Fuck Cancer.
On May 17, Dan was diagnosed with Renal Cell Carcinoma.
Routine bloodwork and a check up of a persistent cough led to Dan learning he was anemic. As his family doctor put it, "super anemic. I'm surprised you can function at all." Thankfully, the doctor didn't just leave it at "here's some iron supplements," and sent Dan for a chest X-ray and an ultrasound. The ultrasound led to a CT Scan on May 16, which led to emergency phone calls mid-movie, an asap appointment May 17, and the diagnoses of kidney cancer.
On May 19, the first specialist Dan saw, a urologist, better explained what was happening. Dan has an 11cm cancerous tumor on his right kidney, growing through a renal vein and into the inferior vena cava, growing as a thrombus up toward his heart. It has also begun to metastasize to his liver.
Surgery is the first and only option at this point.
Surgery will include a hepatobiliary specialist (liver), urologist (kidney), a cardiologist (heart), and possibly a vascular specialist. Dan will be receiving an open radical nephrectomy just as soon as possible to remove the infected kidney and tumor. It's a bit more complicated than that of course, and will also mean Dan is essentially receiving open heart surgery to be put on a bypass machine while the operation to remove the tumor and all infected bits are removed.
Recovery from this operation is expected to be nearly six months.
So, suffice to say, this is some major shit going down pretty soon.
This blog is to keep everyone updated on Dan's progress on his journey with kidney cancer, and his rehabilitation and further treatment, if needed, afterward.
We thank everyone for your thoughts and prayers and well wishes, and hope to be hearing them for some time still.
-The Dumouchel's
P.S... On May 17, Maggie made cookies:
On May 17, Dan was diagnosed with Renal Cell Carcinoma.
Routine bloodwork and a check up of a persistent cough led to Dan learning he was anemic. As his family doctor put it, "super anemic. I'm surprised you can function at all." Thankfully, the doctor didn't just leave it at "here's some iron supplements," and sent Dan for a chest X-ray and an ultrasound. The ultrasound led to a CT Scan on May 16, which led to emergency phone calls mid-movie, an asap appointment May 17, and the diagnoses of kidney cancer.
On May 19, the first specialist Dan saw, a urologist, better explained what was happening. Dan has an 11cm cancerous tumor on his right kidney, growing through a renal vein and into the inferior vena cava, growing as a thrombus up toward his heart. It has also begun to metastasize to his liver.
Surgery is the first and only option at this point.
Surgery will include a hepatobiliary specialist (liver), urologist (kidney), a cardiologist (heart), and possibly a vascular specialist. Dan will be receiving an open radical nephrectomy just as soon as possible to remove the infected kidney and tumor. It's a bit more complicated than that of course, and will also mean Dan is essentially receiving open heart surgery to be put on a bypass machine while the operation to remove the tumor and all infected bits are removed.
Recovery from this operation is expected to be nearly six months.
So, suffice to say, this is some major shit going down pretty soon.
This blog is to keep everyone updated on Dan's progress on his journey with kidney cancer, and his rehabilitation and further treatment, if needed, afterward.
We thank everyone for your thoughts and prayers and well wishes, and hope to be hearing them for some time still.
-The Dumouchel's
P.S... On May 17, Maggie made cookies:
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