Tests / Results / Treatment / Another test

Well, here’s how the week went.

Monday: went for CT-scan, blood draw, and EKG.
Downed the barium an hour before (not too bad if you drink it fast). Got to imaging center at 9:15 and checked in. Had an IV access put in my arm for the contrast injection and went to the lab. Only difference this time when they injected the dye was more of the ‘hot’ feeling through veins. Last time it was mostly like a hot poker up my butt, this time it was more like straddling a radiator. Not bad, just very, very strange and thankfully very short lived.

Next went to get blood drawn (tech left the iv access in my arm so the lab didn’t have to poke me again … yea!). Got the blood drawn and then had until 12:45 for my echo. Window-shopped at Staples, then over to Shopko where I bought a pair of pants. Had a burger at Jack-in-the-box (slooooowwww order window .. now remember why I never like to go there). Enough time passed so I could go to the Heart Center.

Echo went good. Tech said I had a very photogenic heart! Couldn’t tell me how I was, but did say if I was bad she would have called someone in to look. Very good tech, she explained a lot of the images and showed me where they looked for possible chemo damage (valve leaking), which didn’t seem to show up on my images. Whole thing took about 40 minutes and I was on my way back to work to finish up day.

Thursday: Doctor appointment, results & treatment.
Jim took the day off and took me in to the doctor since I wanted him there with me to hear results of tests. Was amazed when I got in to see doc only 5 minutes after scheduled appointment (usually wait 30-45 minutes). Up 4 pounds from weekend (gotta do something about that when all finished), blood pressure up more than I like, but lower than last visit (it goes down when I go upstairs for treatment).

Blood work good (glucose down 22 points from last time), no echo results yet but he figured must be pretty good from what I told him while getting the echo, CT-scan results were some tumors smaller, others considerably smaller. The report had some concern about the large mass, but when Dr. Grosset took a look at it he said the way they measured it (in the long direction) showed it as more of a 2-dimensional rather than the 3-dimensional it really was. He pulled up the original scan and there was a major difference. He said the report had it more like comparing a ‘breast’ to a ‘pair of pants’. The first scan looked as if the mass was fuller and rounder while the second scan looked as if it had flattened out (long and thinner). Reminded me more of a filled balloon and then a deflated (but not fully empty) balloon. He said not to be concerned of what the report said about it. He then talked about radiation (I think maybe the report might have mentioned that as an option). His concern was that the mass (lymph nodes I think) were close to my bowels. The intestines move around, so that wasn’t the concern as much as possible pulmonary-something damage. I think it has something to do with the attachment to the bowel, so discounted it as an option. He also said that since a PET scan wouldn’t really tell anything different than the CT scan he didn’t think it was necessary. After he pulled up a flowchart, he said that the scan was mandatory, so he ordered it for me.

Things must be going well since he only ordered the Ritux and not CHOP. Have to do 3-4 (not sure how many) to catch up with the amount he wants me to have. Could have it every week or every two weeks .I opted for every two weeks to give me a break unless he thought I should go every week. He scheduled me for the two week one. He did seem pleased with the results (looked up from my chart and smiled) and away I went. Next infusion October 1.

Upstairs to the Cancer Center, and 3-1/2 or so hours later was outta there! Nice not having the CHOP. Everything went fine with the infusion. Blood pressure ended with 123/64, 98 temp (usually run 96-97.6), heart rate in 80’s, and oxygen rate at 98 (had a couple of times at 100! Never had that high … usually 97-99). Stopped for a burger on way home (didn’t have the lunch since I had a late breakfast) and chilled out. Took a nap for couple of hours and then of course later couldn’t fall asleep. Was going over and over in my head about what the doctor said and how to put it into words for everyone. Finally around 2am I went into living room and slept for 3 hours in my recliner, then back to the futon until time for thyroid pill. Sure don't miss having to take the Prednisone! At least without the CHOP my hair falling out should get a break. It's coming back, can't tell if it will be curly, but it sure is soft.

That’s all for now will post about PET scan prep on next post.
Love to all