No New News, But Better Picture

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

No New News, But Better Picture

I've gotten a number of questions about my health and comments on the "Darth Vader" picture, so I think I need to provide some type of update. First, as stated previously, it will be late September or early October before I have additional scans to learn more about the brain tumor. In the mean time, I am feeling more rested and my stamina is improving. I have been cleared by all my doctors to travel, so we will fly to Switzerland and Germany on vacation next week and I'm currently planning business trips to Geneva in late September and Asia in late October. I really do feel better and I'm happy to be getting back into the travel routine.

Last week we spent some time in Chicago with our son and new grandson. We were also glad that my dad could join us. So, see below for a four-generation Clark family picture of Bryan, Jackson, Don, and Dick. I wish I had some of Jackson's hair!

1 comment:

angeliki argyrokou said...: Hi Dick. I decided to actively participate in your blog site! First of all, let me tell you how impressed I am with your patience and your positive mentality - I think this will be a fundamental parameter for the improvement of your health. Secondly, it is great to have you back in the work routine, to see you active in the communicator, to receive mails form you... I look forward seeing you soon in Geneva and having a 1-1 with you. Until then I wish you a very nice vacation time!!! Angeliki; September 7, 2010 at 10:38 AM

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About Dick

This section provides background on how my cancer was discovered and a few key dates associated with the 2-year journey.

In mid-August 2008, I was taking a shower when I coughed up a small amount of blood. I would probably not have gone to the doctor for that alone, but I already had an appointment for allergy problems. I mentioned it to the doctor at the end of my exam. He thought it was probably nothing, but recommended that I go for a chest x-ray.

An HOUR after the x-ray, he called to say that there was a mass and I should schedule a CT scan immediately.

That led to a visit to the pulmonary doctor, who did a bronchoscopy and a PET scan. On Sept. 10th, he diagnosed me with "non-small cell" lung cancer. The tumor is somewhat larger than a golf ball.

For perspective, I have NEVER smoked. Only 15% of those with lung cancer are non-smokers, and less than half of those are men. Needless to say, I am in the minority in terms of people that get lung cancer. Never the less, it is very real and must be treated aggressively.

On Sept. 29th I had surgery to remove the upper right lobe of my lung, as well as three lymph nodes. The surgery took 2+ hours. I was in the hospital for four days.

On Wednesday October 1 we learned that the pathology report was not good. In addition to the cancer in the upper right lobe of my lung, there was also cancer in at least one lymph node. The pathology clarified that the cancer is adenocarcinoma. While lung cancer is normally associated with smoking, about 10% of the people with this particular type of cancer are non-smokers.

Following surgery, I had chemotherapy from Nov 2008 - Jan 2009, then radiation in Feb & Mar 2009. Scans from May 2009 - Feb 2010 were "clean" with no cancer. On June 2, 2010, an MRI showed a brain tumor. The older updates to this blog track the progress during recovery from surgery, as well as initial chemo and radiation treatments. The more recent entries provide updates on the 2010 brain tumor and treatments.

Dick Clark - Cincinnati

Wednesday, September 1, 2010