My Brother
This is what I just sent out earlier today to the family members I didn't call.
As some of you might know, Mike has been having some tests run recently. We went to Anderson Mercy today for a mediastinoscopy, This procedure involves placing a lighted tube (mediastinoscope) under your upper breastbone (sternum) to obtain a biopsy of the lymph nodes around the windpipe (trachea).
Mike does have large cell lung cancer with lymph node involvement. The next step is to see an oncologist and a radiologist. He has partial paralysis of his vocal cords, and that will not get better. The chemo and radiation will shrink the tumors, hopefully kill the cancer cells, and make him much more comfortable. There is a possibility that his adrenal glands might be involved. We won't know the stage or the exact type of large cell lung cancer until after he receives the pathology report and talks to the oncologist.It is advanced, but we don't know how advanced.
I will be doing Mikey updates periodically. This will keep you all informed, and keep Mike and Martha from having to answer the same questions over and over. Please pass this email on to other concerned friends and relatives of Mikes and Martha's that are not on the email list.
What I would like all of you to do is to add Mike and his family to your prayer list. Cancer is a very scary word. There is always hope, though. Our God is an Awesome God, and will hear our prayers.There are many treatments available that make a big difference in quality of life,pain control, and remission.
.
Upon hearing that he might have to have chemo, Mike asked "Will my hair come back?" Since he doesn't have much hair to begin with, I know he was hoping for a full head of hair after treatment! Ha, he hasn't had a full head of hair in a long time.... but he keeps hoping!
Lets all do the same.
Hugs
Bren
I think the hardest part was seeing mom cry. She teared up a bit when we talked to surgeon, whom, btw, I think is an ass. Then I took Mom, Mike, and Martha home. When I dropped off mom she was in tears, and just wanted to get out of the car before she broke down. Martha broke down after the doctor talked to us, and Bill did too. We have to be strong for Mike, until he can be strong for himself. If he sees us crying around him, he will automatically think he is going to die real soon. He thinks that way, and right now his thinking isn't so good.
I will do my crying later, there is too much to do now to take the time. Yes, it hurts, and yes, I am frightened for my brother. But I know people who are stage 3 and 4 who are still here, still enjoying life, doing what they can to to make each day count. That is what I want for him, to want to live.
I don't know what to do, other than be there.
As some of you might know, Mike has been having some tests run recently. We went to Anderson Mercy today for a mediastinoscopy, This procedure involves placing a lighted tube (mediastinoscope) under your upper breastbone (sternum) to obtain a biopsy of the lymph nodes around the windpipe (trachea).
Mike does have large cell lung cancer with lymph node involvement. The next step is to see an oncologist and a radiologist. He has partial paralysis of his vocal cords, and that will not get better. The chemo and radiation will shrink the tumors, hopefully kill the cancer cells, and make him much more comfortable. There is a possibility that his adrenal glands might be involved. We won't know the stage or the exact type of large cell lung cancer until after he receives the pathology report and talks to the oncologist.It is advanced, but we don't know how advanced.
I will be doing Mikey updates periodically. This will keep you all informed, and keep Mike and Martha from having to answer the same questions over and over. Please pass this email on to other concerned friends and relatives of Mikes and Martha's that are not on the email list.
What I would like all of you to do is to add Mike and his family to your prayer list. Cancer is a very scary word. There is always hope, though. Our God is an Awesome God, and will hear our prayers.There are many treatments available that make a big difference in quality of life,pain control, and remission.
.
Upon hearing that he might have to have chemo, Mike asked "Will my hair come back?" Since he doesn't have much hair to begin with, I know he was hoping for a full head of hair after treatment! Ha, he hasn't had a full head of hair in a long time.... but he keeps hoping!
Lets all do the same.
Hugs
Bren
I think the hardest part was seeing mom cry. She teared up a bit when we talked to surgeon, whom, btw, I think is an ass. Then I took Mom, Mike, and Martha home. When I dropped off mom she was in tears, and just wanted to get out of the car before she broke down. Martha broke down after the doctor talked to us, and Bill did too. We have to be strong for Mike, until he can be strong for himself. If he sees us crying around him, he will automatically think he is going to die real soon. He thinks that way, and right now his thinking isn't so good.
I will do my crying later, there is too much to do now to take the time. Yes, it hurts, and yes, I am frightened for my brother. But I know people who are stage 3 and 4 who are still here, still enjoying life, doing what they can to to make each day count. That is what I want for him, to want to live.
I don't know what to do, other than be there.