A Day With the Doctors

10:00 Dr. Albertoli (Plastic Surgeon): Nothing new. He didn't feel that he needs to see Bobby for 3 months. He said that his face is healing nicely and that by summer, the scars will be very much improved. They look better every day---and summer isn't too far away either! Katie got to take out Bobby's stitches (see pic) and he is once again "stitch free."

Bobby will miss Katie for the next 3 months!

1:00PM Dr. McCormack (Oncologist): This was Bobby's first visit with an oncologist. Dr. McCormack was wonderful. He spent a very long time with us and took extra care to answer any questions we had. He was honest and took his time and was very understanding. We aren't the first young (wink) couple to sit in front of his desk fearing for our future.

He presented the facts:
1. He wants Bobby to be seen by an oncologist in Baltimore at John's Hopkins. This oncologist specializes in melanoma. Dr. M felt that Bobby would benefit by seeing him since the melanoma was on his face. The surgeon took the recommended 2cm margins for the excision but for the thickness of Bobby's melanoma, that may have been a little conservative. He just wants to be sure. He wants to make sure that the doctor at JHU doesn't want to do chemo or radiation. We will have the biopsy slides sent to JHU and read there--for another 2nd opinion. This appointment may take a few weeks to obtain.

2. With Bobby's depth of melanoma, being a male, age 40, and without spread to the lymph nodes, the stats say he has a 50/50 chance that the melanoma will recur. 50/50
Should it come back, melanoma can show up on the liver, in the lungs, pancreas, skin, brain, or anywhere it desires.

3. He wants to see Bobby every 3 months to check his lymph nodes (for lumps). He wants a yearly PET Scan for the next 3-5 years. And, to follow the recommendation of the doctor in Baltimore. Perhaps Interferon for a year-which is no fun. Bobby may not be a candidate for it though...his melanoma may not have been bad enough to need the chemo. We'll be praying.

That's about it--UNTIL WEDNESDAY. We go back to Frederick to see the ENT doctor. He has a fistula that is still draining "spit" continuously. We'll see if the doctor has any wisdom about that because it is a pain for Bobby.

Bobby is feeling pretty down in the dumps this week. Any support would be appreciated--I'm trying to keep his thoughts positive and looking up. I'm not hesitating to ask for help at this point. I'm using all of my tricks--although I can't reveal them here! It was great that he got to see Lee yesterday--that helped! Thanks Lee!