[Hallicrafters] Re Medical Update

[Mark Bell]

Hi Duane ---

You have been, and will continue to be, in my prayers.

If possible, pass along the Hospital you'll be in so we can drop you
a card and such.

73 Mark K3ZX

----- Original Message -----
From: "Duane Fischer, W8DBF" <dfischer at usol.com>
To: <hallicrafters at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Wednesday, August 06, 2003 10:21 AM
Subject: [Hallicrafters] Re Medical Update


>
>
> The results of the colonoscopy were a tumor in the upper colon. It is
definitely
> cancerous. The bowel is obviously obstructed because of this tumor,
perhaps a
> 3/8 inch opening remains. This tumor has been there for at least eleven
months,
> probably longer. Even though I told a doctor of a problem exactly where
the
> tumor was found back in October of 2002, he elected to not pursue it. His
> assumption as to the cause of my symptoms was wrong. Had he pursued it
then, the
> tumor would have been discovered and my chances for recovery greatly
improved.
> As recently as thirteen days ago I once again pointed to the are and told
the
> doctor I believed he needed to do a CT scan to see what was there. Again
he
> dismissed it, stating he did not see how it could be related to an
apparent loss
> of blood. Well, when he returns from vacation he is going to get the
news -
>
> Because of his oversight, and the potentially terminal nature of the
situation,
> the specialists are moving with extreme rapidity. The odd part is, the
doctor
> who errored is a teaching physician, a terrific person and a good doctor.
Why he
> failed to realize what was going on puzzles all of us. But nonetheless, it
> happened.
>
> Surgery is scheduled for Friday August 15th at 11:45 AM EDT. They will be
> removing the tumor and doing a resection of the bowel. Until the surgeons
> actually see the tumor they will not know for sure how advanced it is or
if it
> has spread beyond the colon. They are especially concerned because it is
very
> close to the liver. All tests done to date do not indicate additional
problems,
> but they are anything but conclusive.
>
> If all goes well, I should be hospitalized from three to five days. The
probable
> release date would be Tuesday August 19th.
>
> I am feeling fairly good for the time being. Hemoglobin is back in the
normal
> range, but on the low end of normal. Nonetheless, a big improvement from
the 6.8
> level prior to the transfusion. My energy is limited, but the terrible
fatigue
> is gone. I keep trying to remain active each day, good for the body and
the
> mind.
>
> My thanks to the many who have sent me well wishes, called or stopped in.
Your
> support, encouragement, sharing of personal experiences and prayers are
the
> things miracles are often made of. Keep them coming! I plan to get through
this,
> alive and functional. The hope is that it has not spread, it can all be
removed,
> chemo or radiation will not be needed and that I will be off the air about
a
> week. I am praying that hope becomes a reality.
>
> Duane Fischer, W8DBF
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> List Administrator: Duane Fischer, W8DBF **for assistance**
> dfischer at usol.com
> ----
> Hallicrafters Collectors International: http://www.w9wze.org
> ----
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/hallicrafters
>