June 14 2005 Your Test Results are Very Abnormal

I was working on some Nuclear Power System balance models when my cell phone rang. It was my doctor. He said my results were very abnormal and he needed to see me right away. I was not surprised.

I called Sandy and told here what was going on. She met me at home and we went to the office. When we got there he showed me the results. I looked at the conclusions. Massive Renal Cell Carcinoma until proven otherwise. The thing measured 15 cm. Kidney Cancer, and a big one at that.

The doctor told me that he made an appointment for me first thing tomorrow morning at the Cleveland Clinic. He thought the Clinic was on my insurance. It was not. But I knew the gravity of the situation. I would pay for the appointment out of pocket and use it as a consult. The doctor said that this was the source of the bleeding and we did not have to look any further. Great, as if what you found was not bad enough. I asked him about my prognosis. He said you need to catch Kidney Cancer early. The prognosis for a tumor of my size was poor. He also said not to confuse a prognosis with an outcome.

I went home and went online. Sandy said that her former boyfriend's mother had a large tumor that turned out to be benign. Maybe this will be too.