Tumor Review Board Results

I am having mixed emotions as I contemplate the call from Dr. Viskochil. He called today to tell us the results from the tumor board this week. He confirmed that the tumors in her chest are growing. As they discussed Ricki's tumors they felt that surgery for the tumors was possible and really the only option we have right now to give her relief from the pain. Unfortunately the only clinical trials right now are connected to the vestibular schwanomas and she has great hearing in her one ear so she does not qualify and we can't try to see if Avastin would shrink those tumors. Dr Viskochil felt it was very important we get a second opinion and it is a good thing to be going to Johns Hopkins.  The surgeon we will see there at Johns Hopkins is one of the best and Dr Viskochil said we would have to determine what will be best for Ricki and if it is even feasible to have the surgery done there. We do have fine doctors here but we want only the best for our sweet Ricki especially when it comes to surgery close to those vital organs. It will be interesting to hear the opinions and solutions the doctors at Johns Hopkiins come up with. 

In the meantime he said he would get an appointment with a cardio thoracic  surgeon who would assist our neurosurgeon with the surgery if we were to do the surgery here. We are always learning new medical terms and I wasn't exactly sure what a cardio thoracic surgeon was .....

A cardiothoracic surgeon is a medical doctor who specializes in surgical procedures of the heart, lungs, esophagus, and other organs in the chest. This includes surgeons who can be called cardiac surgeons, cardiovascular surgeons, general thoracic surgeons, and congenital heart surgeons.

Just reading this broke my heart. It is so difficult to see my daughter in daily pain and just want to be held. I wish  and long that there were better solutions for these tumors other than surgery. There are so many risks to surgeries and I hate to see her have to go through this. 

We will continue to keep you updated as we learn more....