Saturday...

On Wednesday my sister and I got up very early, dressed and hit the road.  Again, leaving early in case we met a convoy of farm equipment.  If you have ever been behind a long line of slow moving farm equipment, you know that driving down one long road could add thirty or more minutes to the trip.  My check-in time was for 8:30 a.m.

My Oncologist and the new Intervention Radiologist spent quite a bit of time going over all of the other tests and results.  Then, I was taken in for another Needle Guided CT scan biopsy.  This time my doctor did not want to take any chances the samples would not be enough in quantity or quality specimens.  Right next to the table I was on, the lab set up a microscope and a person to look and make sure all samples were good. 

I found out later that the biopsy samples were not taken from the renal artery mass.  Everyone seems to be afraid to mess with that one!    The tissue was removed from the kidney.  Pro's and Con's on that hit my brain.  In the beginning, it was explained to me why that procedure should only be a last result test.  From what I remember, when removing the needle from the body cancer cells can drop from the needle.  This action can leave damaged cells along the path of the retreating needle.  Okay, the doctors are getting frustrated so maybe this was a last resort to diagnosis the type of cancer.  Again, there are approximately 70 types of lymphoma and the exact type must be determined.  In addition to the cancer information, was told there was not cancer growth in the chest area, but there is a nodule on my thyroid. 

The hospital decided to keep me longer than I anticipated.  I was not released until 6:00 p.m.  Gloria took me to my son's house to spend the night rather than drive back to Royal City. 

Through the night I was in a lot of pain, as well as bleeding from the uretha again.  This has been on and off since the second biopsy, stent implant, etc.   Before my sister left to go home to tend to her husband (who has cancer) she handed me the discharge paperwork.  Oh yeah, middle of the night, reach for the phone to call the hospital and remember I gave it to Gloria for her trip home in the dark.  Decided to read the discharge paperwork and found that she had given me her current crochet project pattern by mistake.  Ha ha...

Through the evening/night I kept passing blood and clots thru the uretha.  My son offered to drive me to emergency.  I looked at the clock and realized the doctor's office would be opening in just a few hours, so didn't go to ER. 

Thursday afternoon the Urologist removed the stent.  It was completed in the doctor's office.  Quite honestly, with the medicine inserted into the bladder the procedure was not painful.  A bit uncomfortable, but hey... I'll take that over pain any day.    From what I was told by the Urologist, bleeding and clots are common.  Why wasn't I told?  The clots were blocking the uretha passage, and the end result was not pleasant!  Still today (Saturday) having a bit of problem with that.  Think my body is just cleaning out "stuff" from when the stent was in. 

Waiting now,  for the report to tell me what type of cancer I have.  After that is determined, the Oncologist will decide the treatment.