An Update on my wife

[Tom Phillips]

To all -

Kathy was diagnosed with lung cancer. After 3 months of petrifying anxiety, we met with the oncologist the last of April to get the results of all Kathy’s tests. A 3 centimeter mass showed up in the upper right lung. This is a non small cell carcinoma (slow growing) and her cancer has not spread and is only in the upper right lung and may involve some micro-cancer cells in the lymph node next to the existing mass.

The good news is they believe that the removal of the upper lobe of the lung will completely eliminate the cancer.

Tomorrow, 5/12, she has a bronchoscopy to do the final lung inspection. Her surgery is scheduled for the 20th at 8:00 AM. Although we, at this point, still don’t know if she will have the traditional surgery or the minimally invasive “scope” surgery. Depending on the type of surgery, her stay in the hospital will run 5 to 11 days, at home recovery 3-5 months.

We both are very enamored with all her doctors at Riverside County Regional Medical Center. All of them seem to be more concerned with her well being than making a buck, all of them talk to us rather than at us and all of them answer our questions with straight forward, no nonsense, answers.

We expect that her surgery will go perfectly and the cancer will be removed, completely.

The last segment of her continuing pain in her left leg has yet to be diagnosed, but, at this point, the tests she has taken are leading to a severely pinched nerve in the lower back or an M/S episode, neither of which are life threatening. We will attack that after we get rid of the cancer.

Our many thanks for your thoughts and prayers as we know that has helped keep her cancer at bay.

Tom Phillips
#185

[Tom Berry]

Fingers crossed!

[Kurt Rahn]

We'll be praying for you guys!

[Steve Ekstrand]

Prayers from our household as well!

[Tadd Ekstrand]

Same here.

[Jeff Shyu]

my thoughts are with you and your wife.

[Bill Schenker]

All the best! You guys will beat it!

[Jeff Shyu]

positive attitude and family support are amazing medicines.

My dad has beaten the prognosis by 11 months now, and we're planning a family camping trip this July to Yosemite. :gpower:

[George Schilling]

Tom,

Let Kathy know we're pulling for her full and speedy recovery. Please keep us updated on her progress. Best wishes to you both.

George

[George Lynch]

Please know our thoughts and prayers are with you and Kathy. Wishing you all the best.

George and Jo Ann Lynch

[Tom Tanquary]

My prayers are with your family.

[Renee Angel]

Tom:

My prayers are with both you and Kathy. She will beat this, as I have so far. We're both tough cookies and we'll get through this.

Renee