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The surgery is confirmed for February 18. I am (relatively) very glad to be having this because the way cancer works (in my amateur yet ever increasing understanding), chemo can shrink and stabilize cancer and can kill very small tumors. But in order to be cured, you have to get rid of it all. In many types of cancer, such as mine, this means physical removal of all cancerous cells. As horrible as surgery is, it is minor compared with the alternative. Come to think of it, I guess that's the whole idea.
The area of concern is physically located within the pelvis. Dr. Rodriguez-Bigas says it is like trying to do surgery in an ice cream cone from the top. The problem is that there are so many important organs, nerves, and miscellaneous anatomical tubes crammed into the cone. That is why he will be doing it together with an extra pair of hands - those of Dr. Wood, who is another surgeon at MD Anderson. They way I understand it, he is a specialist in these ice cream cone surgical techniques.
On another note, Dr. Hoff's team has decided to continue my chemotherapy to keep hammering on the tumor, increasing the chance of success of the surgery. While I have always decided in the past to do my chemo at MD Anderson, I have decided to do the next two rounds at UT Southwestern in Dallas. In the case of trouble and complications, I believe it is important to stay "on the radar" of the team at MD Anderson. But I'm going to do it here because these rounds are going well in terms of any odd reactions, and because I am getting very fatigued and sick and the travel is getting difficult. The MD Anderson and UT Southwestern people have agreed to this arrangement.
While I am quite frustrated due to my lack of strength and my feeling sick these days, it will be better to be at home for these coming holiday weeks than driving back and forth on I-45. So I am glad this plan has worked out the way it has.
Here is the plan:
December 28 - chemo round 5 in Dallas with backpack chemo hookup for 48 hours
Jan 10 - chemo round 6, same deal
Feb 8 - CT scans to get final look before surgery. If no surprises or new cancer, surgery will go forward
week of Feb 15 - set of meetings with lead surgeon Dr. Rodriguez-Bigas, Dr. Wood, and Dr. Hoff
Feb 18 - Surgery. Recovery is 5-7 days in hospital, followed by 5-7 days in Houston area
Feb 19 - I turn a hard-fought-for 37.