What’s Going On

01.19.2012

Hi everyone I love,

In mid-December I had my annual check up which includes blood work that checks my “tumour markers”. CA-19-9 came back elevated so we started looking for clues as to why. A CT scan of my abdomen did not show anything so on the suggestion of a physician friend of Jesse’s, we did a CT of the chest and, damn it, we found the cause: I have a walnut sized lesion in my right lung. There are also some suspect fluid areas surrounding the right lung and the lymph nodes there are not happy. We did a PET scan which confirmed the findings and, with relief, did not find any other activity in the rest of my body. There was a slight bit of activity in the abdomen but in an area known for false positives.

My last surgery was in 2006 and I really thought that Mr. C was behind me for once and for all. The shock that it has gone rogue into my lungs was devastating. My type of cancer is called Pseudomyxoma peritonei – often referred to as PMP. It is already a very rare type of cancer. Finding it in the lungs is even more rare. There are only a handful of cases.

Since the discovery, I have met with several specialists as well as consulted with my original surgeon in Washington DC, Dr. Paul Sugarbaker, who is the leader in PMP. Because it is in my lungs, I am now in the land of “thorasics” (vs. general surgery). Our enquiries led us to Boston to Dr. David Sugarbaker, a thoracic surgeon at Brigham & Women’s Hospital. He is a leading expert on thoracic oncology – particularly with mesothelioma (which I do not have – but is a very tricky type of lung cancer). He is also Dr. Paul Sugarbaker’s brother! Yes, the Sugarbaker who did my original surgery in Washington 10 years ago. Go figure.

Our meeting with him gave me every confidence that he is the man for the job. In addition to being a world renowned surgeon, he was very kind and feels positive that he can save a good deal of my right lung. I went into the appointment thinking that the whole lung was going to be removed so he got a big hug from me for that news. Nothing is certain until he is in there but I am glad he is approaching my case very personally and with a solid plan to save as much as he can. He will also do what is called an intrathoracic heated chemotherapy wash in the lung cavity as an extra precaution – a procedure he is very well versed with because it is used for mesothelioma. Mine will be with a different cocktail but otherwise the same approach. We did this wash in my abdomen in 2003 and in 2006.

There is no indication that I will require any follow up radiation or systemic chemo because my kind of cancer is not known to respond to chemo via the blood system.

Many of you, including me, have asked “how the #%€£¥! did it jump from the abdomen into the lung?” The one thing we thought we did know all this time was that PMP did not enter the bloodstream or travel via the lymph nodes. There is no answer to this mystery. It is possible that a cell managed to squeak it’s way up there. The lymph nodes in my right lung are looking angry and are likely involved at this point but could also be inflamed as a result of the tumor. I hope this is the case. Even if they are implicated, it still doesn’t mean this an entry point to the rest of my body. What I can tell you is that I will be doing everything in my power to make sure that my body returns to 100% optimal so that my immune system can have a fighting chance at anything that may present itself in the future. I am reading a ton of very interesting scientific research on the power of our immune system in the fight against cancer. More on that later.

Surgery has been scheduled for February 1st. I am expected to stay in the hospital between 3-5 days afterwhich I will stay with my family in Boston until I am cleared to fly home to Vancouver. Alison and Jesse will be in Boston with me while I am in the hospital. According to Paul Sugarbaker (Washington) this surgery is “a walk in the park compared to the abdominal surgery” that I have already had. Fingers crossed.

My job leading up to surgery is to continue to get in top mental and physical shape. Thanks to Alison and the trainers at Level 10 Fitness who have been kicking my butt at the gym three times a week my cardio and lungs will be in optimal condition. I am also leaving no stone unturned when it comes to the nutritional, spiritual and energetic aspects of my journey. I am working with a naturopath, acupuncturist, reflexologist and a very gifted energy healer. This will be my 6th surgery in ten years and I unquestionably believe that my holistic approach, combined with a positive mindset and the incredible support and love from of all of you, is why I am still here.

In the meantime, I can’t fully express my deep gratitude for all of your emails, prayers, calls, photos, and text messages that simply say “I am thinking about you right now and sending love”. You can’t imagine how this has bolstered my spirit in the most needed moments. Please don’t stop! It’s working! I have no doubt that my guardian angels have been hard at work to get me to where I am, in the right hands and with a tsunami of love and light behind me.

With overwhelming love,

Sam