The Good Fight

We had hoped for some answers in the past few days but the test results are
not revealing much. Yesterday, Mark had a breathing test and they said
there was only a little diminished capacity in his lungs, however, it was
still in the normal range.
Today, the biopsy results from the lung taken last Friday did not show any
cancerous cells. All involved physicians have discussed it and have no
answers. It does not mean that the cancer didn't originate in the lungs,
just that the particular cells they took are not showing it. But, previous
scans have shown that there are masses and abnormalities in the lung. It is
highly unusual for it to originate as skin cancer and then develop into the
lumps in the lymph nodes but it is very remotely possible. Mark did have a
skin cancer removed a few years ago in the center of his chest. There is a
slight chance that they will never find where the cancer originated.
So, until we get the PET scan results next week for the test which will be
taken Thursday, July 27, all we have to work with is that there are
definitely squamous cells, which means that he definitely has cancer. We
know it has traveled to the lymph nodes and didn't originate there. But, we
don't know where it started and won't know where it currently is until the
PET scan gives us that information.
Meanwhile, Mark intends to start the process of getting appointments at Dana
Farber in hopes that we can get more information and second opinions quicker.
Wish I had more to tell you but will update again by August 2.

# posted by The Sheehan Family @ 6:45 PM