gator's right. @MissingInAction if god forbid the safest course of action is to remove the arm, fuck it, take it off. Absolutely get a second, and third, opinion. But if that's what they say gives you the best chance of long term survival, so be it. I can't tell you how many stories I've read of people with esophageal cancer who opt against Ivor Lewis surgery (where they remove much of the esophagus and in my case half my stomach too) where long term the outcome was bad. The odds for long term survival are exponentially higher with surgery. So I didn't hesitate. I lost almost 60 pounds, throw up 4-5 times per week, can eat much in the way of fried foods or high sugar content foods, and eating in general just isn't that enjoyable anymore. And I was a HUGE foodie. But 4 post op scans later, I'm NED. And my kids get to have their dad around a little longer. I know cutting out your guts does not compare to losing an arm, but just for perspective. My life has changed in a lot of ways, but the surgery gave me a shot at having a life. Without it, well, I may not be typing this.