Roger Update#??

I have to go back and read where I left off on the blog concerning Roger's lung and procedures. Sometimes during the week it is just easier to post a quick update on facebook from my phone.  It seems we are always waiting for just a little more information or test results so I want to wait to make sure I can update the blog with the most information at one time. To keep a long story short... we are still waiting. The results from the last procedure were again inconclusive.  Below is more detail of the past few weeks that you are more than welcome to read if you have time (but it might have been more for myself to actually write down the journey).

Past month recap since the 2nd procedure (needle biopsy)

After the results of the needle biopsy were inconclusive they did another catscan and found that the mass had broken into two.  The doctor was still concerned with the lymphnodes being enlarged and inflamed but we were encouraged non the less. Roger consulted with a lung/heart surgeon to see if he thought surgery was needed to further examine what is going on. The doctor had put together a team of 9 highly esteemed doctors,surgeons, oncologist and physicians to go over Rogers case. This was very encouraging to have so many "smart eyes and brains" looking at Roger. However, they all seemed to be stumped at how this wasn't making sense. They told Roger it appeared to be lymphoma or sarcoidosis.  Sarcoidosis would be the much better option but the tests done so far had not leaned that way.  So we headed out of town on vacation to try to get away all the while trying to not let the word lymphoma have any hold on us.

The following week a new pulmonary specialist conducted another procedure where they inserted a tiny ultrasound device down his throat into his airways to look and biopsy the lymph nodes.  Basically they poked a needle through his airways into 18 lymph nodes 7 times each. They also took samples from the upper lobe of the left lung. They got PLENTY of samples.  They put Roger completely under for this procedure.  Recovery was a little more rough this go around for him. He is still coughing heavily and just overall miserable.

This brings us to this past week where we found ourselves waiting once again (however, more hopeful all the poking would bring some sort of answer).  The doctor who performed the procedure contacted Roger and was a little stunned to say that everything they tested for came back inconclusive. So here we are again. The lovely word that on one hand gives relief because they haven't found cancer for sure and on the other hand is the worst word ever.  The doctor is meeting with the other pulmonary specialist to see what should happen next and to try to grasp what is going on.  They won't rule anything out on paper because they haven't found the cause. It makes sense to Roger more than it does to me. 

Amazingly, we are ok. Well, Roger is just tired..... I don't blame him. He doesn't complain. He works hard at his job when he is not getting poked.  He handles it better than I would.  I am praying and asking prayer for wisdom.  The options that I feel are coming are not ones that sound good to me given the success rate of the procedures so far.  We are thankful for all the prayers and encouragement from people spread across the Arklatex and possibly farther. We do not take them for granted.  As always I will update as we learn more. Fear is not an option for me at the moment and I know it will all work together in the end. So for now we take one day at a time and are becoming pros at waiting. What a hard thing but a blessed thing to learn.