First, I'd like to post an address to send cards, flowers, etc. Tom and Linda will be staying with Linda's mom after he is released from the hospital (so he should only be in the hospital for the next few days). There's no information about the hospital except that he is at MD Anderson in Houston. Linda's mom's address is:
Tom Burns
c/o Rose Hicks
320 Spencer Landing East
LaPorte, TX 77571
Also, Tom's email address is shalimartom@yahoo.com if you'd like to e-mail him.
* UPDATES
January 22, 2010 - First ever colonoscopy reveals cancer
January 25-27, 2010 - CT scan and local surgeon consult and Tom requested a referral to MD Anderson
February 2, 2010 - Tom and Linda arrived in Houston
February 3, 2010 - In process at MDACC and begin tests
February 4, 2010 - CT scan and Dr. consults - liver, lungs and other organs appear OK. Plan is to meet with the surgeon, Dr. You, on Monday and remove right side of colon on Tuesday. The surgeon will do it using lapriscopy, if possible. The schedule time is TBD. Linda is holding up well and they are staying with Linda's mom.
February 9, 2010 - Tom's scheduled surgery day. Update is that he came out of the surgery and is doing good. The surgeon was able to do it lapriscopicly so the recover time should be less. Also, the doctor said it doesn't look like the cancer spread outside of the colon and they will be able to find out more after the biopsy comes back.
February 10, 2010 - I (Tina) talked to Tom on the phone. He sounded groggy but otherwise well. He was in a little pain but doctors gave him the morphine button for that.
February 15, 2010 - According to Tom's facebook, he was released from the hospital late Friday and is recovering at Linda's mom's house. "No bad news so far. Hellava way to lose five pounds, lol!".
February 15, 2010 - Via e-mail: Feeling stronger everyday... hey, I think those are lyrics from Chicago... anyway...My first follow up is scheduled for the 24th, so will be here at least till then. If Chemo is required, I have an appointment for Mar 2 for a consult with the Medical Oncologist. No smokes since the 9TH.... but do have patches, ha! Cheers everyone, Tom B.
February 16, 2010 - I (Tina) talked to Tom again today on the phone. Sounds like everything is progressing as it should. He is eating solid foods and sounds really good. Unfortunately there is no internet at Linda's mom's house so they had to go to the library yesterday to send out the updates.
February 17, 2010 - Tom e-mailed me (Tina) today. The following is directly from his e-mail, "I have my surgery follow-up scheduled for the 22nd. Unfortunately, I also have an appointment with the medical oncologist for Mar 2 - he/she is the one to consult on chemo, the doc called last night and said the tumor was stage three - of the 27 lymph nodes she removed around the tumor for pathology screening, one turned up positive for cancer. That means they will recommend chemo treatments - rats, was hoping to avoid that, but will do whats necessary. After the consult I expect to have the treatments at FWB med center as it is just a recipe/program that will be sent from MD Anderson. Don't know much about how bad that will be yet. Thought about returning after the 22nd for a few days, but Linda is of the opinion we just stay here till the 2nd - would expect return on the 3rd unless something else is needed. Guess this is to be a two stage deal - one down, one to go, cheers, Tom B
February 19, 2010 - I (Tina) talked to Tom on the phone today. Most of the information was the same as his last e-mail update (from February 17) except that he is planning on heading back to Florida after his March 2 Oncology consult appointment. He will be unable to start chemo until his colon surgery has healed.
February 25, 2010 - Via e-mail (to Tina): "...I should be back home the evening of the 3rd...I'll be up here at my Dad's tonight and then into Austin to visit Ken Kruse - back to Linda's mom on Sun. eve., and appt. on Tues. I've got the cell if you need me.
February 26, 2010 - (From Tina) No new news today but I got a return e-mail from Tom and it sounded like he's very much in high spirits - I even got a "Cheerio and pip pip" at the end of the e-mail.
* (A lot of these updates are from Tom's facebook. For the most updated information, find Tom here.)