Encouraging News

Happy New Year! 

Today – to the sounds of a famous Mozart piece – I had my follow-up CT and PET scans to track the effect of the treatment thus far.   It is not unusual for the treatment to take up to six months to eradicate the errant tissue.   So this is generally a first look to see some initial movement in a positive direction.

While the medical staff at Tower Oncology is still prompt, courteous, and top-notch in all ways one might judge a medical facility, the process of these scans is not pleasant. Having ceased exercise for 48 hours, given up carbs & sugar for 24 hours, and fasted since breakfast, I was in a restless mood already when they handed me the first of my Grande, berry-flavored barium shakes. Three different people asked me what flavor I wanted from a choice of banana, orange, mint, berry, and mochaccino. Honestly, I can’t imagine it makes a difference. The stuff is ghastly.

As I finished downing my first liter, they shot me up with the radioactive dye and deposited my radiant self in a private waiting room to complete downing a second liter of barium. Then, filled with radioactive iodine, I was directed into the scan room and left to lay still for the 40-minute scan process. I was woozy, bloated, and irritable as I left the facility to join Debby for the special weekday treat of lunch and a movie.  Some decent food lifted my mood. As before, I was deemed still too radioactive to be around small children for about six hours.

I have an appointment with the oncologist next week, but in the middle of the movie he called to give me some preliminary results. While some blood tests have not yet come back and more study of some results is warranted, the CAT scan, which shows anatomy, came back completely negative. This is good news, and not entirely surprising as the CAT scan I had right before starting radiation treatment was also negative.

The PET scan was negative in the area of my stomach as well as in the lower intestine area that previously had lit up with mysterious “activity.” More good news. The doctor would not say that the MALT is already completely gone as biopsies are necessary to confirm this, but it is certainly encouraging. The PET scan did, however, light up in a new area in my lower bowel. This could mean there is cancerous activity; it could mean I have some minor inflammation or infection, or it could have another explanation. It is not conclusive, and, at least at this time, not of terrible concern to the oncologist. He will wait for all the data to come in and to consult with my gastro dr. I think it’s likely I have a colonoscopy in my future. That fancy double-balloon procedure is not indicated at this time.

Through this process I have been a believer in pursuing and receiving all forms of healing. Whether there is quantitative proof of value or not, I can say that all the energy, prayers, and generosity of friends, have lifted my spirits. If you are open to the possibility that there is power in “spirits” in either physical or psychological ways, then these efforts have been extremely powerful for me. I am living on a loving plane of gratitude for all that I have received. Thank you all. May I be a river to pass on this bounty of healing energy to all of you.

More news soon . . .