The next day we were off to DC to lobby for stomach cancer research. Tony only made it to half the meetings. He was in so much pain, and nauseated, I finished the meetings with a different group of people. We did however meet with Sen Burr and we thanked him for his letter to the NIH last year and had quite the nice visit. Him and Tony talked more about football and lacross than they did stomach cancer...but boys will be boys. :D
A week later Tony and I went to meet his GI doc. Again great visit. This time however, Tony asked for a colonoscopy as well as an endoscopy. 11 days later, he had his procedures, and we heard the possibility of the cancer being back. That night was when Tony was in the hospital with the perforation. The following week, we learn the cancer has returned and its straight to Duke.
Walking into Duke this time was all too familiar. Except this time, there weren't smiles. This time it was looks of sadness, tears, and shock. No one could believe what they were reading. No one could believe it was back...after 5 long years. This time they didn't call our name. Instead our nurse walked over to us, patted us on the back and asked, "Are you ready?" in a soft tone. We got up, went into the room, and begun to share the events of the last month.
When our oncologist walked in he sounded up beat, but confused. "I didn't want to see you guys again for this." "Ugh." I started to tear up and he asked what was going on and symptoms. I shared that this is why I was so damn frustrated at doctors blaming the other doctors. That CLEARLY something was going on and was I ever right!! Between the edema in his legs, the bile, not being able to use the bathroom, the extreme constipation, the pain in his left side...all were symptoms of the cancer, but being blamed by something else.
He ordered a PET scan which we had to get in the next couple of days. I kindly told him he would be getting in this afternoon. He chuckled and said, you can try...HELLO do you know who you are talking too? Yes we got it that afternoon.
"What's the plan doc?" I asked?
"IF the PET scan shows its contained, I'm going ask for the tumor to be cut out."
"What about chemo?" I asked.
"I don't know Christy. It didn't work the first time. Which means it won't work now." the doctor replied.
"BUT IT GOT US 5 YEARS!!!!" I reminded him
I really didn't like this plan. Not one bit. I emailed all our doctors on our medical advisory board from Debbie's Dream Foundation. I was NOT going to sit around and wait, i had to have my second and third opinions in the balance.
"Are we stage IV now?" I just HAD to hear it from a doctor. I mean I knew the answer, i just had to hear it.
"Christy, its back in a distant organ...yes. But that does not effect treatment. So it doesn't matter."
I liked that answer. So here we are in the waiting game. We go back to Duke in 4 days, if I can't get there earlier. Tony's PET scan should be viewable now and we should know if surgery is an option for Tony. I refuse to sit around while Tony has cancer inside of him doing whatever the hell it wants to do when I could be stomping my feet and pressing for surgery etc. Besides, I already emailed his surgeon :D just in case. I've already received feedback from the DDF doctors that are on standby ready and willing to help.
In the meantime...I will continue to wait, and pray, and do things that keeps my mind busy. I will kiss Tony a few extra times today, hug on him a little more, and add a few more things to the honey do list :D After all, we still have to live and so does he!!
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