PLANNING TIME

On the beach at Wild Dunes 9/7/13

We left for the beach Wednesday with Dave's sister Sandy, returning a few hours ago.  We stayed at Molly and Chad's "Seascape" in Wild Dunes.  We had perfect weather, daily long walks on the beach, time at the pool in the afternoons, a trip into Mount Pleasant to have breakfast with Mom and today we ate lunch at Red's Ice House on Shem Creek so we could watch the boats and kayaks.  It was a great four days in a fabulous place; thank you Molly and Chad!

Our spirits were lifted by an email Dave received minutes before we left on Wednesday.  We learned Dave's case will be presented to a council of multidisciplinary melanoma specialists at MD Anderson this coming Monday.  They will let us know what their recommendations for future treatment or monitoring will be.  Dave is tentatively scheduled for more surgery on 9/20/13, to remove additional lymph nodes in the more difficult spot, under his clavicle.  The number of lymph nodes known to have melanoma tumors is a way to stage the progression of the disease. Dave had melanoma in one of the two removed in that area, but it sounds as though they want to see if that means 50% or if it means one out of maybe five or so.  We are learning.  The meeting on Monday may change the schedule for surgery.  I will post what we learn as soon as we get the news.