Happy Birthday, Fleming.

Surgery has been set for Tuesday, August 14, which also happens to be my sister's birthday. For my present to her, I hope to finish this saga with my final surgery at Duke. Dramatic? Yes. Being a cheapskate? Damn Skippy.

Using a technique resembling arthroscopic surgery, the doctors plan to remove the tumor with around 2-3cm of margin, about the size of a golf ball. They will go in from my right side and below my right nipple leaving two incisions which most likely will be relatively small. There is a possibility that the entry to my back might require a larger opening, but it is unexpected. I should be able to recover in a day or two if everything goes as anticipated. After surgery, the large scar count will total 11, including the skin graft.

After the nodule is removed, the pathologist will determine if it was indeed a Triton tumor. The watch will continue. Scans will remain every three months. It sounds like chemo would be unlikely, but I'll have to discuss that with that particular doctor. Had multiple nodules been detected, chemo would be more likely. I am speculating here and can't be sure until after surgery, pathology and speaking with my "chemo doctor".

On a completely different note, we found my new doctor in the food court eating fried chicken and my orthopaedic oncologist in a hospital hallway red handed with a bag of McDonald's in his scrubs. I'm not sure what it means exactly, but I like these guys style... Anyone who can remove the majority of my forearm in the morning and put down a super-sized Big Mac with fries for lunch gets my vote. My entourage (Ashley, Dad, and myself) also crossed paths with a doctor from the hyperbaric chamber clinic as well as the ortho doc's nurse/assistant, an incredible woman, who embraced me with two hugs and her prayers... I've said it before. It's a special place with wonderful people; some whose eating habits are better than others. As for me, popcorn and Goobers made a nice dinner at the movie that evening.

We're going to head back to the beach in the morning and relax tonight. Last night's bed Kumate and spending all day at Duke left us both pretty exhausted. Next week, I'll have my pre-op meetings on Monday, surgery Tuesday, and should be home before the weekend. If Bret doesn't get rid of Lacy, he's a moron.

Thanks again for all your love and support last week when you shared my news with me.

PS I’m going to guess Fleming will probably get more (but not better) than great news from Duke, even if good news is all she wanted for her birthday. I'll add "birthday wishes" to the list of kind gestures I've received. Thanks Beetle. (Don’t ask)

Tuesday's News: The bone scan we took on Monday came back negative. The bones are clean.