And now the other shoe drops!

After 3 course of chemotherapy, the tumor has not substantially changed in outward dimensions. The surgeon says it feels ‘spongier’ and on Tuesday Evan will have an MRI to determine the internal dimensions. Bottom line is that the chemotherapy is not having the desired effect and that now is the time to operate. Even though this was anticipated, and even though all avenues have been exhausted in researching this mass; it is still a shock to hear ‘wide margin radical excision with axillary node dissection’
In laymans terms this means that the surgeon will take out the mass, all the surrounding tissue with even the remotest of possible involvement, and also take the lymph node pathway(drainage system) to an area where there is no overlying birthmark. As the lymph system is the primary route for metastasis, by taking the lymph pathway to an area where there is no overlying nevus should render a lymph node without melanocytes, one of the calling cards of metastatic melanoma.
Surgery is being coordinated between Evan’s primary onco surgeon, Evan’s pediatric plastic surgeon and the UNC children’s hospital OR suites. Dr. Olilla is an adult melanoma surgical specialist which is why he has been the key member of Evan’s treatment team because of his experience. After this surgery he never wants to see Evan in an operating room again. However, as a surgeon on adults, he does not have OR privileges at Children’s Hospital. Dr. Van Allst is Evan’s Plastic Surgeon; and is tasked with reconstructing what is left after Dr. Olilla is complete with his tasks does have those privileges, so there is some coordination in the works. This is combined with the information that the surgery cannot happen within 4 weeks of chemo, and we have target date of – 2-3 weeks for surgery.
This development must be put into the right perspective. It is often said that minor surgery is what other people have. In this case, even that aphorism is understated. Evan as usual took the news like a champ, his one question behind closed doors was if it would hurt as bad as last February’s surgery. We don’t do lying very well, and the skin graft donor site last year was extremely painful for a couple of days. And the truth is ‘yes’ it will hurt as badly as it did before. Those are some of the toughest words to share with a child.
In a more casual note, Evan has qualified to take his computer to the NCCSA Science Fair in Wilmington in late April, and he should be physically ready to present. Tomorrow is his birthday party to celebrate his 10th birthday on Monday, and part of the festivities tomorrow is the Cub Scout Pack Pinewood Derby. Next week he will be able to receive his Arrow Light which is a very prestigious honor in Cub Scouting and signifies a great deal of work accomplished. On the same night he will crossover to become a Boy Scout at the Blue and Gold banquet. And one of the higher notes of positive events is that chemotherapy is now on hold until further notice. That’s the news of the moment, we’ll report more when there has been a chance to digest the details and we get some concrete scheduling.
PS. Evan’s mom, Lizy, really looks in her element as the new Head Athletic Trainer for the Carolina Railhawks USL1 pro soccer team, but that’s another story.