Or maybe two holes, for that matter. Results from a recent brain MRI came back with three new spots, each about 2 millimeters in size, which were not present in the previous MRI back in February. To determine if this is more melanoma, we must perform a brain biopsy. Dr. Peter Weber, a neurological surgeon, will perform the procedure.
One spot is on the left side of the brain, one is on the right, and one is near the brain stem between the two sides of the brain. The first two spots are superficial, and therefore should be relatively easy to remove and biopsy. The third is too deep to reach surgically. If either of the first two spots turn out to be cancerous, my radiation oncologist will use stereotactic radiation, also know as a ‘gamma knife’ to burn the third one until it is gone.
The surgery should take about four hours and involves drilling two holes in my head to get at the required areas. The doctors will perform another MRI immediately before the surgery to determine exactly where to drill. The doctor will likely use a local anesthesia and possibly keep me awake during the procedure to ensure that everything goes according to plan. Maybe I can ask them to make some enhancements while there are in there!
I will probably stay overnight at the hospital for observation. The surgery is scheduled for the morning of Wednesday, December 26th, 2007. Call it the best ‘present the day after Christmas’ a boy could ask for!
Wish me luck.
No comments:
Post a Comment