Detour

It seems that Dave's journey has taken a detour for now. It's been a rough few weeks as you read in the last post. Dave has been hospitalized for fluid in the pleura sac around his right lung which was drained but has since returned. Last week was spent going to all the doctors involved with his case. He also had another trip to the ER, where finally a young doc. looked at his COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) and started him on breathing treatments, and another chest x-ray, at which time we were also told the fluid was returning.
We also went to our PCP for aftercare and another chest x-ray (from hosp. stay) to take to the thoracic surgeon Dr. Lee this past Thursday, he scheduled Dave for a Thoradesis, not sure of correct spelling there (info. from hosp. says pleurodesis). This procedure will be done, Wednesday, April 27, 2011 at Akron City Hosp.  This is a procedure where they will insert a chest tube to drain the fluid, then they will rough up or glue, so to speak the pleura to the outside wall of his rt. lung to prevent any more fluid to build up there. Dr. Lee believes that the fluid is coming from the area of cancer by his trachea. He will also be taking a biopsy of the pleura sac to check for any cancer.  He will also be in the hosp. for 3-4 days after this is done. 
At this time Dave is doing OK, his spirits are not the greatest as you suspect. Unfortunately any chemo. treatments that are scheduled have been put on hold until this procedure is done and he is healed from it. So, there has been a slight detour from his cancer care. Please pray that he will heal quickly from this so he can continue to fight the cancer. We love you and God Bless.