On the books for a biopsy May 15th - trying for earlier

Another VERY long day (and more roller-coaster like on the emotions than we would have liked), but we made it. I'm writing from the new hotel - it's more of an extended stay, apartment-like, with a kitchen and living room. We moved out of the Radisson to save a few dollars, and to be able to warm up some pizza for lunch tomorrow that's being delivered tonight for dinner.

The day started off in the huge blood-draw lab of the Mayo Clinic. It really is amazing how quickly and efficiently they process patients through there. Last time we were up here, the phlebotomist said they do over 1000 blood draws a day down there. Incredible volume, and highly skilled staff with all of that practice.

I then let Dad take a little nap in the leather chairs in the Gonda Building lobby while I perused through the Cancer Education Center. Another great (and free) service of the Mayo Clinic. There was someone there to work with me 1:1 to find out more information (digging into medical textbooks and gathering pamphlets) and helped me copy some pages from textbooks on radiation necrosis. I walked out with a bag full of information (including relaxation CD's, a DVD on Clinical Trials, and even coloring books for the kids).

After an awesome lunch at the City Cafe deli (voted best deli in Rochester - for a reason), we walked over to see the neurosurgeon. We got right in for the appointment, and were quickly met by the surgeon and his nurse/scheduler. Found out a few things, but pretty much right in line with what we heard yesterday:

• The surgeon confirmed that there isn't a clear indication on the MRI that this is tumor or necrosis (which is again, great news). He said if there was any degree of certainty on what this "something" was, he wouldn't do the biopsy.
• We definitely need to wait for the ultrasound of his legs (to rule out blood clots) and a thrombophilia consult prior to coming off his blood thinners. Dad had blood clots last fall, so they want to make very sure they are gone before taking him off prior to surgery. Ultrasound was completed right after the appointment, and Dad and I are going to go sit in the clinic lobby tomorrow on "stand by" in hopes of getting in before our scheduled appointment on Monday for the thrombophilia consult. This will make sure that Dad safely comes off the blood thinners prior to biopsy.
• Dad needs to be off the blood thinners for about four days until he can safely go in for surgery, so right now we're scheduled for May 15th. If we actually make it in for the consult tomorrow (think of it like catching a plane as a stand-by passenger), surgery will likely be moved up.
• Risk of hemmorhage is a big higher with this biopsy (if it is tumor, there's more blood flow to this area of the brain, increasing the risk of a bleed). But they're confident that they can perform a biopsy with as low risk as possible.
• Surgery to remove part of the tumor is too risky. Since the area of change has expanded into the occipital/parietal lobe and near some critical ventricles, more harm than good would come out of trying to remove part of the tumor (if that's what it is).
• We're going to try and see if the neurosurgeon that did the original biopsy last summer is available (he's off officially on some research, but this doctor was going to see if he'd like to join him).
• If this "something" is radiation necrosis, there are options for reducing swelling including hyperbaric oxygen treatments and steroids.

Keeping Dad positive (and there's no news we got today to be negative about) has been challenging. We're staying in for dinner tonight (pizza just got delivered), so I think it's going to be an early night for everyone. Back to Omaha tomorrow. Return trip to Mayo's is next week, just not sure when.

We're all excited to be able to be around for Baby Sister Huff's arrival on Friday. Things just work out, don't they?

More tomorrow upon our return to Omaha.