Poised for an Intense Week

Nothing much to report right now - but everything is starting to converge. And next week is going to be intense: getting lots of information and connecting with lots of family! I am going classify all as FUN right now! :-)

Dr. R from the Un. of MN left a message on our machine last night (even though we asked them to call Matt's cell!!!!) to say they had discussed Matt's case at the Tumor Board yesterday. Argh - eager to hear what they have to say but we will have to wait until Monday.

Monday Matt will be getting the all-important PET scan in the morning, and then in the afternoon is seeing a mouth/teeth surgeon for a consult on his teeth. Our dentist thought he should ask about getting his wisdom teeth pulled - as well as, possibly, two back molars - prior to starting treatment. So Monday afternoon he will be doing that. Oh goody.

We should actually be able to get the PET scan results on Tuesday: we'll either learn they do see something glowing (e.g. in the tonsils) OR they will see nothing - which will be frustrating but still good (the cancer remains microscopic). I personally really want them to final rule out those spots in the lungs....

Wednesday we head down to Mayo to work the system there. We are excited to be starting with a Dr. O - who was highly recommended as an ENT surgeon with cancer expertise. We will also be working to see a mouth/teeth doctor while we are there to get recommendations around helping protect Matt's teeth, jaw and whichever salivary glands as feasible.

Thursday is Turkey Day - that should be fun! We (plus kids - Chapin comes home on Tuesday night and may actually go to Mayo with us on Wednesday) will be attending the festivities at Mom and Dad's.

Friday, Matt's brother and wife, Beth Ann, and their son Michael will be here also for the holidays and we will be hosting them for a VERY simple dinner that night. We will be joined by Matt's kind-of second mother, Atashe, which will be great. We adore her and haven't seen her in ages.

Then the weekend will be all about catching up on sleep - maybe putting up the Christmas tree? - connecting with the kids, etc.

Monday, Nov 30 is the other big day. We have an afternoon appointment with Dr. W, our quarterback, and assume/hope we will be reviewing the PET scan results (and possibly the Mayo's thinking) deciding things like...
- getting his tonsils and/or teeth out prior to start of treatment. And if yes, should the procedures be done at the same time (can you say OUCH) or separately....
- what kind of treatment should be established: general radiation, modified radiation, with or without chemo, etc. etc.
- when Matt would start treatment
- where he gets his treatment.

Stay tuned.....