August 26, 2005 12:03 AM
Looks like my lung biopsy surgery will be a week from tomorrow, Friday Sept. 2nd Thursday, Sept. 1st. I'll have some data within the day, but it will take until after Labor Day to get all the data back. Hopefully the docs will find something they can treat.
If not, then I have to hope I can get on the lung transplant waiting list. The biggest strike against me is my cancer history. It's possible that the process required to give me the lung could open me up to get cancer again.
Since it's driving me nuts not knowing how long I've got, I decided to dig up some more stats... here are some on lung transplants I pulled off the UNOS, and Second Wind websites.
Right now, there are 3,371 people waiting for lung transplants, and 158 people waiting for heart/lung transplants.
About one third of the people waiting will receive a transplant in any given year.
In 2004, 1,190 people received lung transplants, 493 people died waiting, and 66 people got too sick to transplant.
Every day 16 people will die waiting for an organ transplant because there are not enough organs available. Every 13 minutes another name is added to the list of those who are waiting.
In 2002, the average lung waiting time for a person of my ethnicity was 2 years, my blood type, 2.3 years, and my age, 2.9 years.
So the "good" news is that I'm white, the bad news is that I'm young. Not a lot of young white people dying these days.
Biopsy scheduled (08.26.2005)
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will: NEW
Still praying.
Fri Aug 26 2005 12:11 AM
bobbie: NEW
me too.
i read this article the other day and thought of you:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4175822.stm
didn't know if it would interest you, but after i read today's post i thought it might.
Fri Aug 26 2005 6:06 AM
Stephen Shields: NEW
ditto
Fri Aug 26 2005 8:27 AM
Tricia: NEW
Good Luck with the biopsy. I hope it shows something treatable. I'm just so impressed with how strong and brave you are being while dealing with all these health issues.
Mon Aug 29 2005 12:17 PM
Paul: NEW
Jim, it's amazing how you can be so cerebral about all of this. Keep fighting the good fight. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a good biopsy result.
Mon Aug 29 2005 10:34 PM
Learn more about me or read my blog. For the latest on my lung transplant situation, check on jim.
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