Go Blue

Today we met with Dr. Hart,the ENT surgeon, and now have an understanding of Tom's cancer and plan of attack. The CAT scan was really cool to see and he showed us where the cancer is located and how big the tumor is. The best treatment for this type of cancer is surgery. This type of cancer is intermediate aggressive and somewhat rare. The surgeons here in West Michigan have not had a lot of experience with this type of procedure. Dr. Hart feels that it is in Tom's best interest to have this surgery performed at the University of Michigan Hospital, by some of the best surgeons in the country. Dr. Hart explained that the cancer has spread to below the collar bone and sternum requiring a more extensive surgery (estimated 6 hours) and feels that the Thoracic surgeons at the UofM are better suited for this type of surgery. The surgery will include removal of the thyroid and all parathyroid lymph nodes. A few possible complications are irreparable damage to the vocal cords and possible nerve damage. Tom will more than likely be in Ann Arbor for 3 to 5 days and another 2-3 weeks of recovery at home. In the next couple of weeks we will head to Ann Arbor for a consultation and the surgery will more than likely follow a couple of weeks later, depending on their schedules. So we now have a thorough understanding of the cancer and how to get rid of it we will go on our vacation and relax!