The Biopsies

The First Biopsy

The biopsy was done on the 17th and we got the results on Thursday the 19th. They were negative meaning the biopsy indicated normal tissue. We were elated at this news but I should've known to ask more questions. With the wind in my sails I booked my wife and daughter on the first flight to Dallas the next day and they were able to attend the wedding. Unfortunately my daughter was sick the entire trip and in hindsight should've stayed home.

The Second Biopsy
The following Monday (the 23rd) a second biopsy was done to confirm the first result. The radiologist(Dr Sneickus) was frustrated that we had not gotten a result from the first procedure and it was then that we learned it was possible the first result was a false-negative. He promised the results to us the next day. Unfortunately these results took longer and we didn't get them until Friday the 27th of April over the phone from Dr Lipksy. He told us that Karen had cancer, that it was an advanced stage (stage IV) and that it would require chemo and most likely surgery. He could not give a prognosis until further tests were done. He recommended we hang up the phone, schedule a colonoscopy through his office and setup appointments with an oncologist, Doctor Moriarity in Overlook hospital, Summit.