Please pray for my son ( Another update)

[HntnFsh]

My son found a swollen spot on his neck last week.He went in for a cat scan today.They said he has a very large mass(cyst?)on the lymph gland in his neck.Sounds like its the size of a baseball.The Drs. were really surprised that it wasnt painful.Its so large its displacing his larynx.And goes down into his chest cavity.
He gets his blood tests back Wed. to see if its cancerous or not.Sounds like a high percentage of them are.He has surgury the 16th.They want to get it out of there as fast as they can no matter the results of the blood test.It sounds like the success rate for this is pretty high also.He was warned that there could be complications because of the size of the mass.Loss of voice and some other things.Cant remember all the details.
We already have him on several prayer list.But :help:I would appreciate it immensly if you would please include Matt in your thoughts and prayers also.
Thank You,
Rick & Sue

[Talljeeper]

Prayers going up
Paul

[Cool Texan]

Praying now.

:angel:

[DAB]

I prayed for Him and will continue to pray, Keep us posted.
DAB

[letsfish]

Praying... and keep us up-dated!

[Ryan Pultz]

I will be praying and please keep us updated. rp

[ryleysmom]

That is very sad!
My prayer are with your son, you and your family and loved ones!

[jokester]

I'm praying too Rick! :angel:

-jokester

[Fred N]

I had an apricot sized cyst removed from my neck years ago, fortunately it was benign; hopefully your son's is also. My prayers are for the same outcome and yours and his strength getting through this time of need. :angel:

[CATCH AND EAT]

Prayer for your son, your family and the doctors are being sent up right now. Looking forward to your victory report.

[rimrock]

Praying for Matt, yourselves and Sue. I'm sorry for this difficult time that you are going through. Please let us know how the surgery goes on the 16th.

[SKP]

I'm certainly praying for Matt.

SKP

[fishnwHim]

Count me in as well, Praying for your best :angel1: :wave:

[AnglersRental]

:angel1: Prayer sent. It sounds serious, I hope all goes well.

Brad

[HntnFsh]

We were supposed to get the results of his biopsy back yesterday.Well didnt hear anything till this afternoon.It really sucked waiting.
I'm not sure how those work.But the Dr said 2 of the tests looked like they had 1 of the rarer forms of cancer.3 tests were inconclusive.They dont think its the worst kind of the rare ones because they thought if it was it would show up in his blood tests.He has more tests tomorrow.Then more biopsies on Monday.They are postponing the surgury that was scheduled for the 16th. So they can get a better idea of whats going on and how to go after it.
The drive home from work in Portland was my worst ever.I'm headed up to spend some time with him now.
Just wanted to ask for more prayers before I take off.
Thanks for your support
Rick
Oh,its on his thyroid not the lymph gland.

[letsfish]

Still praying ...thanks for update.

[Cool Texan]

:angel:

[spinnergal]

Have you each on my list. Hopeful that this additional time brings answers to prayers and good news.

[Len Spesert]

You're on my prayer list.

[Fred N]

I'm praying for the cancer to turn out and be treatable for your son and for you and the family to have strength to make it through this tough time. :angel:

[hookumhi]

May GOD bless you and your son and a complete and speedy recovery.

[DAB]

HnTnFsh
I will also keep him in my prayers.
DAB

[HntnFsh]

Well after a total fiasco with the first Doc.He called my son from his home,told him he had the worst kind of thyroid cancer.Then said he didnt want to go into details because his charts were at the office.My daughter in law tried calling back only to have the docs wife hang up on her.We got a referal to The U of W medical center in Seattle.That place is amazing.The new Doc says that 1% of people get thyroid cancer.5% of those get the kind his tests show he has.But its treatable.
They send us down for more blood tests.Then he meets with his team of Docs.They decide that after looking at what they have,he may not actually have cancer.His level of 1 of the indicators is at 13,normal is 8.With a tumor the size he has it should be in the thousands.They and we are cautiously optimistic.
They are hoping that the last biopsies were done in a way as to show if there are any of another indicater present.If not,then more aspirations for biopsies next week.If they turn out the same were in pretty good shape.If there is 1 cell then its definitly cancer.
We should have a lot better idea the first part of next week.Just the professionalism and positive upbeat attitude at the U of W made us all feel a huge sense of relief.They told Matt they see this suspected type of cancer a lot and they can treat it but it is tricky.After 1 of the Docs left the room and Matt was waiting for some other stuff I walked up to talk to him.Before I even got close to him I could see a huge change in him from the previous few weeks.He finally looked a little relaxed and upbeat for the 1st time in weeks.
Well after a really long day,we all left in much better spirits.As I said we are cautiosly optimistic.It seems like even if we hear that his tumor is cancerous that we will be much better able to deal with it.

I want to thank you all once again for the prayers and kind thoughts.I know that it really has helped us on our journey.We would also really appreciate it if you keep them coming.
I will post next week as to what we find out and what is next.I do know that he will have surgury in a couple weeks to remove the tumor,no matter the results of his tests.
Thanks again,
Rick&Sue

[letsfish]

Thanks for the update. It is very encouraging news! Will continue to pray.
Jim

[rimrock]

Keep leaning on God as you are and know you have many here that are praying for Matt and your family. :angel:

[Fred N]

My prayers continue for him. :angel:

[Reed 67]

Prayers going up.

[HntnFsh]

Well,surgury is schedule for monday morning.We're not sure yet about the results of the tests for cancer.The Dr. said they will know by surgury time.Also said that they will do tests on the tumor while he is still under anastesia.That will be the best way to decide on what all they have to do any how.
We're all glad they are getting him in to get this done.His stress level has been so high its really taking a toll on him.Plus I'm sure that its got his thyroid totally out of whack.This guy usually has a limitless supply of energy.He's just been beat lately though.
I'm sure he'll be in the hospital at least a couple days so I will give an update sometime later next week as to how things go.
Thank you all again for your thoughts and prayers.
Rick& Sue

[DAB]

I will keep praying
DAB

[clacksteel]

I'll be praying for you, your son, and your family!

[HntnFsh]

Well, I hope you all noticed I changed the icon at the beginning of my original post from a frown to a smile.Thats because things worked our quite well yesterday.
We got Matt up to the hospital about 12:30.Within a few minutes,they got him into preop.Then about an hour later they started prepping him for surgury.They have a # you can call that reaches a person outside the surgury center.They go check with a nurse,the nurse calls back when they get a chance and update how everythings going.We waited a couple hours.Make a call.The nurse calls back.Says everythings going great.Hes beeen in surgury for about 4 minutes.We all Got a laugh out of that 1.
WE wait a couple more hours,call again,the nurse calls back.The left side of his thyroid and a tumor the size of a mans fist is removed.The Doc is looking at the lymph nodes and the right side of the thyroid,waiting for some scans to come back.Trying to decide on if its cancer or not.Call back in an hour.The Dr will be out to talk to us pretty quick.
We're all anxiuosley awaiting the Doc,A nurse shows up,the Doc wants to talk to Matts wife.I saw she was pretty scared.So I jump up and go with her.
We meet the Doc in the hall.He says that the right side of the thyroid looks good.The lymph nodes look good.But the tumor looks cancerous.He sent it for tests,they did several slides and they are inconclusive.Doesnt look cancerous.He couldnt believe it so he went and looked for himself.He agreed.
The choice then was to either go ahead and take the rest of the thyroid out,put Matt on meds for the rest of his life.
Or let them do sections on the whole thing and wait a week or so for the results.If they come back positive for cancer,he could go back in do about an hours surgury,and then be done with it.If it is cancer he thought it would be 1 the kinds thats easy to treat.Mostly just cut it out and that would take care of it.
We asked him his preference.He said he didnt want to take the whole thing out on a hunch or his gut feeling then find out it was non cancerous.
We agreed that sounded good.
He went back finished the surgury.And a couple hours later he was out of recovery and in a room where we could all go see him.
He had a really rough nite.Lots of pain,plus puked about a dozen times.Oww!!
Well hes home now,feelin pretty rough.I'm takin the day off tomorrow to look after him while his wife goes to work.
Things are looking really positive right now. :yay:

And we all know thats its because of all the prayers from you and everybody else. :applause:

I could never thank everybody enough for all the prayers and support.But I want you all to know how much we appreciate it.Thank You.

I'll give another update when we get more info.But We all feel a huge relief and know that the hard part is over.

Thanks again,
Rick,Sue,& the rest of the family

[rimrock]

:dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance:

I don't think I could click in enough dancingmen!!! Great news! I rejoice with your family. You're all still up on the prayer list. Thanks for the update. May God continue to work miracles in your lives. Blessings to you. :angel:

[fishnwHim]

Awesome, what a relief this must be for you and your family. God is Good !!!! :wave: :wave:

[AnglersRental]

That it great! Thanks for letting us know.

Brad

[letsfish]

Gotta agree with UG... your updates have kept him before us and on our minds and hearts. I will keep praying.......