Medical Update: MRI and PET CT -- Results

It turns out, I tend to hear what I want to hear. 

Twice now, I thought tumors were gone, when they were not.

So, today, I sat with my oncologist, to understand what is going on in my body.

The bottom line: my cancer is under control.

I still have tumors in my brain, my lungs and all over my skeleton. 

Thank God, there is currently no evidence of disease in my liver. (At least I got that one right!)


Both the MRI and the PET CT show the tumors in my brain are continuing to shrink.  The shrinking may be a continued effect of the WBR (Whole Brain Radiation) or from the Tykerb/Lapatinib (which seems to cross the blood brain barrier) or both. 

The PET CT also confirmed that:

1. the tumors in my lungs, which are tiny, are stable
2. the tumors in my bones are stable
3. my liver is clear

Overall, the news is good.

Stable is good.

I still wish it would all go away.



Please daven (or send happy, healing thoughts) for RivkA bat Teirtzel.

With love and optimism,
RivkA

CT -- Medical Update

On Sunday, I did a CT of my head, neck, chest, adbodment, and pelvis.

There is no written report yet, but it seems as if everything is ok -- meaning there is nothing new.

The CT is done without contrast, however, which means we do not see everything so clearly.

The radiologist did see a "hint of something" on my liver. My oncologist does not think it is something to worry about, but he is sending me for tests, just to be sure. I have to do an ultrasound this week.

Meanwhile, there are also tumors on my lungs. Apparently they have been there all along.

They are tiny, about the size of an "o" but they are there, and there are almost ten of them. I thought the tumors on my lungs were gone.

Apparently, the Navelbine (first chemo I took) shrunk them, but did not eliminate them.

My oncologist says that tumors shrinking to that size, and staying that size, is practically the same as if they are gone. It does not feel the same to me.

"Good as gone" is not "gone."

I want the tumors to be gone.

I hate cancer.



Please daven (or send happy, healing thoughts) for RivkA bat Teirtzel.

With love and optimism,
RivkA