So, you all know, my cancer marker has been going up a lot. Each time it goes up it is a huge jump. So I had a PET scan last week.
I prepared for that scan by wearing warm, comfortable clothes and taking my own fuzzy blanket and mittens. It is cold in the trailer that houses the machine. In fact that day, there was a bit of ice on the floor inside that trailer.
I got my results. I kind of feel like it is a repeat of last year at this time. Yes, that damn cancer is back. Yes, it is not good. Yes, I am fighting on. Areas that lit up on the scan include; a lymph node in the right breast, the lining of the right lung, the abdomen, and in my pelvic bones. I asked for a referral to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN.
I talked to Mayo on Wednesday to give personal information and medical information. I was told that the team would look at my scans and medical history and would let me know if they can help me. I asked if I could meet with the doctors thru a computer, like telehealth, and I was told no. OK.
On Friday I got a call from Mayo. I have an appointment to meet a doctor face-to-face in February. No treatment, no procedures, just meet the doctor face to face.
I had a PET scan in August and a spot by my lymph node lit up. I had that biopsied. I had a few CT scans this fall, with the latest one on October 18. Nothing bad showed up. But now the PET scan shows 4 areas and the thyroid node has grown. So that sneaky high-grade serous epithelial cancer is attacking again. And it seems to be growing fast. Thursday I have a mammogram, which should give me a better look at the lymph node. I have another biopsy this Friday on the thyroid, hoping this time it is benign again.
My oncologist, Dr. Gray has the plan to attack this beast again. I will be back on chemotherapy infusions again. I will either be on Doxil and Avastin or Topotecan and Avastin. I googled the side effects, they are many of the same ones I have had in the past. We will be starting that soon.
Add to this crappy week of health news, the furnace that decided to act up and not give me heat. It was a cold week, luckily my furnace is under warranty, it got fixed, and my house has warmed back up
So this holiday has been a bit of a struggle. I know I can't dwell on it, but I also can't ignore it. So, I made memories, had good laughs, and enjoyed great gifts. I was hoping that once this year ended the new year would be better, and different, time will tell. For sure I am learning more words in the world of oncology, I am going to be the chemotherapy spelling champ! And I will also be meeting my deductible and out-of-pocket maximum in January, only question is, will it be in the first week of January or 2nd week?
Merry Christmas!
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