Family Update

Sorry to be so long in updating.

My health is really good. They did another CT scan recently and the cyst appears to be the same as it was with no concerns. I switched medicines again for the AFib and the new medicine is working really well.

On the family front:

Cassidy is doing great. She started the 2nd grade this fall. She was recently tested and is reading at a second grade level. We are very proud of her. Her speech continues to improve. Last night she asked very clearly for dinner at McDonald's and of course she got to go.

Sydney is doing well at Stephen F. Austin University. She was just accepted into their teaching program. She will complete her second full year in the spring and on track to graduate in May of 2012.

Brittney graduated from Trinity University in San Antonio this past May with a degree in Accounting. She is currently working on her Masters of Accounting at The University of Texas in San Antonio. She will complete that degree in May and start working on her CPA. She will join Ernst & Young in Sept of 2010.

Sue continues to do more that we can all imagine. She keeps up with all of the special diets, doctors, therapists, and research for Cassidy. She is also playing tennis twice a week, volunteering at the church and really enjoying all.

Sydney, Brittney, Sue and I went to Washington D.C. in May after Britt's graduation. We had a great time. The weather was awesome and the sites were fantastic. It was a great reminder of what our founding fathers when they established our country and our Constitution. The memorials were awesome to see. The museums and cathedral that we visited were great. Britt and I attend the changing the guard at the tomb of the unknowns on our last day. It was a sobering reminder of what so many have given for all that we have in this country.

I will try not to be so long the next time.

Our Prayers Answered

First let me thank you for your prayers and let you know they have been answered. The Pet scan has confirmed that there is no cancer present in my body. Furthermore the PET scan confirms that the mass is not a tumor but a cyst. Likely a duplication cyst. The final decision bringing this saga to a conclusion is that we are not going to do surgery. We will do a CT Scan in 6 months to monitor the cyst for growth and if all is well then again a year later. As long as the cyst doesn't grow or cause any other issues it is fine to stay put.

Below is more detail for those looking for more info. For the rest let me say thank you for your love and prayers. I have been moved by the numbers that have reached out in some way and the great number of people that are praying that I don't even know. Everyone has been a blessing to me and Sue and we can't express our gratitude enough. God has bless us in so many ways.

Now for more details for those like me that have many questions. For those that don't know, a PET scan shows more than just the presence of cancer. The way the test is done is that radioactive or nuclear sugar is injected into the body. They wait an hour for the sugar to circulate and then they run the scan. They are looking for areas that absorb sugar like your organs that absorb sugar to grow. Tumors also absorb sugar. Cyst evidently do not.

In my test they got a better look at the mass based on the dissection that this scan provided and it also showed no absorption of sugar meaning it doesn't have the capacity to grow. Because it isn't causing any issues with swallowing or breathing, it likely never will. Meaning it can just stay there without concern.

The surgeon is also very familiar with the catheter ablation that was scheduled earlier in the month. He is very confident that we can go back and have that procedure done with no concern about the mass. More good news. I will now look to reschedule that. It will be sometime after the first of the year.

Again, thanks to all that have stayed close to this. You are truly wonderful and we love you all very much.

We wish each of you a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! As big a gift as this news is let us not forget the biggest gift of all. That being salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Potential Change of Plans

Just a quick update. The doctor reviewed the CT Scan and Barium Swallow again today preparing for a consult tomorrow. After further review he is considering not removing the mass. It isn't causing me any health issues. It is possible that surgery could create a greater risk than the mass. He has scheduled a PET Scan for 7 AM tomorrow/Tuesday. I then have a consult with the doctor at 10:30. The PET scan is like a CT Scan but it is looking for the presence of cancer cells. He will have a chance to review the PET scan prior to the consult.

If the PET scan is clean it will likely be his recommendation that we hold off on surgery at this time and monitor the mass. Since we now know it is there we can do testing over time and watch it. If it were to grow or ever give me any issues with the esophagus or the trachea we can always remove it at a later time.

No final decision until we meet with the doctor tomorrow. I will update again in the afternoon tomorrow.

Thanks to everyone for the continued prayers.

Merry Christmas.

Peace is a wonderful gift!

I woke up this morning with such a great feeling of Peace. Peace is a wonderful gift from our God. After speaking with the doctor last night and praying on this I have the greatest Peace with the entire situation.

Sue and I have had great confidence all along that this is nothing of major concern. Today my confidence is at its highest. The fact that I am in good health with no unexplained weight loss has all along been a positive indication. But the fact that the mass is free and not attached is a huge positive sign. If the mass were something bad it would be looking to attack something by attaching to it. It hasn't so it very likely isn't something bad. The Doctor is very confident that this is just a benign mass for all of these reasons and he has seen his share of both a good and bad.

The other great thing is that this is a one and done procedure. When there wasn't clarity if this was to do a biopsy or removal that meant the possibility of another surgery. With this procedure's objective being removal and the likelihood that it is benign that means one surgery, recovery and get on with life. What a blessing that will be.

I just wanted to share with you how great I feel physically, emothionally and spiritually. Peace is a wonderful gift from our wonderful God.

Thanks for your prayers, comments, emails, calls. We love you all.

Wednesday Update

I spoke with Dr. Magee this evening. He has reviewed the different tests that have already been done and viewed the mass. He is recommending that we remove the mass primarily because of the location. Because of the proximity to the esophagus, the trachea, the heart and the aorta he said it just doesn't need to be there.

He said that these types of masses were not uncommon. He has seen 7 in the last month. The vast majority were benign. The positive signs for me are again no unexplained weight loss, no other health issues and the fact that it does not appear to be attached to anything. A cancerous tumor is looking for something to attach to. Once removed they will have a pathologist review it immediately to get an idea if there is anything to be concerned about. Usually this test can give you an answer with 90% certainty.

The procedure to remove it should take about 2 hours. It should require a 1 to 2 day hospital stay.

Dr. Magee is looking at his schedule now to see when it can be done. There is no urgency because again all signs are positive. I am however ready to get this done and move on so I have asked to see how soon he can schedule me for the surgery. I should hear something on Friday as to schedule. I would expect this to happen sometime in the next two weeks.

Thank you again to all that are staying close to this. Please continue to view the blog at www.jerryellisfamily.blogspot.com. I am enjoying reading every one's comments. They are very nice and inspirational.

I will update you when this gets scheduled.

Next Step

I spoke with Dr. Anderson the GI doctor this afternoon. He had reviewed my test results from this morning and discussed them with my heart doctor and thoracic surgeon, Dr. Ryan. They have identified that the next step should be a Thoroscopy and they have identified the recommended doctor for this, Dr. Magee. Dr. Magee is also a thoracic surgeon.

What they found in the test today is that the mass is not really attached or associated with the esophagus. It is either attached or near the trachea. Because they are all so close together this mass is showing near both. There are a couple of other less evasive discovery tests they could do but they would lead to a Thoroscopy regardless of what they found so it is best to just do the Thoroscopy.

I have not spoken with Dr. Magee at this point. He had a surgery to preform this afternoon. I expect to talk with him sometime on Wednesday. Nothing will be scheduled until I talk with him. I was told that this is not an emergency situation. We don't need to do it tomorrow but shouldn't put it off for months either. Sue and I would both like to get to the bottom of this so we will plan to move as quickly as Dr. Magee can.

Now if you google Thoroscopy you will be able to read about the procedure. You will read discussions related to lung cancer. That is because the procedure is the same regardless of what they find but nobody rights about anything that is benign. All signs still point to a benign mass. If I had a malignant mass I should be sick and I am not. I feel great and am fat as ever. Both are very good signs.

Thank you again for all the touches. Prayers, emails, calls etc. We are getting more answers and closer to the answer all the time. And all signs still point to this not being a big deal.

Tuesday Morning Update

I had the barium swallow done this morning. I have been able to get a copy of the radiology report. It sounds pretty promising. There is clearly something there that is pushing against the esophagus and the trachea slightly. It isn't blocking anything from getting through just pushing the esophagus to the side. It is smooth. The radiologist suggested that it is probably a benign cyst. Smooth is supposed to be good.

My GI doctor was not able to review the test yet. He has procedures scheduled this morning and office appts this afternoon. I am hopeful to hear from him later this evening but it may be morning.

The next step will be a further test. I could be that they do the endoscopic sonogram. But it GI nurse after a brief visit with the doctor said they may suggest viewing this through the trachea.

More information pointing to more positive signs. Now we wait for next steps.

Thanks for keeping up with this and thanks for all the prayers.