ANA Discussion Forum

AN Community => AN Community => Topic started by: Crazycat on November 09, 2006, 05:38:04 pm

Title: Saw Doctor Today
Post by: Crazycat on November 09, 2006, 05:38:04 pm
I had my six month MRI last Wednesday and saw the doctor today. No regrowth. In fact, the residual tumor left behind appears to have shrunck.
Doesn't mean I'm out of the woods yet. I'll need MRIs the rest of my life. He did tell me that I still hold the record at Mass General for tumor size.
He said there was a guy that had one recently almost as big as mine but with many more complications than I had. Next MRI in one year.
Here's a look at my scans for the newbies....

Paul

(http://www.mustangmods.com/ims/u/948/1254/51450.jpg)
(http://www.mustangmods.com/ims/u/948/1254/51451.jpg)
(http://www.mustangmods.com/ims/u/948/1254/51452.jpg)

Title: Re: Saw Doctor Today
Post by: Desilu on November 09, 2006, 05:53:06 pm
Hi Paul,

I think congratulations are in order! No regrowth, that is wonderful news. Ann
Title: Re: Saw Doctor Today
Post by: krbonner on November 09, 2006, 06:24:46 pm
Woo-hoo!  Good news, Paul!

Katie
Title: Re: Saw Doctor Today
Post by: Palace on November 09, 2006, 06:40:42 pm
Hey There Crazy Cat,


I'm thrilled for you.  You more than paid your dues.  That is terrific.  It made my day and I mean that.  Oh, can't you forward that picture of yourself that you painted.........not as an attachment but, on the email just like you did on the forum only send it through the forum forwarded to me?  I still think others might like to see it as a logo.  It is just an idea but, I would like to see the efforts and yoru tallent.

Again, good for you.  You must be happy today.  Go celebrate.....



Sincerely,



Palace
Title: Re: Saw Doctor Today
Post by: BusyBonnie on November 09, 2006, 06:52:37 pm
Awesome news! I can't believ the size of that thing! I'm so happy for you and hope you are celebrating!

Lana
Title: Re: Saw Doctor Today
Post by: ellenvig on November 09, 2006, 08:32:02 pm
Congratulations!!!

Ellen
Title: Re: Saw Doctor Today
Post by: ppearl214 on November 09, 2006, 09:29:06 pm
...and boy, are we going to celebrate at the brunch! YAY PAUL! Congrats! :)
Title: Re: Saw Doctor Today
Post by: Gennysmom on November 09, 2006, 09:51:00 pm
Way to go Paul!!!!!!!  You've really been an inspiration!!!!!!!!! 
Title: Re: Saw Doctor Today
Post by: Battyp on November 09, 2006, 10:15:24 pm
Yeah Paul!  And you can run too...my son still won't let me run outside where anyone can see me  LOL

Title: Re: Saw Doctor Today
Post by: Patti UT on November 09, 2006, 10:50:43 pm
Paul,
 I am elated that there has been no regrowth. I'm so glad that enormous thing is outa yer wonky honky tonky heaad.
Heres to keeping it outa there.

Patti UT
Title: Re: Saw Doctor Today
Post by: stein78 on November 10, 2006, 09:33:42 am
Congrats Paul!  Great news!
Title: Re: Saw Doctor Today
Post by: comfortzone on November 10, 2006, 12:28:32 pm
WOW that's incredible! Congratulations on your good news!! It must feel great. Those scans are amazing...
Title: Re: Saw Doctor Today
Post by: nannettesea on November 10, 2006, 11:25:53 pm
YEAAAA, Paul!  I just cannot believe the size of that thing, every time I see it.  You are one G****ED fortunate guy!
We're so glad you're here!
Nan
Title: Re: Saw Doctor Today
Post by: Crazycat on November 11, 2006, 02:23:59 am
Yeah......I know. I really came close. I was messed up pretty bad. It's a miracle that I came out of it with as few side effects as I did. Those doctors at Mass General and Mass Eye & Ear Infirmiry- Barker and Mckenna - are top notch. I'm quite sure I wouldn't have done as well without them.

   You know, when people say, " you're lucky" or, "It could have been worse", they're so right. I know it seems very glib and trite, but it's also very true at the same time. If ANs were cancerous, most of us wouldn't even be here right now. Those of us who were left would be on their way out. It would only be a matter of time - and not long at that.

   I was watching the movie "Gettysburg" recently, after having recently visited the battlefield last month in Pennsylvania. One of the leading actors in the film, Richard Jordan, put in a great performance as a Confederate officer that is mortally wounded at the end of the battle. As I watched the credits roll by, I was amazed to see that the film had been dedicated to him, indicating that he had died before the film was completely finished. I did a little searching on the net and found that he indeed had died during the production - considered by many to have been his greatest performance on film - at 55 of a brain tumor. I was stunned. That meant his performance, as great as it turned out to be , was given under the duress of being mortally ill. I sometimes wonder if the great emotion he summoned up during his scenes was born out of the consciousness of what he was enduring in real life.
    George Harrison of "Beatle" fame died from it as well. In fact, I learned recently of a gifted, young neurosurgeon in his forties that practiced at Lowell General Hospital in Massachusetts who died from brain cancer. I heard that he was married and the father of 4 young boys. I was told this by an off-duty O.R. nurse that I met who works at Lowell General. After I told her about what I had gone through she told me about him.  When this stuff is cancerous it very rarely, if ever, takes prisoners. Evidently, NOTHING is sacred.

In this sense, we truly are fortunate.

     Paul
Title: Re: Saw Doctor Today
Post by: Obita on November 11, 2006, 05:12:51 am
Well said Paul and congrats on the great news.

The evening my ENT called with the "news", he made me repeat the word benign.  He said to hold onto that word as I digest and research my options.  We truly are blessed that they are a slow growing, benign tumor.

Kathy
Title: Re: Saw Doctor Today
Post by: Crazycat on November 11, 2006, 05:25:54 pm
Thanks evryone!

  And yes Palace, I'll work on getting that scan to you.
  Right now, it's off to Raymond, NH ( UFO country) to play some music. Hopefully, I'll be abducted by aliens and have them implant a new auditory nerve in my left ear. Gawd, this tinnitus is redinkulous!!

  Paul
Title: Re: Saw Doctor Today
Post by: Patti UT on November 11, 2006, 05:29:41 pm
Paul,
  Do you sing as well?? Was wondering how your tone wold be with the SSD.  How do you do it with the tinnitus?? I can't stand to be around loud music.

Patti UT
Title: Re: Saw Doctor Today
Post by: Crazycat on November 13, 2006, 12:08:41 am
No Patti, I don't sing. Thankfully. Although, if I did, I still have enough hearing left in my good ear to get by.
  Nice condition for a musician to afflicted with huh? It would be understandable if it were hearing loss brought on from loud noise which is what I thought it was from for over five years before diagnosis and treatment. Had nothing to due with exposure to "noise". Now I have to worry about
noise damage from the big guns on the "BPW".
    Not only does the Lord move in mysterious ways, he sure has a sense of humor.

     Paul