Received the results of the PET/CT #3 and Bone Scan #1! I got them confirmed on Friday morning, but with the infusion and all, I’ve not had a chance to post them yet.
So… here we go… The “Overall” News Is Good! YAY!
FINDINGS:
(the tumor) “has diminished from 7.7 x 3.8 cm on the previous exam (April 16 2009) to the current measurements of 6.9 x 2.4 cm.“
That’s a decrease of .8 x 1.4 cm! (There are 2.54 centimeters in 1 inch…)
“FDG (fludeoxyglucose) activity has also diminished from previous peak SUV (standardized uptake value) of 4.8 to the current value 2.37.”
The FDG is the radioactive tracer that they inject for the PET/CT scan, the cancer attracts the FDG, and – from what I understand – the higher the SUV, the more cancer activity
Also…
“Size of the left axillary nodes extending to the subpectoral compartment have also diminished with no hypermetabolic FDG activity demonstrated presently…“
I was told that this means there is no longer activity in my lymph nodes!!!
Not all gone, but is Less!
The fight is Not over yet, not anywhere near finished, but it is LESS!!
For Now, it appears that it is not spreading, and that the activity has decreased… Decreased!!
Unfortunately, the bone scan did confirm the presence of “osteoblastic lesions” in the spine and sacrum which are “suspiciously related to early metastatic disease“… “ localized (on the spine) to the T9, L3, L4 and L5 in a pattern that is most likely produced by early metastatic disease“…
So… while the bone metastasis has not decreased, it has also not increased… so That is a good thing.
And Finally, there is a firm statement of arthritis… “there is evidence of degenerative arthritis in multiple joint areas” “in the feet in the tarsal areas and metatarsal joints, spine, shoulders and knees“…
I am still very much worried… I have won this small battle, but the war is not over… is far from over…
However, as I said, overall, Good Reports for now!
I am doing a (tentative) Happy Dance!
Denise, this is wonderful news! I’m doing a (tentative) Happy Dance along with you!
Yay! I love the news I am reading!
Though it may be little by little – we will beat this thing!!! Team Denise!!!
Yay!!!!!!
Hapyy feet, happy dance, this is great news! Love ya, Mare
Thanks for all the support – I’m Definitley Happy bout the news!
Tired…. but happy.
denise
Surviving…
[...] (Results HERE) [...]
[...] This does NOT mean that the cancer is gone, but it DOES mean that I am responding to the treatment favorably! And we are Hopeful that the next PET / CT scan will show as much progress as the previous PET / CT scan! [...]
[...] We are Hopeful that the PET / CT scan next month will show what is going on, and hopefully will show as much progress as the previous PET / CT scan! [...]
[...] (Results HERE) [...]
[...] Scan #3 (and the Baseline Bone Scan) were also done at Houston Medical Imaging, which gave results in a crisp, clear, and color, image. PET Scan #2 was also done at Houston Medical Imaging, which [...]