Black Friday and I'm not talking about shopping discounts

Today we met with Dr. Mario Imola the Surgeon in Denver who did the initial surgery back in June 2010.   There is no messing around this time-- this 2nd tumor was totally resistant to chemo and radiation (after the most intense chemo and radiation schedule you can imagine) and it continues to grow since the last Cat-Scan on 11/29. General consensus from the docs is that it's the same cancer that came through the throat/neck down into the other side - squamous cell carcinoma.  Everyone is perplexed at the rate with which it moved and grew (and shrunk briefly) and grew again...

Surgery scheduled for 5:00 pm next Thursday, Christmas Eve-Eve.   We'll be at Swedish Hospital for the holidays if anyone is in the neighborhood.  Ho Ho Ho....  Merry Fucking Xmas (SORRY DAD!)

The surgical team will need to chisel away at Tony's jaw to get the tumor away from his jaw -- it's in there good.  Not sure yet what that will mean for future reconstructive work, but that is the least of our worries.  :)   We'll take that as it comes.

The tumor is also right up against the skin, so skin grafts from the chest are likely.  I hope his chest hairs are the same color as his facial hair... haha... sorry, lame attempt at a joke.

Thanks to everyone for your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.  We hope that your holidays are brilliant!

Cheers and good night.

Sandie and Tony.