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Grey Nomads · 08-17-2014, 05:55 AM

We would like to apologize for having to cancel out of the Fall National Rally. This was a very hard choice to make, but it is the doctor's orders. Charlie is having back surgery on Sept. 9th. He has a nerve pinched off which is causing his left leg to be totally numb. We have enjoyed working to help make this rally a successful one. Will miss not being a part of this rally.

Thought we would explain. I have degenerative disk disease. In 2005 I had back surgery where pins and screws were put on L-4/L-5 vertebra. I had pain and numbness in both legs. This surgery was good for 7 years. In 2012 pain and numbness returned to my left leg only. Another surgery was done removing old hardware, new pins and screws were placed on L-4/S-1. Now the S-1 screw is loose causing narrowing of the nerve channel, pinching the nerve going to the left leg. He is going to go in from the front and put a bracket on the front of S-1/L-5 vertebra to open the nerve channel and stabilize the vertebra. The hope is after this is done I will regain control of my left leg.

UPDATE: As of Thursday Sept 4th Charlie's surgery has been canceled. He had pre-surgery testing done this week and on his chest x-rays something showed up causing the back doctor to cancel his back surgery. We were told something had to be done with the lungs before he could go thru a back surgery. So we are awaiting an appointment with a Pulmonary Specialist.
UPDATE: #2 The spot on Charlie's lungs was found to be Adenocarcinoma Cancer. He is having a MRI and PET scan completed. Once we have the results of these I will post the next step.
UPDATE #3 Oct 16th Results are back from the scans that were completed. MRI shows cancer has spread to the brain. PET scan shows the cancer has also spread to his spine. We have and appointment with two different doctors next Thursday Oct 23rd to discuss our options. Will keep all informed.
Update Oct. 28thAppointment with the Radiologist today. Had a more extensive scan last Thursday which revealed a confirmed 6 tumors on the brain and 2 tumors on the spine, plus the one tumor in the lung. Since there are 6 tumors on the brain a whole brain radiation is recommended. This will start on Nov. 5th and will be 10 treatments for 10 straight days, which also will treat the 2 tumors on the spine. Then the chemo treatments will begin. This will treat the lung tumor and hopefully continue treatment on the other tumors. We are having the radiation treatments at West Michigan Cancer Center.

08-17-2014, 05:55 AM	#1
Grey Nomads Montana Fan Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Sturgis Posts: 168 M.O.C. #8781	Surgery We would like to apologize for having to cancel out of the Fall National Rally. This was a very hard choice to make, but it is the doctor's orders. Charlie is having back surgery on Sept. 9th. He has a nerve pinched off which is causing his left leg to be totally numb. We have enjoyed working to help make this rally a successful one. Will miss not being a part of this rally. Thought we would explain. I have degenerative disk disease. In 2005 I had back surgery where pins and screws were put on L-4/L-5 vertebra. I had pain and numbness in both legs. This surgery was good for 7 years. In 2012 pain and numbness returned to my left leg only. Another surgery was done removing old hardware, new pins and screws were placed on L-4/S-1. Now the S-1 screw is loose causing narrowing of the nerve channel, pinching the nerve going to the left leg. He is going to go in from the front and put a bracket on the front of S-1/L-5 vertebra to open the nerve channel and stabilize the vertebra. The hope is after this is done I will regain control of my left leg. UPDATE: As of Thursday Sept 4th Charlie's surgery has been canceled. He had pre-surgery testing done this week and on his chest x-rays something showed up causing the back doctor to cancel his back surgery. We were told something had to be done with the lungs before he could go thru a back surgery. So we are awaiting an appointment with a Pulmonary Specialist. UPDATE: #2 The spot on Charlie's lungs was found to be Adenocarcinoma Cancer. He is having a MRI and PET scan completed. Once we have the results of these I will post the next step. UPDATE #3 Oct 16th Results are back from the scans that were completed. MRI shows cancer has spread to the brain. PET scan shows the cancer has also spread to his spine. We have and appointment with two different doctors next Thursday Oct 23rd to discuss our options. Will keep all informed. Update Oct. 28thAppointment with the Radiologist today. Had a more extensive scan last Thursday which revealed a confirmed 6 tumors on the brain and 2 tumors on the spine, plus the one tumor in the lung. Since there are 6 tumors on the brain a whole brain radiation is recommended. This will start on Nov. 5th and will be 10 treatments for 10 straight days, which also will treat the 2 tumors on the spine. Then the chemo treatments will begin. This will treat the lung tumor and hopefully continue treatment on the other tumors. We are having the radiation treatments at West Michigan Cancer Center.