SteveT

Hello,

Thanks for the in depth accounts. It has been very helpful. During my follow up appointments last week I met with a radiologist, Dr. Marks, who said he felt the surgery brought me to a 50% likelihood of being cancer free. Going through radiation would get me another 7%. Sometimes an extra 7% doesn't seem like enough gain to go through the hassle and side effects of radiation. Sometimes 7% seems like an enormous gain for a few weeks of mild inconvenience. The numbers seemed like they were being shot from the hip. Still vacillating…

Steve

Hello,

Thanks for the in depth accounts. It has been very helpful. During my follow up appointments last week I met with a radiologist, Dr. Marks, who said he felt the surgery brought me to a 50% likelihood of being cancer free. Going through radiation would get me another 7%. Sometimes an extra 7% doesn't seem like enough gain to go through the hassle and side effects of radiation. Sometimes 7% seems like an enormous gain for a few weeks of mild inconvenience. The numbers seemed like they were being shot from the hip. Still vacillating…

Steve

Hello,

Thanks for the in depth accounts. It has been very helpful. During my follow up appointments last week I met with a radiologist, Dr. Marks, who said he felt the surgery brought me to a 50% likelihood of being cancer free. Going through radiation would get me another 7%. Sometimes an extra 7% doesn't seem like enough gain to go through the hassle and side effects of radiation. Sometimes 7% seems like an enormous gain for a few weeks of mild inconvenience. The numbers seemed like they were being shot from the hip. Still vacillating…

Steve

Hi POW, Erin, Kyle,

Thank you so much for your words of encouragement. The day started lousy – I thought I was going home but soon found out I would be here for a while with no food, only the PICC line for nourishment – but now I'm feeling much better. The drain is happening via a JP bulb (sorry I wasn't clear about that) and that is the one I'd really like to say goodbye to.

Erin, my surgeon is also Dr. Amos! He explained that the thoracic duct is tiny, hard to see, and often nicked during a neck dissection.

It could have been just a frustrating day. But love-of-my-life Helen came by and we went for a longish walk and then I got a gentle shoulder massage while reading your replies and encouragements.

Thanks, Steve.

Hi POW, Erin, Kyle,

Thank you so much for your words of encouragement. The day started lousy – I thought I was going home but soon found out I would be here for a while with no food, only the PICC line for nourishment – but now I'm feeling much better. The drain is happening via a JP bulb (sorry I wasn't clear about that) and that is the one I'd really like to say goodbye to.

Erin, my surgeon is also Dr. Amos! He explained that the thoracic duct is tiny, hard to see, and often nicked during a neck dissection.

It could have been just a frustrating day. But love-of-my-life Helen came by and we went for a longish walk and then I got a gentle shoulder massage while reading your replies and encouragements.

Thanks, Steve.

Hi POW, Erin, Kyle,

Thank you so much for your words of encouragement. The day started lousy – I thought I was going home but soon found out I would be here for a while with no food, only the PICC line for nourishment – but now I'm feeling much better. The drain is happening via a JP bulb (sorry I wasn't clear about that) and that is the one I'd really like to say goodbye to.

Erin, my surgeon is also Dr. Amos! He explained that the thoracic duct is tiny, hard to see, and often nicked during a neck dissection.

It could have been just a frustrating day. But love-of-my-life Helen came by and we went for a longish walk and then I got a gentle shoulder massage while reading your replies and encouragements.

Thanks, Steve.

Hello,

Thank you so much for your responses. The diversity of opinions is exactly what I wanted. I was especially interested to hear that there are oncologists who may not be "big fans" of radiation. I know every case is different, but I guess I figured most doctors fell into the "more treatment is better treatment" camp. I wonder if this is a case of Kaiser physicians being on salary and others working from a fee-for-service basis (waaaaay off topic, but still I wonder).

Doro, how is it your father was able to consult with so many oncologists? Does Kaiser provide for second and third opinions?

Feeling great. A bit of neck stiffness but yoga and stretching and walking have done wonders.

Off to Chapel Hill in a few hours for my morning follow up with the surgeon and the radiologist appointment.

Many thanks, Steve

Hello,

Thank you so much for your responses. The diversity of opinions is exactly what I wanted. I was especially interested to hear that there are oncologists who may not be "big fans" of radiation. I know every case is different, but I guess I figured most doctors fell into the "more treatment is better treatment" camp. I wonder if this is a case of Kaiser physicians being on salary and others working from a fee-for-service basis (waaaaay off topic, but still I wonder).

Doro, how is it your father was able to consult with so many oncologists? Does Kaiser provide for second and third opinions?

Feeling great. A bit of neck stiffness but yoga and stretching and walking have done wonders.

Off to Chapel Hill in a few hours for my morning follow up with the surgeon and the radiologist appointment.

Many thanks, Steve

Hello,

Thank you so much for your responses. The diversity of opinions is exactly what I wanted. I was especially interested to hear that there are oncologists who may not be "big fans" of radiation. I know every case is different, but I guess I figured most doctors fell into the "more treatment is better treatment" camp. I wonder if this is a case of Kaiser physicians being on salary and others working from a fee-for-service basis (waaaaay off topic, but still I wonder).

Doro, how is it your father was able to consult with so many oncologists? Does Kaiser provide for second and third opinions?

Feeling great. A bit of neck stiffness but yoga and stretching and walking have done wonders.

Off to Chapel Hill in a few hours for my morning follow up with the surgeon and the radiologist appointment.

Many thanks, Steve

Hi Becky,

Good info. Not sure if they want to zap my head, neck, or both. How long was your radiation regimen? Did it leave you fatigued?

Thanks, Steve

Hi Becky,

Good info. Not sure if they want to zap my head, neck, or both. How long was your radiation regimen? Did it leave you fatigued?

Thanks, Steve

Hi Becky,

Good info. Not sure if they want to zap my head, neck, or both. How long was your radiation regimen? Did it leave you fatigued?

Thanks, Steve

Hi doro,

No PT yet but the doc should be by soon and I'll certainly ask him about exercises. I'm gingerly turning my head side to side and lifting my left arm slowly up and down but I'm a bit fearful of overdoing it. 

Thanks for the info regarding your father's drains. Docs are suggesting mine may be out Monday.

Spending my days healing – aren't we all!

Steve

Hi doro,

No PT yet but the doc should be by soon and I'll certainly ask him about exercises. I'm gingerly turning my head side to side and lifting my left arm slowly up and down but I'm a bit fearful of overdoing it. 

Thanks for the info regarding your father's drains. Docs are suggesting mine may be out Monday.

Spending my days healing – aren't we all!

Steve

Hi doro,

No PT yet but the doc should be by soon and I'll certainly ask him about exercises. I'm gingerly turning my head side to side and lifting my left arm slowly up and down but I'm a bit fearful of overdoing it. 

Thanks for the info regarding your father's drains. Docs are suggesting mine may be out Monday.

Spending my days healing – aren't we all!

Steve