Health Notes for 2004-2005


First and foremost, I wish to thank all of you who have shown concern for me and for my wife, Candace, in this time of challenge. Your offers of thoughts, prayers and help are most appreciated. I will attempt to keep this fairly up-to-date.
Reorganized to minimize need to scroll!


Present status:
No evidence in other bones or organs, other than two small lesions in lungs of unknown origin.
Biopsy report from experts at University of Pennsylvania indicates the relatively rare spinal chordoma of the cervical vertebrae.
Here is another useful link on chordomas.
This diagnosis has been confirmed by Memorial Sloan-Kettering.

Added one slice of my neck CT, with annotation.

Treatment plan: surgery at MemS-K; follow-up photon and proton beam radiation therapy at Mass General.

Large tumor in right side of neck has been removed (27Oct2004).


From symptoms to diagnosis (Dec'03 to Sep '04)

From diagnosis to surgery (Sep'04 to mid-Oct '04)

Surgery and early recovery

Recovery and plans for radiation (Nov'04 to Jan'05)

Radiation therapy in Boston (Jan'05 to Mar'05)

Follow-ups after radiation therapy (Mar'05 to Aug'05)

Index of Candace's updates


Richard S. Galik / Cornell University / 108 Newman Lab /