First night reflections

We've talked with the doctor about today's test results and have seen the CAT scan. This tumour is massive! Beside wrecking his right hip bone it's also shoved his intestines to one side and crowded his right kidney. His right leg is noticebly puffier than the left because of the pressure from the tumour, but it's still a healthy pink with wiggly toes so nothing to worry about for now. The other good news is that the lab results from his blood tests have come back fairly normal.

With all of that, it's amazing how active and lively Alan is. I know it's futile to think of what if's, but it's hard not to wonder why we didn't notice anything wrong before. Alan started walking with a slight limp a month ago, and was certainly irritable, but between ear infections, at least 3 new teeth coming in, entire days spent travelling to and from my dad's funeral in Canada, and a growth spurt throwing him off balance, there were always more plausible explanations than a tumour.

Mr. Cheeks Goes to the Hospital

Alan is in the hospital right now. We thought he had a hernia (like Kevin had 2 years ago, not a big deal) but when his doctor examined him today he noticed a hard mass not consistent with a hernia on his right hip/abdomen area. He sent Alan to the children's hospital for an ultrasound, and based on those results ordered an x-ray and CAT scan.

Alan has a tumour on his right hip, and it may have destroyed his right hip bone. Tomorrow, he will have an MRI, another CAT scan and a biopsy so we can determine what the tumour is. We won't know exactly what it is until we get the biopsy results, possible Wednesday or Thursday and probably won't be able to determine a course of treatment and start until Friday.

Alan will be in the hospital indefinitely at this point. A blog seems a good a way as any to keep from obsessively searching the internet for informtion when we don't even have a diagnosis yet. (The doctor caught me with the laptop.)