I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice chianti. -hannibal lecter

Well, its time to update my blog. This fall, I had some follow-up scans and tests to see how Trogdor was doing. Since last February '09, I've been taking Octreotide shots, which are a biological shot intended to keep my carcinoid tumor from producing the hormone serotonin. While the cancer isn't running rampant in my luscious body, my symptoms haven't really improved. So....

Dr. Patil, my oncologist, referred me to OHSU (Oregon Health and Sciences University) to the care of carcinoid specialist, Dr. Pommier. Where all my health specialists to date have been cancer generalists and surgeons, Dr. Pommier has made carcinoid cancer his speciality. We like that. After suffering the political and insurance wrangling necessary to get approval to see Dr. Pommier, I was finally approved and went in for my consult this last week. The next time I go in to his office, it will be for my pre-op appointment for surgery, which is scheduled for December 11, 09.

There has been a major change to my treatment plan. It turns out that carcinoid cancer is a much different animal than regular cancer. If there is such a thing. What we thought was my primary tumor in the mesentary, was actually just a lymphatic carcinoid tumor, and not the primary at all.

A primary carcinoid tumor is no larger than a pea, is usually missed from examination by even experienced oncology specialists, and in my case is going to actually be on in small intestine. Additionally, the mortality risks for someone in my position are from GI obstruction and cancer metastized to the liver. I have several small carcinoid lesions in my liver, which we've known about since last year.

Additionally to the additionally is that Dr. Pommier stated that I am in the top 10% of most positive results with having the primary resected from my small intestine and having the lesions removed from my liver. By the time I return to work, my liver will have regrown what was removed and I will truly be in maintainence mode with the shots. With no more primary to pose a continued threat to my system, the rest is easy. He has found the primary carcinoid tumor in 100% of the patients he's done surgery on.

The really REALLY great news is that we are going to try to rent one of those auto-granny-launching recliners, so that I will actually be able to get up as needed. The really really BAD news is that I will be out for 6 weeks. As I learned the last time, this is not a vacation. As for work, will have laptop - so will travel. :)