Yesterday I talked with John and found out what the doctor had told him. He has a tumor in the upper right kidney near a lung. It's the size of a walnut. But, in 2007, it was the size of a pea ... the radiologist didn't catch it back then however. The urologist indicated that there's a 9 to 1 chance that it's cancerous. They will remove his right kidney. And since his left kidney is healthy, he should be just fine. On Tuesday he has full-body scans to make sure the cancer has not spread. Because it's a slow growing tumor, surgery can wait 3-4 weeks.
This tumor was found because he had a scan of his intestines at the Emergency Room for a severe diverticulitis attack. It's good that they found it then, because he has had no symptoms from the tumor.
The other likely surgical procedure that John will have done is the removal of the diseased portion of his large intestine. He has an appointment with the colon doctor on Monday. So, we'll know more after that.
The two procedures -- removal of his right kidney and diseased colon -- will be done in a single surgery. So, if the removal of the colon can't wait the 3-4 weeks, then it'll happen before.
In the meantime, I'm in Virginia. I'm cutting my road trip short and heading west to be with John.
i am so sorry to have missed you, but so grateful you could get home to be with john. you are always with me in spirit though. give john a big hug from me, his friend he hasn't met yet. this blog is a great idea, cause i'm praying every day, and wondering....
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