Jim has Stage 3B Cancer
Jim has Stage 3B Cancer. We have a huge amount of associated costs.
On April 27th 2018 Jim had day surgery at Sutter Santa Rosa to remove a tumor in his bladder. The urologist observed that it looked "aggressive" and referred him to UCSF. On May 1st 2018 the oncology-surgeon from UCSF called with the first pathology results: Stage 2 Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer. This is an aggressive form of cancer. Jim entered a clinical trial of immunotherapy at UCSF which lasted nine weeks before the Radical Cystectomy surgery.
There is no way to convey the fear and stress of moving towards a major surgery while making regular trips to San Francisco for nine long weeks. Friends and family were a huge help with rides during this time: THANK YOU!
On August 10th 2018 Jim had the Radical Cystectomy and was in hospital for a week. I am Jim's wife and I lived in the hospital room that week. It's a huge surgery which included removal of two organs and 32 lymph nodes, and the creation of a different permanent exit route for urine. When Jim got home I took another unpaid week off work and we had home health nurses for many weeks. Again, friends and family were a huge help, visiting and bring meal after meal: THANK YOU!
On August 22nd 2018, UCSF called with the second and updated pathology results: Stage 3B Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer with cancer found in localized lymph nodes. There remains a risk of undetectable cancer cells. Jim is undergoing a fairly aggressive course of chemotherapy at our local hospital in Fort Bragg .
He has hardly worked in months. We have health insurance. As you would imagine, we have had out of pocket costs, and we have had, and still have other costs, ranging from rental cars to special food and medications and supplies. Jim will end chemotherapy at the end of November and we hope the side effects will more or less end by Christmas.
Jim is a musician and a wood connoisseur. Anyone who knows Jim knows that he cares deeply about other people.
We very much appreciate any donations.