May 22, 2023

Talked with Dr. Ozawa this afternoon. Last week, he thought that the saliva gland had cancer. The biopsy that he took last week confirmed that it is indeed cancerous. The biopsy also showed that this tumor is not the original tumor. It is important to know where the original cancer is located. He thinks that one of my tonsils has a mini cancerous tumor. I must go back tomorrow and have a PET scan. This scan will show blood flow throughout the body. The doctor will inject a lot of chemicals into my blood. After waiting about one hour for the chemicals to reach all parts of my body, they will do a full-body scan.  They will also do a biopsy of my tonsils.

On Wednesday morning, I will return to the hospital and the doctor will explain the results of the PET scan.

I will return to the hospital again next Monday or Tuesday to get the results of the tonsil biopsy.

So far, the doctor believes that the treatment will be both chemical and radiation therapy without surgery.

I will have to continue being a patient patient.  I appreciate the doctor checking all possible causes of the cancer. I am positive that I will win the fight against this cancer.

(Note: I will teach Tuesday morning class at Imai. Nick will teach classes in Mizuho on Tuesday afternoon and Kabe on Wednesday morning.)