Quick update from the “did not see this coming” department. I officially started chemo a few weeks ago and all going swell.. well.. as swell as chemo can go… and almost immediately my back decided to stage a full-blown rebellion.  The pain ramped up fast, which sent us down the rabbit hole of scans, tests,…

Happy belated Thanksgiving all and hoping the upcoming holiday season will be a joyous and fulfilling one. Ok, let’s catch up. I had an ultrasound in late October to verify that the kidney paths were clear and we could proceed with treatment (chemo). I went to work on Nov 3 and was playing phone tag…

All Surgery to remove the capped portion of the internal nephrostomy tube went flawless. Only issue – no need for any Fentanyl (the go to radiology pain killer) or any other back up alternative anesthesia. First time I could drive myself home. They used nothing and I felt nothing. Right ureter clear! Middle Eastern surgeon…

Hey all, After dragging around a urine bag attached to a tube coming out of my right kidney for week, my surgery today replaced that with a stint (tube) internally today. There is still a small emergency external tube that is capped coming out the kidney just in case there is some back up or…

Hey Everybody Surgery for the placement of the Nephrostomy tube went very well. Much more time for the set-up, explanation,internal stress and post op instruction than the actual 5-minute (no exaggeration) surgery. Resting and healing now and there is some soreness but at quick take this was fairly routine as surgery can be. Will return…

Soooo its been a minute. Was nice to have a couple weeks of somewhat normal routine.  After reviewing the PET scan completed a couple weeks ago, it has been determined that getting the right kidney draining properly prior to chemo treatment will be necessary and keep the kidney safe and very productive. Not going to…

All, PET scan completed yesterday. So glad I am not claustrophobic which you are actually asked before you go in. If interested I’m sure you could google the procedure and see why. Results produced nothing new which was good news. No spreading and no change of plans. Not exactly sure when chemo would start which…

Hi all! Just a quick one this week. My PET scan has been pushed to next Friday. See you all then! Thanks for all the love – MC

All, The thing about any medical diagnosis is waiting for results and direction. Until you know for sure, speculation added with misinformation will keep you up at night, and it did. We live in the Internet age and you can find just about anything you want to find if you look hard enough. Even cures…

Drove down and picked up four take-home tests from my alternative doctors office/Doctor Singer. Urine saliva and stool tests. Pathology report, confirming what the surgeons had thought would be the outcome. Not great test results from the blood test yesterday as well showing some possible blockage in the right kidney. Scheduled an ultrasound for this…