The Road To Discovery
Tuesday March 04, 2003
For those who like their stories in chronological order, here is a look back at the road that brought us to treatment in Honolulu:
September 14th, 2002:
Jim started having double vision.
He saw our family doctor, Lynda Dolan. She referred him first to an eye doctor, and then when nothing showed up there, to a neurologist.
October 4th, 2002:
MRI and blood tests -- all of which, according to the Hilo people who are interpreting them, come back normal - no disease, no tumors, zip, nada. Jim is treated for migraine with some medication.
January 7th, 2003:
We go to Honolulu for a second opinion appointment with neuro-opthalmologist (one of the heroes in this tale) Dr. Scott Kortvelesy. He reviews the MRI from October, confers with a colleague, and concludes that there is a mass in the nasopharynx and on the brain. He encourages a biopsy as soon as possible
January 16th, 2003:
Dr. Lovina Sabnani performs biopsy in Hilo Hospital.
January 23rd, 2003:
Dr. Lovina calls us into her office to share results of biopsy.
Jim has cancer. The tumors are called nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
February 6th, 2003:
We learned of two experts in the field of nasopharyngeal cancer in Honolulu. Our friends Sheryll Mylenek and Kim Tsukuzaki were incredibly helpful, and went to great lengths to get us appointments with Clayton Chong and John Lederer, both practicing at Queen's. (location, location, location!)
After consulting with doctors in Hilo and Honolulu, we decided to begin treatment with the dynamic duo of Dr. Clayton Chong, medical oncologist, and Dr. John Lederer, radiation oncologist.
Jim is admitted to Queen's hospital for two things: 1) to make a webbed mask that will assist in the precise delivery of radiation, and 2)a surgical procedure to insert a stomach feeding tube. The tube will be necessary in the next few weeks as side effects from the proposed program of simultaneous chemo and radiation treatments will make it difficult to impossible for him to swallow.
February 11th, 2003:
Jim begins chemo and radiation after five days of recuperation while staying in Kailua with his brother Dave. Radiation treatments will be administered daily, and chemo will be given once every three weeks. The chemo requires Jim to say overnight in the hospital and receive nutrition and hydration intraveneously.
September 14th, 2002:
Jim started having double vision.
He saw our family doctor, Lynda Dolan. She referred him first to an eye doctor, and then when nothing showed up there, to a neurologist.
October 4th, 2002:
MRI and blood tests -- all of which, according to the Hilo people who are interpreting them, come back normal - no disease, no tumors, zip, nada. Jim is treated for migraine with some medication.
January 7th, 2003:
We go to Honolulu for a second opinion appointment with neuro-opthalmologist (one of the heroes in this tale) Dr. Scott Kortvelesy. He reviews the MRI from October, confers with a colleague, and concludes that there is a mass in the nasopharynx and on the brain. He encourages a biopsy as soon as possible
January 16th, 2003:
Dr. Lovina Sabnani performs biopsy in Hilo Hospital.
January 23rd, 2003:
Dr. Lovina calls us into her office to share results of biopsy.
Jim has cancer. The tumors are called nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
February 6th, 2003:
We learned of two experts in the field of nasopharyngeal cancer in Honolulu. Our friends Sheryll Mylenek and Kim Tsukuzaki were incredibly helpful, and went to great lengths to get us appointments with Clayton Chong and John Lederer, both practicing at Queen's. (location, location, location!)
After consulting with doctors in Hilo and Honolulu, we decided to begin treatment with the dynamic duo of Dr. Clayton Chong, medical oncologist, and Dr. John Lederer, radiation oncologist.
Jim is admitted to Queen's hospital for two things: 1) to make a webbed mask that will assist in the precise delivery of radiation, and 2)a surgical procedure to insert a stomach feeding tube. The tube will be necessary in the next few weeks as side effects from the proposed program of simultaneous chemo and radiation treatments will make it difficult to impossible for him to swallow.
February 11th, 2003:
Jim begins chemo and radiation after five days of recuperation while staying in Kailua with his brother Dave. Radiation treatments will be administered daily, and chemo will be given once every three weeks. The chemo requires Jim to say overnight in the hospital and receive nutrition and hydration intraveneously.