Mike Winters

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Mike was diagnosed December 2011 with renal cell carcinoma through a pathology report of small lesion that was removed from his face. Five days later CT scan showed tumor in right kidney with metastasis to lungs and lymph nodes. Dec. 22,2011 he had surgery to remove his right kidney. Mike's stubbornness along with pain medication allowed us to attend New Years party. January 2012 Mike started oral cancer treatment that allowed him to continue with normal life.
Summer of 2014 brought changes to Mike's health. The cancer had metastasized to bone in spine. He had cryoablation to treat tumor and off we went on vacation. The day after we returned he fractured his humerus...caused by tumor. Since then he has had surgery on his arm and leg, multiple radiation treatments to various bone tumors along with multiple surgeries to spine. He has been treated with multiple drugs that usually keep tumors from growing for about 6 months. 
January through March of 2016 we spent in Florida enjoying the warm weather, golf and new friends. When we returned Mike was having low back pain which turned out to be tumors and compression fracture in low back. First line of treatment was more radiation. Then the plan was for cryoablation along with repair of compression fracture. Unfortunately Mike had heart attack in June which required placement of two stents. He would have to wait three more months in pain before he could have the surgery on his back.  September 2016 he was cleared to have surgery on back. Finally some pain relief! Since October he has been in the hospital three times...low hemoglobin requiring transfusion, high calcium requiring IV fluids, and decreased kidney function caused by medication for shingles.
This week Mike was scheduled to have MRI guided focus ultrasound which Is a new treatment for bone metastasis. Unfortunately this was not approved through insurance so next week he goes back for cryoablation to the tumors in his hips.