My Jeff got his staples out! His recovery from brain surgery was remarkably speedy, uneventful, and with zero cognitive interruption. Surgery was 9-8-2021, Jeff returned to work 9-21-2021 ~ just amazing!
During Jeff’s brain surgery, they removed the largest tumor on the dura. The neurosurgeon found the tumor “a little bit stuck”, however it was removed without complications.
When he was opened up, the neurosurgeon said they could see the other tumor, but opted not to remove due to its size and location. Thankfully, the remaining tumor is small enough that radiation can reach all of it.
The piece of skull that was removed for surgery was too diseased to put back in his head. They placed a titanium mesh instead. With all the hardware Jeff has from surgery on his spine and now in his head, he joked he’d never get through airport security with ease ever again. Through it all, Jeff has never lost his sense of humor.
We will be meeting with a radiation oncologist that specializes in brain cancer/tumors on September 27. Jeff is scheduled for both the radiation consult and first simulation on the 27th and, I believe, will have 4 subsequent rounds.
Although Jeff remains immensely frustrated with his leg weakness/mobility issues, in general he’s feeling pretty dang good, and his pain is currently well managed.
Once he gets through brain radiation, Jeff plans to resume efforts in combatting his leg weakness.
After an exciting and dramatic drop in Jeff’s PSA levels, we got disappointing news that his levels have gone up again. He went from 45.3 (the lowest its ever been) to 66.8.
Due to surgery, Jeff ceased taking his Zytiga/Prednisone for 5 days. That may have contributed to the increase in his PSA levels, but I never really got a clear answer on that.
Instead, Dr. Kwon noted that on Jeff’s brain comparison MRIs, there was significant shrinkage in his brain tumors. Dr. Kwon said the scans currently “override” the rise in PSA as it appears the Zytiga/Prednisone is doing its job!
We are kinda in limbo until mid October.
They are going to restage Jeff. He is scheduled for additional labs, a PET scan, and MRI of his abdomen. Jeff will always be “stage 4”, however there are different levels to each stage. Of course we are hopeful to see tumor shrinkage everywhere.
Thank you for all your prayers, thoughts, good juju, and profound support as Jeff went through and recovered from brain surgery and for all the love given during his ensuing battle.
Jeff is my hero, but #teamjeffgallagher are the MVP’s.
xoxo
update on state 4 met
