Saturday, October 1, 2011

Treatment Path

Dear Family and Friends,

Sorry for the delay with this update as this is probably the most important one. After analyzing my MRI images my Doctor is very secure that I have a grade III glioma and therefore I need surgical intervention. An alternative would be a biopsy followed by chemotherapy, but since this is also invasive I opted for surgery.

The biggest downside of surgery is the risk of collateral damage (losing movements on my left side, for example). I read about a surgery that can be done while I am awake (intraoperative functional mapping) and became interested in it. This enables the doctor to shut down an area of the brain before removing it. He then asks the patient to move or talk, for example, before removing it. If the answer is yes, he proceeds.

As a coincidence my Doctor returned from a conference in Europe and had a chance to watch an excellent Doctor perform two surgeries using this approach. As he observed him and studied his results (higher resection volume and lower neurological deficits), he is coming to the conclusion that this is probably the best path for me.

Now we are working with this Doctor to find a date for surgery but everything indicates that I am flying to Montpellier, France, in December for surgery. Would appreciate if you could connect me to friends there, if you have any, to prepare the ground.

I am extremelly calm and peaceful with this decision, nearly 3 months have passed since my diagnosis and I don't feel much different, I think I can wait another 3 months.

My dad had a quote from King Solomon that had a very strong effect on me, "We choose our path but God determines our destiny". I hope that I am choosing the best path, I feel extremely fortunate that I was presented with so many great Doctors and that I chose one that was willing to open this new door.

Keep the messages, prayers and thoughts coming, I hope that this is over soon and that we remember this in the future as just another bump in this journey called life.
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9 comments:

  1. MarcosOctober 2, 2011 at 7:00 PM

    Patrick,
    Estamos torcendo por voces.
    Marcos e Cynthia

    ReplyDelete
  2. maria anitaOctober 3, 2011 at 5:37 PM

    Patrick, com certeza esse é o seu right path. Escolhido com a razão, e o coração. Enfrentando de frente com coragem e fé. Junto com a torcida, ainda mais admiração por você. Thanks for sharing. Your perspectives do and will help others in more ways than you imagine. Força amigo. Estamos junto pra deixar logo esse bump pra trás! Beijo, Maria Anita

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  3. ParaskevasOctober 3, 2011 at 7:53 PM

    Boa sorte Patrick. Estamos com voces. Muito amor.

    Bra,
    Cristo, Elif, Leonidas, Arda

    ReplyDelete
  4. AdrienneOctober 3, 2011 at 7:57 PM

    Patrick, I continue to pray for you and your family and for skillful doctors that have come into your life. It sounds like a tough decision, but the right one. And in a very strange way, it has to feel good to control at least a part of this situation (your type of surgery, positive thinking, etc). Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers and sending more positive thoughts your way!

    ReplyDelete
  5. pensandoOctober 5, 2011 at 6:47 AM

    Patrick, ainda não tive a oportunidade de lhe conhecer, porém conheço o seu pai (estou na consultoria com ele) e com certeza você tem a mesma ética, profissionalismo e paixão pela vida que ele, estou rezando e torcendo muito por vocês. Um abraço.
    Danilo Del Rio Duarte

    ReplyDelete
  6. EdgardSLNOctober 5, 2011 at 2:56 PM

    Patrick, você nunca conseguiu fazer qualquer coisa sem deixar sua marca, não é mesmo? Com todos os motivos que eu já tinha para te admirar (quase invejar...), você ainda vem com esta demonstração (pública!) de força e coragem. Assim fica difícil tentar acompanhar.
    Saiba que, de qualquer maneira, pode contar 100% com minhas orações e energia positiva, mas seria um enorme prazer poder sentar contigo para bater papo, relembrar histórias, dar risadas, celebrar a vida. Mais habilidades suas difíceis de igualar.
    Um grande abraço,
    Edgard

    ReplyDelete
  7. negaoOctober 13, 2011 at 4:11 AM

    estamos juntos nessa...vai dar tudo certo. tudo termina bem, se nao esta bem é porque nao terminou ainda.abs

    ReplyDelete
  8. AndreasOctober 23, 2011 at 10:10 AM

    Patrick,

    Not sure, if you had already googled "burzynski clinic" and had a look at the studies around his alternative cancer treatment with Antineoplastons.

    I came across some articles that seem highy promising and was immediately thinking of you...and thought I need to share this with you asap.

    Best wishes,
    Andreas

    ReplyDelete
  9. Cris SilvestrinOctober 23, 2011 at 12:58 PM

    Patrick, continuo torcendo e rezando por vc, sempre! Espero conseguir ver vcs esta semana, dou um pulo na casa da neiva, bjos e força!!!!!

    ReplyDelete

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