A decision...

My decision. 
I have made the decision to have the surgery to remove my stomach. 

Doctors at both the Mayo Clinic and University of Minnesota have recommended this procedure based recent test results conducted at the Mayo Clinic.  They also took into consideration my health, my family’s history with cancer, and the fact that I have the CDH-1 gene mutation.  Based on what they see, I should have no problem recovering from the surgery and adjusting to my new life without a stomach.   I have also spent time reviewing information I received from both the Harvard and Stanford medical schools.  The information provided more insight into the gene mutation and what they know about it, however my options still remain the same, ignore it, check it, or remove it.  The fourth option I was looking for is not there.  

There is testing going on a new procedure that could test for stomach cancer before it advances to stage IV, however it is still being tested and is years away from being approved for use in this situation.  Even if this new procedure was approved it only helps with detection, and at that point in time when cancer is detected, you would still need to have your stomach removed to survive.  So with the risk that I have to develop this type of cancer, I see no point in waiting.   I could go on and continue to go through all of the different reasons on how I came to this decision, however in the end it comes down to what I am willing to give up to live without this particular risk.  I may decide to write about them at a later point, but as of today it’s not really all that important.   Today I will take what is available to me now and continue on with my life.

So we will be setting up the surgery later this summer at the Mayo Clinic.  The surgery (total Gastrectomy) is not a new procedure and has been done successfully for years.  It was the leading way to deal with bleeding ulcers prior to 1980.  I will be using the same surgical team that did my sister Melanie’s procedure.  Once completed there will be a team put in place to help me adjust to my new life.  I have every expectation that I will live a long healthy live without my stomach.  I am also working with genetic councilors to gather information about further genetic testing that, once my kids start having kids, will provide them with a way to protect their kids from having this gene.  My goal is to stamp this gene mutation out of our family.  I intend to look under every rock and in every nook and cranny to find the solution. 

I know that I am making a decision based on a chance that I will get this type of cancer.  I know that there are still many ways to die and when my time comes, it comes, however cancer took my father when he was only 62 and I will be damned if I am just going to sit back and give cancer a chance to take me.   I also know that as hard as the recovery may be, it is all for the better.  I will have a life without the fear or risk of getting this cancer and a chance to be an important part of my kid’s lives for years to come. 
 
“The line it is drawn, the curse it is cast
The slow one now will later be fast
As the present now will later be past.”
(The times they are a-changin.  Bob Dylan)