Talking with Dr. Hakim, My GYN

About January 15, 2008 Tuesday
John and I sat down with Dr. Hakim on Tuesday, January 15, after Dr. Hakim had consulted with a gyn.-oncologist, to talk about what lies down the road.

Ideally for me, I would like to get this all taken care of now! I led a program for "United Methodist Women" Tuesday night about John's and my sabbatical experience (with John as my able tech assistant). But, other than that, I thought I was ready any time now! I carried my toothbrush and blanket into the appointment Tuesday to try to suggest they could take me NOW! (It was my attempt at a little joke.)

Surgery Schedule
However, after explaining objectively what we know and what we do not know, Dr. Hakim said the surgery is scheduled for February 18. I am pretty at peace at the moment (trying not to feel beyond what I know).

What we do know.
The initial biopsy just checked a few cells he removed from my uterus. That confirmed malignancy. It looked like "Grade 1" or slow-growing endometrial cancer. That is about as simple (good) as it can get. The "standard of care" for endometrial cancer is surgery, a complete hysterectomy. (I had assumed "chemo", but it sounds like that is not assumed unless it is needed (spread).)

What we do not know.
Has it spread and how aggressive it is really? The biopsy examines only sample cells. So we will have a more complete picture with more tests and when they actually do surgery. (When they do surgery is when they actually "stage" it.. decide if it has spread, how much, what treatment is needed...) We have no reason to think it has, but that is their job to be objective. Caring comforting people can say warm kind things like "I KNOW you will be fine." But I very much appreciate my doctor being objective and thorough. That is his job.

More tests
I will have both a chest x-ray and an abdominal CT scan today (Thursday night). Those results are sent both to my gyn and to the gyn oncologist, whom we will see on Wednesday, January 23. I think he will be participating in the surgery, but I am not sure how that all works yet. This is a journey, sometimes one step at a time, sometimes with over-lapping steps. Again, I say, "We will know more" after this appointment next Wednesday.

Dr. Malviya (next Wednesday)
This oncologist is apparently legendary, excellent, dedicated, and well-loved. His receptionist said he is usually "3-4 hours late". I could register and do paper work, then leave and come back. Someone else told me she waited 5 hours. My gyn said expect 8. Another woman said they told her to go home for dinner and they called her about around 1:00 in the morning. This may be a good time for John to bring his computer and get a sermon done.