Well, it seems I have put it off as long as I could, but at a meeting with my neurosurgeon yesterday she said its time to start treatment. My tumor is apparently changing characteristics from oligodendroglioma to the more aggressive astrocytoma. I will have a biopsy sometime soon to absolutely confirm what is happening and to put a grade on the astro cells. Unlike my original craniotomy this will be a less invasive MRI-guided needle biopsy. I keep thinking about what I told Alex last week about "scars are tattoos with better stories..." Well I have enough stories already so I am hoping that they will be able to open up and use one of the existing holes from the previous surgery.
I will be meeting with a Twin Cities oncologist on Friday and another one at the Mayo next week. I would prefer to stick with the local doc but a doc at the Mayo apparently has had a lot of experience with my exact condition. I don't know what the schedule/protocol/dosage will be but it looks like PCV is the direction. Barb & I are praying that a miracle happens this month in our baby-making effort so we don't have to go through the hassle and expense of the test tube.
Jim |