We have a plan!!!!!

We saw Dr. Healey today and continue to be amazed at the professionalism of the MSKCC staff and doctors. His resident, Dr. Klein, came in first and gave me my most thorough exam yet, including having me walk away and toward him, stand on my toes, and do a plié (I managed to bend my knees out, but it was not very graceful). After reviewing my history, he left to look over my films with Dr. Healey, and then they returned. Dr. Healey was as Dr. Klein described him – thorough, deliberate – and also very soft spoken, which surprised me. He discussed leiomyosarcoma at length, described various treatments depending on its grade and location, offered several options for surgery, and then explained his preference as well as the procedure and recovery time. He answered our questions, scheduled the surgery, and was off. His nurse spent another 15 minutes with us explaining everything we needed to know about my hospital stay. Before I left, my pre-admission testing was scheduled as well as my follow up visit. Wow!

The skinny: On Tuesday, Feb. 7, I will have approximately 3 inches of my left fibula removed from the bottom of the bone up, which will remove the tumor in one piece. Dr. Healey will take a tendon from my leg and attach it to the bottom of my remaining fibula and to my talus (the foot bone that helps form the ankle joint) to create a new “ligament.” That, along with some exercising, should allow me to use my foot and leg normally. The 3-1/2+ hour surgery will take place at MSKCC on 67th Street and I will remain in the hospital up to five days. At that time, my leg will be placed in a splint and I will go home. At my follow-up appointment two weeks later, my leg will be placed in a cast, assuming I am healing well. This is to keep the ankle from flexing from side to side, though I will be able to move my foot up and down. I should be in the cast about four weeks, and then I will switch to a walking cast. Dr. Healey said I should be ready to put weight on my foot about a month after surgery, but I’ll be able to get around with crutches before then. I assume the walking cast will be removed once I’ve completely healed, which will be a few more weeks.

So, the tumor will finally be gone, and it looks like I’ll be in fine shape by the time pool weather rolls around. I will have scans or x-rays of my leg and lungs every three months and will be monitored for at least 10 years, as there is a small chance the cancer could recur in the soft tissue of my ankle or appear elsewhere. During that time, we will be positive and hope for the best. This must be treated as merely a bump in the road, because I see many more cruises and visits with family and friends on the horizon. Ed and I have had a great many adventures, and we will continue to do so. Perhaps you’ll join us on a few. :-)