Has been a busy August so far with doctor's appts, two CT scans, a pulmonary function test, an echocardiogram and more doctor appts due to a bout of SOB (yeah, it was that too but in this case stands for Shortness Of Breath) Another program of antibiotics and steroids in larger doses has pretty much taken care of it. Looks like I'll be on the steroids for awhile as decreasing the dosage last week put me right back to square one overnight. This stuff is a Catch 22...it's works magic but also promotes side effects like industrial strength heartburn, insomnia and is the most effective appetite stimulant known to man... three things I need no help with, thank you. So much for competing in the 2016 Rio Olympics, dammit.
 Had an appt with my Pulmonologist, Dr Stone last week. Dr Stone was the one to diagnose and give us the news over two and a half years ago, but I still like the man. He's laid back, professional, doesn't try to solve all your problems in a fifteen minute appointment and enjoys salmon fishing. He's also by his own admission a professional worrier. You want him in your corner.
This time around the latest CT showed a new nodule in my lower RH lung that is 8mm (5/16") in size that wasn't visible on previous CT's.  Dr Stone and my Oncologist Dr Mackler are in agreement that whatever this thing is, it's too small to hit with a needle biopsy, would likely not light up on a PET scan and surgically removing it is out of the question, the lung has been through enough. The plan is to go through a non-contrast CT Sept 6th to see what it's up to and proceed from there. There is nothing other than my history that would suggest it is cancerous, so let's not think what we're all thinking.  If it is, "cyberknife" has been mentioned, a slick marketing term for pinpoint radiation and the perfect tool to hit a small target with  minimal damage to surrounding tissue.  Or the mass could just be a result of my recent lung infection - again, too small and too early to accurately diagnose, but big enough to rate attention. It has that. We'll know more Sept 11th after our appt w/ Dr Stone in Ann Arbor.
So Jo and I have decided not to let this taint the remainder of a terrific so far hot Michigan summer - please do the same and we'll talk again next month. I'm in good hands...Nurse Joann and several very good doctors are all over it...

L I V E S T R O N G

Ken

It just struck me that there were five two word phrases that have had a profound affect on my life... so far.   How about you ?
 I Do
You're what ?
A boy ?
What's that ?
Oh shit ! (lots of these)