The Results Are In!

Actually the results were in last week... :-)



I've been swamped with Life, College, etc, but here are the results!

• The CAT Scans showed no visible disease in my liver, kidneys, and spleen. The main tumor has also shrunk in size to 2cm x 3cm (from 2cm x 6cm)


• The MRI's show decreased disease in the bone, appropriate for this time of treatment. One interesting thing to mention is that they found little "holes" in my pelvis. These are from the tumor that once lived there. So to help the bone regenerate I'm on a calcium supplement.


• MOST IMPORTANT NEWS: The PET Scan. A PET Scan works by injecting you with a radioactive sugar. The Scan then looks at how that sugar is metabolized in your body. Active cancer cells metabolize sugar a lot faster then normal cells. The scan shows this activity as "bright" areas. In October, I was lit up like a Christmas tree.
  Now, The PET Scan Is Negative! That means the cancer is no longer spreading through my body!

So definitely good news all around!

What else is new?

This week started my second maintenance cycle. I'm doing well and feeling fine in terms of the chemo, but to be honest I'm just frustrated with life right now. The first week of maintenance requires me to be here Monday - Thursday. That's four days of being up at 5 am. When all is said and done I have enough time to get back to Marist, eat a quick dinner, and go to night class. After that it's back to sleep to start it all over again. So I haven't been able to accomplish anything this week. My room looks like a tornado hit it, I'm running out of clean clothes, and I need groceries. I think the only things I have to eat are pasta and pop tarts. I just feel like I'm in a whirlwind. Luckily today is the last day and I can enjoy the weekend.

This week also means constant hydration. That means I go home each day with my big blue back pack. That back pack also carries with it the need to go to the bathroom at least every hour. However there is a lighter side to my bulky friend. As I sit in class it's hilarious to watch those around me look around and try to find where the strange noise (the IV pump) is coming from. People must also wonder why I'm constantly wearing a back pack and taking it with me to the bathroom :-)

So my weekend is almost here and I can't wait... I deserve it!

Ciao for now!

Beem Me Up Scotty

Hello there!

Today we started a new round of body scans to take a peek inside and see how my treatment is progressing. To that end I am officially declaring this week Star Trek week.
(Lots of big, fancy, and loud machines... ya know... Star Trek!)

And if you're wondering why I'm declaring an entire week... there's a lot of me to scan!

For Hors d'œuvres, a Full Body PET Scan.
Chasing that down is a Neck, Chest, Abdomen, and Pelvic CT Scan.
Next is a Pelvic MRI
and finishing it off... a Full Spinal MRI.

What a menu!
I should be reporting back with all the results next week!

What's Next? ROUND 2!

The end of this week also signifies the completion of my first Maintenance cycle of chemo.
::Raises Hands In Triumph::
Which means we get to start it all over again on Monday. And if my body keeps the same resiliency it had during the first cycle, we should have no problems.

Ok... so complain about something

Unfortunately, not everything is sunshine and rainbows.
In honor of the Super Bowl, my friends and I had our own Super Bowl:



Our team won... however the victory is definitely bittersweet.
My entire lower body is killing me. At this point, a flight of steps is my greatest enemy.

Other Notes...

Other things on my mind right now... but I'll leave those for another day.

.......