Second Appt With Dr Grove

Today I had an appt with Dr Grove so he could compare the MRI from 4 years ago with the current one and also to discuss the options. The Radiologist at Shields MRI in Dartmouth (who did both MRIs) had never mentioned the tumor 4 yrs ago and in the recent MRI report they said that this "was definately not" on the 4 yr old MRI. Dr Grove took one look at the older MRIs and said "There it is!" Granted it is half the size that it is now, but a tumor is clearly visible, even to my eye...and they didn't even use the contrast dye on that MRI. So that was actually a good thing, it means that while this has gotten bigger it is only about half of what we thought it had grown. It also gave Dr Grove a chance to study it when it was smaller, but he still doesn't know what it is exactly. However the slow growth most likely means it isn't a stage 3 or 4 tumor :-)

While the MRIs where on the light box Dr Grove helped me take a few pictures. I will post two of them (different views) in the next entry and have marked on the picture where the tumor is located, although it isn't too hard to miss if you look in the right place. The right side of the picture is actually the left side of my head and vice versa for the other side.

Next up an appt on Thursday with an orthopedic surgeon to fix my elbow finally and then Dr Black on Friday.