I don't know what to say about the appointment with the oncologist.  Dr. Davis is a very open and friendly man.. I don't know how he does what he does.  He is very attentive to Jeff and answers his questions completely. He explains things in basic terms and is very ok when I have a question.  He listens, then explains again and again very patiently until I have understood. 

    He, too, is thrilled with Jeff's Pulmonary Function and continues to talk about surgery.  He wants to biopsy the adrenal gland.  Maybe it's malignant and maybe it's not. (Fat chance)  Frequently, you get false negatives on the biopsy.  Rather than stick Jeff 5-6 times, if he gets a negative, he will consider it a negative and off we go to UVA for a consultation with a thoracic surgeon and a mediastinoscopy.  Then the surgeon may suggest a couple of rounds of chemo to reduce the tumor before surgery.  Now get this, if the lesion on the adrenal is cancerous, it will shrink with chemo as well as be proof that it is cancerous.  Will Jeff still have surgery?  Dr. Davis says possibly and the adrenal lesion could be treated with a cyber knife. 

    All of this is so mixed up and up in the air.  We are told if the mediastinum is involved, no surgery.  If the adrenal is cancerous, no surgery.  Then we learn that even if the mediastinum is involved, surgery is possible and even if the lesion on the adrenal, surgery is still possible with the use of the cyber knife.  WTF? 

    Still unsure of the thyroid, Jeff is scheduled for a needle biopsy of the adrenal gland and the thyroid gland.  Also, an MRI of his head to make sure none of this is in his head.

      I forgot to mention.  During the bronchoscopy, Dr. Robinette mentioned that Jeff's left vocal cord seemed a little paralyzed.  Evidently, the pharyngeal nerves that service the vocal cords go down into the chest and come back up.  They can be affected by the tumor and if so, it's a bad sign.  Dr. Robinette stimulated the cord and it moved so he isn't absolutely sure this has happened.  He asked if Jeff had become hoarse.  Jeff has always talked like it hurts him so who knows.

      Jeff bears all of this with equanimity and grace.  He is an inspiration to me and everyone we know.  I on the other hand am falling apart inside and am only holding it together for him.. I want to be strong and support him through out all of this.  And with God's grace, that I pray for daily, I will.