Tuesday, April 27, 2021

The Big Reveal


Today I met with Dr. Engstad, the surgeon who will operate on me in a few weeks. After many different tests and scans, he concluded that the lower lobe of my left lung will need to be removed.

Although I will be losing 25% of my lung capacity, he said that after a year of healing and rehabilitation I might only be down 10% as the human body has excess lung capacity. Hiking, biking, skiing should still be on the table and I don’t yet need to recalibrate with birdwatching.

This certainly was good news, a huge sigh of relief, that there is a best possible outcome that has me doing the activities that I love. Still, I need to prepare for the chance that radiation or some other treatment might be necessary, and nothing is a sure thing.

Dr. Engstad stressed that unlike more common cancers, where patterns of recurrence and metastasis are well known, the behavior of sarcomas is little understood. Was the original sarcoma in my neck connected to this new one? Why had sarcoma been dormant for 15 years? Where was it hiding? Where to look for any new outbreaks?

He talked about how there is a randomness to medicine as well as other aspects of life, as the medical profession declares one “cured” after 5 years of regular cancer scans. How did the doctors arrive at the 5-year number? “Five fingers, five toes,” he said.

The operation itself will not require a massive incision. The item of concern that will keep me hospitalized is how long it will take for the wound to stop leaking air. Generally the time is 3-6 days. Afterwards a few months of taking it easy and then the work of rehabilitation.

Before this diagnosis I had the aspirational philosophy of not taking the relationships in my life for granted. Illness certainly sharpens that feeling many times over. I want to give everyone a big hug in gratitude for all the good energy sent our way. I will continue to post significant milestones on this blog but expect that after the operation things will not be happening so fast.

Thanks for reading and I hope to see you in person soon.

Tuesday, April 20, 2021

SURGICAL PATHOLOGY CONSULT REPORT

Study Result

Narrative

FLAMM, ERIC S Age: 55 years 
Collected Date: 3/26/2021 08:50 PDT 
ADM Consult
CONSULT DIAGNOSIS
Left lung mass, biopsy (Mayo No. CR-21-19309):
- Metastatic synovial sarcoma.
ANCILLARY STUDIES
Immunohistochemistry for TLE1 shows nuclear expression in the spindled cells but not in glands.
Report electronically signed by: Andrew L. Folpe, M.D.
Mayo Clinic Laboratories, Department of Pathology
200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905
04/06/2021 10:25 Mitchell R Ryan, MD
MTM/MRR (Electronic Signature)
.
.
Consult Comment
I have reviewed the slides representing a biopsy of a left lung mass from the above patient
with a history of a reportedly monophasic synovial sarcoma of the retropharynx and entirely agree with you that this specimen shows metastatic synovial sarcoma. It is somewhat difficult to say whether this represents a monophasic synovial sarcoma with a very exuberant proliferation of non-neoplastic epithelium or a biphasic synovial sarcoma. I would somewhat favor biphasic synovial sarcoma on morphologic grounds although TLE1 expression in biphasic synovial sarcomas is usually confined to the epithelium, in contrast to what is seen here. Ultimately, the distinction between monophasic and biphasic synovial sarcoma is really of no clinical concern, as there are no known differences in behavior or response to therapy in monophasic versus biphasic tumors or in synovial sarcomas having different fusion subtypes.
Thank you for sharing this case with me. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to
reach me by calling Mayo Clinic Laboratories at 1-800-533-1710.
Material Received
A. SG-21-0001608: Left lung mass
1 stained slide, 1 block
1 CD
Surgical Pathology Report
DIAGNOSIS
Diagnosis After Microscopic Examination:
Left lung mass, needle core biopsy:
- Diagnosis PENDING outside consultation.
- See Comments.
03/29/2021 14:00 Mitchell R Ryan, MD
MJC/MRR (Electronic Signature)
.
.
Pathology processing and professional performed at Legacy Central Lab,
services
1225 NE Second Ave Portland, OR unless otherwise specified.
Cytology and HPV technical and professional performed at Legacy Central Lab,
services
1225 NE Second Ave Portland, OR unless otherwise specified.
FLAMM, ERIC S Age: 55 years MRN: 800048-83-73
Collected Date: 3/26/2021 08:50 PDT Case Number: SG-21-0001608
Comments
We understand this patient had a monophasic synovial sarcoma excised from the retropharynx in
2005 (surgical pathology case SE-05-2796). We also understand the patient had a noninvasive
high-grade, urothelial carcinoma of the bladder diagnosed in 2019 (surgical pathology case
SG-19-3978). The current biopsy shows a biphasic neoplasm with spindled and epithelioid
components, and extensive necrosis. The histology resembles biphasic synovial cell sarcoma.
Given the limited material present to work with, and that genetic studies may be required
for definitive diagnosis, material will be referred for expert consultative opinion, with the
consultant's diagnosis and findings to be reported in an addendum.
MR/mjc
Microscopic
Provision of Service: Professional Services Provided by Cascade Pathology Services, 24800 SE
Stark Street, Gresham, OR 97030.
Specimen
Left lung mass
Clinical Information
Lung mass. History of bladder cancer and sarcoma
Gross Description
Received in formalin labeled " Flamm, Eric" and "left lung mass" are multiple tan-gray to
tan-pink
needle core fragments ranging in size from less than 0.1 up to 0.6 cm in greatest
dimension.
TE1A,1B.
MDM/bb
Pathology processing and professional performed at Legacy Central Lab,
services
1225 NE Second Ave Portland, OR unless otherwise specified.
Cytology and HPV technical and professional performed at Legacy Central Lab,
services
1225 NE Second Ave Portland, OR unless otherwise specified.

Wednesday, April 14, 2021

PFT COMPLETE 1 (PRE-POST+DLCO+TLC)

 I have little idea what this test means to my treatment. Still, I promised to post all data so here it is. This is where the doctors who know stuff loom large and look like heroes.

Component Results

ComponentYour ValueStandard Range
FVC PRE BR3.32 L
FVC PRE%PRED BR68 %
FVC POST BR3.32 L
FVC POST % PRED BR68 %
FVC % CHANGE BR0 %
FVC LLN3.73 L
FEV1 PRE BR2.61 L
PFT FEV1 PRE % PRED BR69 %
FEV1 POST BR2.75 L
FEV1 POST % PRED BR73 %
FEV1 % CHANGE BR5 %
FEV1 LLN2.89 L
FEV1/FVC % PRE BR79 %
FEV1/FVC PRE%PRED100 %
FEV1/FVC % POST BR83 %
PFT FEV1/FVC POST%PRED105 %
FEV1/FVC %CHANGE5 %
FEV1/FVC LLN67 %
FRC PL PRE BR3.17 L
FRC PL % PRED PRE BR88 %
FRC PL LLN2.16 L
RV PRE BR2.09 L
RV % PRED PRE B97 %
RV PL LLN1.39 L
TLC PRE BR5.06 L
TLC % PRED PRE BR72 %
TLC LLN5.39 L
RV/TLC PL PRE41 %
RV/TLC % PRE B132 %
RV/TLC PL LLN22 %
DLCO PRE BR23.35 ml/min/mmHg
DLCO % PRED PRE BR81 %
DLCO UNC LLN20.24 ml/min/mmHg
DLCO PRE COR25.63 ml/min/mmHg
DLCO COR PRED PRE89 %
DLCO COR LLN20.24 ml/min/mmHg
HGB DLCO


 


11.8 gm/dL