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09/25/2007: "Scan Me"
In preparation for the introduction of a new chemotherapy drug, Avastin, my doctor order a series of baseline scans. Yesterday I went in for a vascular ultrasound. Friday I go in for PET and CT scans.
The ultrasound was interesting. One of Avastin’s (many) side effects is blood clotting. Since I had a blood clot in my neck following this last surgery, they wanted to make sure I was cleared up and good to go. The doctor who performed the ultrasound was the same one who had identified the clot before. He was pretty chatty because he noticed that we were exactly the same age. As we talked about why I was being checked over, our discussions lead to the cause of colon cancer. He is from India and told me that the occurrence of colorectal cancer there is very rare. He credits this to the fact that they do not eat meat or pork. Most of their diet is vegetarian with a little poultry and fish. I told him that based on my research over the past couple of years; I had to agree with him. He went on to point out that not only does red meat putrefy in our bowels but we are also ingest the hormones injected into cows as well as the pesticides in their feed. Our discussion then led to other topics such as a lack of federal support for stem cell research, etc.
As we talked, he worked away at the computer while he moved the sensor around my neck and arm. The computer screen showed my arteries and the rate of blood flow. The clot gets absorbed into the walls of the vein and he was able to point out the evidence left behind. Certain times he would ask me to “sniff” and it would cause a spike in the chart. In the end, he said that everything looked clean and clear.
Friday’s PET scan has me concerned. I still remember the bad news it delivered back in January of 2006. I had been through surgery to remove my colon tumor and had been scanned showing no other evidence of cancer. I then endured 7 months of chemotherapy to wipe out any lingering lymph nodes that were affected. Two months after the end of chemo, I went in for that January scan as a baseline for my recovery. That is when it showed the multiple tumors in my lungs and the one in my 7th vertebra. Of course metastasis like that is the kiss of death. So, though I am excited about the lack of tumor progression that my last x-ray showed, I still know that the PET scan reveals all. I worry that there could be a spread to other organs. But I continue to stay positive, fighting to keep those kinds of thoughts to a minimum.
God must have popped into my head and had me do this because you put everything into perspective. Know that I think of you often and prayers are always coming your way. Going to CETPA but it's just not the same w/out you and your shenanigans. Fondly, Linda U.
). Remember all the people who are pulling for you. That has got to be a HUGE POSITIVE force!