Surgeon, Turkey, and Snow

Looking out the basement door this morning
to our small stand of birch.

John talked with the surgeon late yesterday.  He provided some valuable information.  He confirmed that the lymph nodes are in a "treacherous" location.  But the surgeon let us know that he would be safe and avoid going any place during the surgery that would put John's life at risk, even to the point of not sampling the lymph nodes if he couldn't safely reach them.  That put our minds a bit more at ease. 

When I asked that he estimate the likelihood of being able to reach the lymph nodes safely, he said 50%.  Such a low probability shocked me.  I wish we had that information when John made the decision about which surgery to have.

In addition, this surgeon reiterated that kidney cancer usually doesn't travel to the location of John's swollen lymph nodes.  And, like the UW urologist, he said that if it were him, he would not have the more invasive surgery.

John still wants to know if the cancer has spread, however.  So, he's asked for another CT Scan.  If the swollen lymph nodes have gotten even bigger, then he'll probably go for the more invasive surgery.  Otherwise, he'll opt for the less invasive laparoscopic surgery.  The CT Scan is scheduled for Friday.

Gretchen says, "Let me in Ma,
it's cold out here!"

Today John is scheduled for his pre-op visit at Overlake.  But, we are snowed in and the temperatures are in the teens and low twenties today.  Brrr.  I've called about rescheduling.

I'm glad this is a slow growing cancer, because the slow pace of getting this all done is driving me bonkers.

In the meantime, I'm trying to plan ahead.  I cooked a turkey yesterday and froze most of the meat, stock and dressing to make meals while John is recuperating.  Today I'm slow cooking a ham and will freeze most of that too.

This Morning

Yesterday Morning

It snowed all of yesterday, into the evening.  Today and tomorrow the temperatures are supposed to stay low.  It's time to make a pot of turkey vegetable soup, cuddle up next to the fire, and read a good book.