After meeting with the oncologist yesterday, we have a game plan and date for surgery. He has to be admitted the day before in the morning, so will have to get him there by 10 am on Tuesday morning, the 8th of June, and they will do additional tests and ensure he's stabilized for about 24 hours before surgery.
He has been on an Alpha blocker for about a week now. The purpose of that is to diminish adrenal gland production. He will start a Beta blocker on Sunday in preparation for the surgery. The Beta blocker will help protect his heart from the reduced hormone production. He'll have the laproscopic surgery to remove the adrenal gland, and they'll enclose the gland in a "plastic" bag before they remove it. Once it's out, they'll reposition him on the operating table and begin the surgery to remove the thyroid.
Because the cancer has spread beyond the thyroid into the lymph tissue on both sides, they will be taking the additional tissue to ensure they have gotten all of it. I asked about post surgery and whether he'd have to have radiation or chemo since it has spread. It appears he'll get an easy road for radiation. He will be given a solution with radioactive iodine beads in it that will gravitate to any sites where thyroid cells have traveled. The cells will absorb the iodine from the beads and it will kill any cells, reducing the risk of additional metastasis.
Interestingly enough, since KU Med is a teaching hospital, they asked Terry about the potential to keep the adrenal gland and thyroid tissue for future research. We both thought it was a great idea, even though he was told they will remove any identifying information from the sample before it would be used. Terry thought if they could get back to him it might be helpful in figuring out in totality what's happening with him, as well as be a resource for others who may have the same condition.
He admitted this morning he's getting nervous about the surgery, Part of that is he was told there would be a ventilator in use when working on the thyroid. He remembers the feeling of having it in when he had the open heart surgery six years ago, and thinks the experience will be the same. I explained to him that when he had the other surgery he was in very bad shape. He was septic and so sick he was hallucinating by the time they took him in for surgery. This will be a different situation altogether. The primary difference is this time around he's fully lucid to understand what it all means. That means he has time to think about it and worry. I'm going to have to figure out a way to keep him positive and focused. I don't want him run down and anxious about what's going to happen because he can't sleep due to worry. Maybe as the adrenal gland continues to pump out less and less adrenaline it will curb some of the nervousness naturally.
My plan is to be there for the surgery and stay the first night after. I'll provide updates as they come in since I'll have my laptop with me. I have every confidence he will do fine and not have any problems, but I know we'll all be glad when it's over and in the past.
Here's to delicate cutting for an optimum outcome!
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