Dr. Pastakia (oncologist) called today around 4:00 PM with the lumbar puncture results. Like the blood work, they did not identify a specific diagnosis. The next step is a biopsy — this is the standard part of the workup.

Planned timeline:

Biopsy: hoped to be scheduled next week (likely through the top of his skull, which is the best route to reach the mass).

Recovery and pathology: a two-week waiting period after the biopsy to allow his body to recover and for pathology to process results.

Treatment start: if results are available then, treatment would begin soon after — currently estimated for the 3rd–4th week of May.

What we know and what to expect:

We do not yet know if it is cancer. Dr. Pastakia suspects a germ cell tumor based on the MRI, endocrine issues, and his experience, but the biopsy could still surprise us.

Treatment depends on the diagnosis: if it is a germ cell tumor (malignant), the plan would be radiation plus chemotherapy. If it is a lower-grade (less aggressive) tumor, treatment might be either radiation or chemotherapy.

The neurosurgeon reviewed four biopsy approaches; they recommend the transcranial (through the top of the skull) approach for this mass.

Hospital stay after biopsy should be one to two nights (hopefully one). The surgeon will provide a two-week school excuse but will allow an earlier return if he’s feeling well enough.

Looking at the positive, we now have a little more of a timeframe.

If anything changes or we have the biopsy date and results, I’ll update you right away.