The Verdict...

Radar Productions Studio: Commercial Shoot... Starting the set-up, before the craziness of media people, actors, lights, and such...

Yes, it has been quite some time since I’ve posted anything of substance. A lot has transpired since my last entry, so much so, that I can’t even conjure the memory to repeat it all. A few things are certain… that I am both overworked and (I hate to say it) overwhelmed. As the third decade of my life approaches, I find myself in a place that many don’t experience until they are 50, or even 70! In the past, I rarely if ever, visited a doctor or hospital. In the last 10 months, I have now been to six different hospitals, and seen at least 11 different doctors and specialists throughout the country. Running the healthcare circuit has become commonplace in my life. I am forced to reevaluate everything on a daily basis… Ham or cheese? Black or gray tie? Cash or credit? Extensive liver surgery in NYC or New Orleans? And so, as I sit here in the studio of a production company (working on a Secret deodorant commercial, where one of the booths I built is a being used as a prop), it dawns on me that I may never know a life without Cancer. I do not want this disease to define who I am, but it sure as shit requires a good deal of my attention.

I guess I’ll skip the day to day and get right to the point… I have a serious operation coming up in November (18th) and it’s much bigger than I anticipated. I met with the Surgeon last week and the verdict is as follows:

1. Big nasty cut in the abdomen to get inside….ouch (Doc’s hand’s gotta fit inside!)
   Search for the primary visually and physically. The surgeon will actually feel all of my organs to try and locate anything abnormal. In most cases, the elusive primary is found through this method. However, I have been forewarned, sometimes it’s still not found…


2. Remove primary if found….in bowel, pancreas, etc.


3. Remove the gallbladder


4. Resect some small tumors for tissue testing and drug resistance (future chemo). Remove as much as possible, as safely as possible, from the liver.


5. Ablate (RFA) large liver tumor in multiple locations… The location of this tumor is near some critical blood vessels, so, there’s only so much they may be able to ablate.


6. Follow-up with RFA or Y90 3-4 months after the surgery, for tumors that may be nested and deeper in the liver.
   
   This is not a cure. The purpose of the surgery is really just to minimize burden on the liver, and hopefully, make my prognosis better. The surgeon assures me I’ll “wake up”… but there are risks, such as infection and internal bleeding from the wound. This surgery will require a week in the hospital (Mount Sinai) in New York City. After which, I’ll require more rest as an outpatient. I’ll also be required to stay in NYC for about 3 weeks after the surgery for follow-up, tests, etc. I won’t be able to drive for a month after surgery. I also will not be allowed to do anything strenuous for another 2-3 months. I can’t lift anything “heavier than a laptop”. So, there goes just about everything I do in the shop, field, events, etc! I guess I’ll get some reading done after all?
   
   …and in case you’re still not sure about our health care system being screwed… The Surgeon’s fee is $30K (for starters), for which $15K is required in advance of surgery. The insurance company will pay just a little over $6K (TOTAL). Before the surgery has even started, we’re beginning the fight to squeak pennies from the giant Aetna.