Dr Steven Goetz Dr Steven Goetz

 In January 2019 Steve had a routine physical which he passed with flying colors.  In early February, he started having intermittent mild pelvic discomfort.   The first week of March, 2019, Steve and I enjoyed a week in Cancun where he played at least 35 games of pool volleyball along with swimming and working out daily.  While he was in Cancun, he began taking antibiotics thinking this increasing lower abdominal pain was diverticulitis.  His first day back to work after vacation, while sitting in the doctor's lounge talking with one of our great Mercy Surgeons ,  he was encouraged to  get a quick CT to rule out Diverticulitis so that they could change antibiotics.  Much to everyone's shock, the CT showed several enlarged lymph nodes in his pelvis and lower abdominal area.  A CT directed biopsy of a node showed High Grade Carcinoma.  He spent most of Thursday getting additional testing and finally found a very small nodule in the bladder, but nothing else.  While one would assume Bladder cancer immediately, all Physicians concurred it wasn't typical.  A referral to Mayo was made.  Monday, March 18,  he was seen at Mayo Clinic by a top notch Urologist who walked in to the room and frankly said that he was puzzled and hadn't ever seen a bladder cancer present like this.  They do agree that it is an aggressive cancer and are moving forward with a bladder biopsy tomorrow.  Wednesday, March 20, 2019 they will do a PET Scan to check from head to toe to verify extent of disease.  Thursday, March 21, he will meet with the Urological Oncologist.  Hopefully we will have answers by then, confirming primary.  The Urologist was almost certain that chemo will need to begin right away to halt the progression. Last night, our bible study group, along with a few close friends and our kids on speaker phone had a very powerful prayer session.  Steve is very strong in his faith and  has put this whole ordeal in God's hands.  I  ask for prayers and support while Steve embarks on this journey.   While it is so unexpected, he doesn't intend to stop fighting, will work as he can and continue to take each day as it comes.  Mostly, he will continue to give all glory to God.