve begins to show damage at 4,500 RAD, So, I may loose some, or all, vision in my right eye. There are a lot of other little complications like loss of salivary glands, loss of taste (Have that already), possible teeth problems, and hair loss (time for a Kojack shave). The Chemotherapy introduction session is tomorrow and I learn what I get, when it will start, if I will need a port and lots of other questions I am sure. So another update in a week or so. Take care and be talking with you soon. God bless us, everyone, Mike and Coach Jill.
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