Update

I want to thank everyone for your wonderful encouragement and support during my medical dilemma.

I’m exhausted after a long day, but I wanted to give a quick update.  I met with the University of Chicago specialist/surgeon today, and he was everything I had hoped for!  He actually sat and chatted with me and my husband for two full hours in a tiny conference room much like what is picture above.

When he sat down, he said, “Do you want surgery?” 

I said, “No, not if I don’t need it.” 

He said, “Are you afraid you have cancer?”  

I said, “No, not now [because of all my reading], but I’m worried about the potential due to my family history.”

He said if you had cancer by the size of your tumors, you’d be dead!”.  We laughed.  That seemed logical. 

He continued, “I see no reason why you would need surgery at this point unless your symptoms are bothering you.  I am here to explain all of your options, so you understand them.  It is not my place to decide what is right for you.  That is your decision.”

And in those two hours he answered every question and concern I had, and taught me all he could.  He offered me options and told me that delaying any surgery was probably my best bet because if we intervened now, with no medically necessary reason, I stood a good chance at having the tumors regrow and re-offend me again, so he saw no point in rushing things at this point.  He thinks its better I wait until I feel I have no other option because the time delay could prevent me from other surgeries.  And he saw no reason to radical alter my body at all, unless it was the option I wanted!

He explained that I have a 75% probability that I will get uncomfortable due to the tumors and will want intervention, but I also have a 25% chance things will stay as they are and never bother me further.   Plus as time goes by, different options may develop because in the last 5 years advanced have been sizable.

My blood pressure was 159/84 when I got there, and I know it was a lot higher most of the week.  I was so stressed out and now I feel like the stress of world fell off of me.  My normal blood pressure is 100/70 and it should be returning, if it hasn’t already!  I can think clearly again!!!

I may not be out of the woods yet, but I am certainly not where the last doctor wanted me to believe I was– at cancer’s door knocking.   She was flat reckless and irresponsible.

I share this with all of you in hopes that it will give you the courage, the strength and the fortitude to question people you meet in life. Just because someone is an expert, it doesn’t mean they know best.  A good expert will always educate you first and then guide you and let you make the ultimate decision about what is right for you!  That’s always the sign of a top-notch expert in their field.

I’m happy, healthy and feel so blessed to have met this doctor today!

Thanks again for all of your support!!!  And thanks to Mr. Eyes, he is simply the best.

P.S. He also told me that my radiological tests were so poorly done, they were of no use to him!  They were junk!!!  That was a surprise!!  Not.