Treatment Strategy

A month ago I had the tumor removed with a procedure based on the thought that it was benign. From recent discussions, this was fine and should be considered a massive biopsy.

For now my treatment will involve three stages...

1. Radiation
2. Additional surgery
3. Chemotherapy

Radiation will begin on June 1st and will be for five weeks. This will involve a two 30 second treatments per visit Monday through Friday. Side effects should be minimal but might include some small burning and/or swelling. Tequila induced arm wrestling might be off the agenda for good. They are only putting radiation through the front half of my arm so if there are any complications with the circulatory or lymphatic systems, the top of my arm should remain normal.

Additional Surgery will take place a few weeks after that after any needed healing has taken place. From my second opinion visit to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center on Tuesday, I learned that they would have a similar treatment strategy, but they also had one of two surgical oncologists in the country who specializes in hands. This will probably be the doctor I will use to remove the "residual tumor bed" including the existing scar from the original surgery. Obviously, risks here include loss of strength and feeling in my hand from removing muscles and nerves. 10 to 15 years ago, the standard procedure would have been to lop off the whole arm.

Chemotherapy will begin after the second surgery. It will involve ifosfomide and doxorubicin. DUMC doctors were leaning this direction and MSKCC adamantly pushed for it. This will involve a six month period of chemo with all the crappy stereotypical side effects you hear about. My only concern here is from a bad experience in the bathroom of the Junkyard with some barber clippers in college, I don't think I'm gonna be too thrilled with my new look. Potential long term side effects closely resemble those I faced attending college for four years and living with my cronies two years out of school.

If you have any questions or information you'd like to share after reading this, please let me know. Thanks again for all your support. All the doctors agree that with this aggressive treatments strategy, my prognosis is very positive. My attitude will resemble that.