I'll be meeting with a team of specialists on Monday and spending the weekend in test mode. They did some aeration saline thing and I do not have holes in my heart. My carotid (SP?) sonogram came out well - minor plaque, good flow, and she said she could tell I don't smoke. I have a bone scan due today and last night a contrast body ct Scan.
A bone scan is a test that detects areas of increased or decreased bone metabolism (turnover). The test is meant to identify abnormal processes involving the bone.(like tumors) They use a small amount of bone-seeking radioactive trace and they track how much collects in the bones. It is painless but boring as you lay around in the scanner. And the radioactivity is low so I will still need a night light. It wasn't bad to get through. I don't have bone involvement.
The meds (a steroid, Decadron) they gave me to shrink the swelling around the tumor have done the trick and the mild headache and vision weirdness have stopped. Under the list of side effects they have "Psychic disturbances" - Boy, wouldn't becoming a psychic be an cool side effect to get? So when Gene came in today I said, "Wait, Wait, I'm getting something -- You had to drive through slush and snow and saw a bunch of accidents. And Later I see you bringing Doritos - Cool Ranch..." I had watched the weather and traffic report. The jury is still out on the Doritos.
Well, I got the news - it's bad. I have growths in my lung, bronchial tube, heart and lymph nodes --- little growths but sigh..... the liver, pancreus isn't involved but I will have to do chemo and radiation - And yes, I am going to do the chemo - although I expect lots of praise - since I really, really don't want to.
The neuron surgeon said he doesn't think he should remove the tumor in my brain that is accessible because it would delay the start of the chemo, be like shipping a chip out of an iceberg (just call me The Titanic) and delay radiation while I had to heal. Since the original tumor grew so fast, we agree that the delay would not be a good thing.
Love,
Lori Barringer
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