July 30th

--> From James:  Friday, July 30th
Very difficult day yesterday and long road ahead. The result of yesterday’s out-patient surgery for Lynne was, unfortunately, as expected - and confirmed the concerns various radiologists had with the CT scan result. About 98% of a malignant tumor was removed from the sternum via surgical biopsy. It left behind a hole in the breastbone/sternum about the size of a quarter. The CT scan suggests that a related, larger tumor is in the liver. We are trying to get a full PET scan done - but this will have to wait until next week when the pathology report is in and any swelling from the surgery is diminished. The full pathology report on the removed tumor (due by ~Tuesday and should tell cancer type, primary/secondary, etc.) and a PET scan should give us the information we need to decide on treatment. At this point the doctors do not believe this cancer is related to microscopic traces found post-thyroid surgery this past January.

We leave for vacation tomorrow morning, but we might cut it short if we are able to take additional test/treatment steps as early as late next week.

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--> From Lynne:  Wednesday, July 28th:
I am writing to ask for prayer. It has been a difficult week -- I will try and sum it up quickly. I have been having chest pain over the past 3 months that has gotten progressively worse. On Monday, after many, many tests, they found a growth on my sternum and in the liver. Radiologists believe that both are tumors and most likely malignant. Tomorrow at 12 noon I am having a biopsy/outpatient surgical procedure on the sternum growth at Paoli Hospital. (This was scheduled late this afternoon.) The plan is to remove as much of the growth as possible. They are hoping to know soon after the procedure if this growth is benign or malignant. Further testing will be done which will take longer perhaps well into next week before all the results are in. The doc anticipates sending the results to specialists for a second opinion. We are scheduled to leave Sat. for a week of vacation in MI. I will have adequate pain meds and they are saying that it is okay to go. Next week will most likely be a lot of finalizing tests results and getting everything transferred to the appropriate doctors.
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