20 May 2009
Dear
family and friends
Yesterday,
Luna had investigative surgery - a video camera up her urethra into the bladder
and biopsies taken around any area close to the tumour that could have been
affected.
We
now know that the tumour is about the size of a small plum (less than 5% by
volume of the original size), and some of the remaining cells are either dying
or dead. We also know that the stem of the tumour is attached to about one
quarter of the bladder wall, just to the side of the urethra. The surgeons are
very hopeful therefore that Luna can be left with enough of a bladder for it to
remain functional (albeit she will probably need to go to the toilet more often
than a 'normal' person), and that her urethra should be safe from surgery.
For
us, and the surgical team, this is the best possible outcome! We had been very
concerned that they would have to remove her urethra (as the tumour is so
close) and possibly part of her vagina wall. We had also been extremely
concerned about the need for radiotherapy (with serious long term side effects)
post surgery. Whilst the exact procedure will not be confirmed until we have
the results of the biopsies and, even then, not until they actually open her up
to do the surgery, we are extremely happy with the outcome of yesterday.
For
the first time, we saw the doctors smile and finally got them to admit that
Luna's prognosis was now greatly improved (we have believed that for a long
time - ever since she pro-lapsed so much of her tumour).
The
main surgery is now scheduled for June 23rd.
We
still have a long and hard road ahead. Luna is back in hospital on Friday
for her next round of chemo. The effects of chemo are cumulative, so even
though she did so well after her first two rounds of chemo, she is taking
longer to recover now. We will continue to go into hospital between chemo
sessions, as she gets temperature spikes (suspected infections) that have to be
treated. We will continue to struggle to feed her and rely on feeding through a
nasogastric tube / pump. And even after the chemo is finished (towards the end
of the year), we will have to go into hospital for repeat investigative surgery
every three months to monitor the affected site. All of this is very
challenging and tiring. However, the difference now is that we feel we have a
goal that together we can attain.
Thank
you everyone for all your support. We have appreciated it immensely. It has
kept us going.
With
much love Monica, David, Luna ('our little warrior') and Leo (our attention-lacking
dog)
