Day Two

Monday, June 11th

Bryan met with many doctors in the morning.

WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR. Bryan has an anterior mediastinal tumor. It is slightly smaller than a baseball. This tumor is compressing the subclavian vein (causing the slow blood flow and swelling in the arm). This tumor is growing around the major vessels leaving the heart, although a doctor told Bryan it is not "close" to the heart.

BIOPSY. The biopsy was scheduled to take place today, but it was rescheduled for tomorrow morning. It is possible that a more invasive biopsy will be needed if they aren't able to "grab" enough of a tissue sample by this biopsy, but the radiologist performing the biopsy gives the procedure a 70% chance of success.

WHAT WE DON'T KNOW. What type of tumor we're dealing with, malignant or benign. (I guess more updated wording is invasive and non-invasive.) We should know the biopsy result by Wednesday morning.

WHAT WE THINK. We are led to believe that this tumor has to be removed whether it is invasive or non-invasive. A "tentative" surgery date is this Thursday, but that has not been confirmed or scheduled.

BIOPSY RESULTS. I will post when we receive the biopsy results (expected Wednesday morning).