The Gunny 30Apr10

Hello all,

Well today has been full of continued surprises. I had a wound check this morning at WRAMC where they took out my sutures and Dr. Cooper was able to provide me an early report of 1 of 2 pathology reports and based on these results I have what is called a WHO level II "oligodendroglioma" brain tumor. As bad as it sounds it's a level II tumor and despite Kristine and my own insistence Dr. Cooper refused to provide us any answer as to whether or not it is a benign or malignent tumor. He has always been extremely truthful with us and I can appreciate his unwillingness to provide us that type of answer....we still have to wait for the 2nd report to come back from AFIP but Dr. Cooper and his staff seem confident we have a positive way ahead. He did mention that we would re-send additional tissue to another testing facility if they didn't agree with the first finding but only continued time will tell.

I was then given paperwork to place me on 30 days of convalescent leave and then sent down to see Dr Boyer of the oncology department to discuss radiation and chemotherapy. By this time I've been up since 0430 which Krisitine so eloquently put it in her own posting that I've now become a night owl and early riser..however it is now pushing 11:30 or later and I'm getting wiped out..not sure if it had more to do with finally getting some much needed news which truly just left relieved or if I was just exhausted. Nonetheless, as I sat their and waited with Kristine and my Dad I gradually fell off into a slumber as I waited for Dr. Boyer to finally meet with us.. Once in of course I have to re-hash why and how this all came about and how well I'm doing.. not sure he was thoroughly convinced..plus he tells me I shouldn't be driving given the medicine I'm taking but you can rest assured I listened but no sooner than I left I was back behind the wheel. To some of you I know you expect me to act as such being a Marine and all but in reality this had more with me being who I am and what I expect of myself. Dr. Boyer explained that if I chose radiation I would get a mask made to fit my head and then would go for 6 straight weeks for 30 minutes at time.. I explained I'm a little hesitant and he is going to send me to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to meet a Dr. Fine who is supposedly at the top of the brain tumor community who has a degree from Harvard who will discuss some other options to help me identify other options if there are any?? Should hear back from him sometime next week and looks to be another long week up in Northern Md/Wash DC area... good thing is I get to claim all this via the local travel claims..makes it easy considering i put 80 miles a day when I have to head up.

Gang I'm tired so I'm going to sign off for now but will follow-up more again tomorrow and ask for continued support for the "Race for Hope"..we have made our 20k goal but let's not rest on our laurels for a cause until 21 days ago I really gave no thought to.. Things happen for a reason folks and now that it has I will not rest I promise you all that..

SF
JD