Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
I continue to work, although my schedule is cut back. I continue to play bridge and I<br />
continue to enjoy life.<br />
For those afflicted <strong>with</strong> this disease, feel free to contact me through this blog or email me<br />
at dave@shuster.com<br />
Posted by David Shuster at 11:13AM (-08:00)<br />
Returning From Hawaii Cruise<br />
Tuesday, March 15, 2011<br />
Tomorrow, we leave the Golden Princess after a wonderful two week cruise to Hawaii.<br />
It will be back to real life <strong>with</strong> a CT scan on Thursday and an appointment <strong>with</strong> Dr. Flam<br />
the following Tuesday. Once again, I am cautiously optimistic that there will be no new<br />
disease, but if there is, I am prepared to face whatever treatments will be required, likely<br />
Chemotherapy.<br />
Wish me luck. I will post the results when I have them.<br />
Posted by David Shuster at 04:18PM (-07:00)<br />
The Emotional Roller Coaster<br />
Thursday, March 17, 2011<br />
Today, I went <strong>with</strong> Judy to Sierra Imaging in Fresno for a follow-up CT scan. On my last<br />
study, there was an unexpected new mass in my posterior mediastinum that was treated<br />
<strong>with</strong> a low dose of radiation in the hopes that this would stimulate my immune system to<br />
control the disease. I have been looking well and feeling quite well although I have<br />
commented in the past about some indigestion.<br />
<strong>My</strong> CT scan was completed and I went to visit the Radiologist, Glen Hananouchi, a<br />
former partner of mine, to review the results, <strong>with</strong> Judy there as well. I realize this is<br />
always a difficult spot to put him in but I have been in this position many times. We<br />
reviewed the images and saw the mediastinal mass was smaller. There were no lung or<br />
liver metastases. I left the room elated and we sat in the waiting room as I had requested<br />
a CD of the images for my records.<br />
Shortly Glen came to get me, appearing crestfallen and I knew the news was bad. There<br />
was a totally unexpected new finding. A new lesion had appeared in my small bowel,<br />
surrounding the lumen and thickening the wall, measuring about six centimeters in length<br />
and about three and a hanf centimeters in diameter. Well, at least the feelings of<br />
indigestion were not psychosomatic. There is no doubt that this is a real abnormality and<br />
I can't imagine it is anything other than a recurrence of <strong>Merkel</strong> <strong>Cell</strong> Carcinoma. This<br />
reminds me of the carnival game "Whack-a-Mole" where as soon as you whack it, it<br />
reappears elsewhere.<br />
Here are some images from my CT scan. The mass is in the left upper abdomen. The<br />
magnigied view shows the bowel lumen (area through which digesting food passes) in<br />
white <strong>with</strong> the wall around it.<br />
<strong>My</strong> <strong>Battle</strong> <strong>with</strong> <strong>Merkel</strong> <strong>Cell</strong> <strong>Cancer</strong><br />
53
Change language