Post- Op Note

Well, Leenie was finally released from the OR and is awake and progressing in stages to where all tubes and oxygen devices can be removed.
She complains of pain at the mediport insertion site - which is perfectly normal. She has received pain meds and has a prescription for oral medication at home. Her Heart Rate, Blood Pressure and oxygen saturation are good. She has no recollection of the OR so she must have responded very well to the general anesthesia.
Dr. McGraph came in to speak with Tim, Leenie and me. He was very kind but straightforward. The frozen section revealed what is called "Non small cell" carcinoma of the lung. He was able to retrieve large chunks of several of the affected lymph nodes and the cells from each were included in the frozen section. Now it will be placed in Dr. Cross' capable hands. First, the biopsies will go to the lab for a variety of staining procedures geared toward narrowing the diagnosis from non small cell to a specific type of non small cell carcinoma. Once that determination is made - probably by Friday b/c there is a temporal element to each testing procedure - Dr. Cross reviews the data.
When Dr. Cross is satisfied that he knows precisely what type of lung cancer Leenie has, he will select the chemotherapeutic agent that is specific to only that cell type and implement a regimen of treatment which includes, dosage, frequency, duration of treatment; additional follow-up testing to determine the efficacy of therapy; adjunctive medication predicated on the findings of the follow-up testing and, perhaps most importantly, in what way(s) has her clinical picture changed, ie, is she becoming weaker, showing signs of improvement and if so, in what areas; the status of her nutrition based on blood work and THE CLINICAL PICTURE. You can have great, textbook lab results but clinically demonstrate an obvious need for something to increase strength, comfort, mental clarity and the presence/absence of a developing secondary infection, ie, urinary tract, sinusitis, etc from a compromised immune system.
It will be a minute by minute, hour by hour (you get the picture) progression with signs and symptoms that require investigation/treatment or, just a slow, uneventful course of very gradual improvement. Needless to say she will be closely monitored. But she must also be evaluated mentally & spiritually by those who know and love her best such that we can provide appropriate support and advise the medical team of changes that, were they to know her as we do, they would address.
For now, the next few hours are going to be rough re: physical comfort/healing from an invasive surgical insult AND digesting the words spoken by Dr. McGrath. There was no element of surprise but the reality of hearing out loud from the man who has just experienced with all of his professional senses/experience the reality of Leenie's illness and announced it with great dignity, respect and care that one could possibly have hoped for, is sobering, frightening, yes, but, with time, will echo in her mind and give her the strength and fight that we all know she has to address this announcement head-on - and with the help of God and her God-given abilities, STRIKE BACK, NOT OUT.
Knowledge, the biggest hurdle, is behind us. We know the enemy - a disease to be cured, not a state of fear, confusion and impotence.
Let's move on with confidence and love - and, yes, a few toasts to the future.
Till tomorrow,
Lorane & Tim
-