Two Probes and a Camera

Friday May 4, they inserted a camera through my navel and looked around at my innards to get a better idea of how easy it would be to get the tumour without taking all of my internal organs too.  They were pleased with what they saw as the cancer has not spread as much as it might have.  There is a significant tumour with some complications but they are more confident that they can get it all through surgery.  So that is good news as they were a little afraid that I might be worse off.  Now I'm waiting for my turn in the OR.  The ORs are booked solid so it will take some creative scheduling to find a time slot for me.  It may be a few days before we know.

It means I have three holes in my abdomen, one for the camera and two more that I think they used to insert tools to push my innards around so they could get the camera in the right spot.  As a result, I have more stitches and every time I burp, hiccup or pass gas I get a little surprise shot of pain.  I also have a constant pain in my back, presumably from the tumour pressing against my spine.  The morphine keeps all of this to a tolerable level so I'm not really suffering as much as some.  I'm still jaundiced and my skin is quite itchy.  Bridget gave me a supply of various lotions to help with that.

I really really like the surgeon, Dr Nanji.  He is very nice but also very respected and has done thousands of surgeries.

Actually, I like everyone here.  They are treating me very well.