This is to follow up with my email of yesterday.
If I didn't have Dr. May as an oncologist, I may have not complied with her suggestion of continuing on.
Here is what the PET scan of October 22, 2011 read and at the end of this I will show you what got me so disturbed for about one month!
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Skull Base to Mid-Thigh Scan
Comparison Exam: PET/CT from 4/14/11
Technique ---(not going to type this as it's pretty much or completely the same as all other PET scans.)
Findings:
Head and Neck: There is no evidence of nodal uptake or hyper metabolism in the neck. There is normal uptake in the salivary glands.
Chest: There is no evidence of nodal uptake or hyper metabolism in the chest. The axilla, mediastinum and hilar regions are unremarkable. No pulmonary nodules are seen.
Abdomen and Pelvis: There is an area of new uptake within the medial aspect of the liver superiorly. The CT portion does not identify the lesion. This has a maximum SUV value of 9.6. Physiologic uptake is seen in the kidneys, bladder and in the bowel.
Musculosketetal: Normal FDG activity is identified in the axial and appendiucular skeleton.
Impression: PET portion of the exam demonstrates hyper metabolic lesion withing the posterior medial aspect of the right lobe of the liver consistent with the new metastatic disease to the liver.
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When I read the 'bold printed' paragraphs I went a little ballistic! Having had the surgery 7 weeks before and being told I was 'disease free'...I thought it would have been for a few months...not just several weeks! I didn't know what a SUV was - except for an automobile!
This was one of the question I had for Dr. May....what is SUV... I found out that the SUV is the 'illuminated' area where the glucose adheres to the lesions/tumors. It came out a high number - maybe - due to the surgery being 'ablated' (burned) in that area...and with the CT portion of the scan not picking anything up - meaning it must be quite small. This is why Dr. May would like me to go for an MRI....to see the 'actual' size of this 'new' lesion.
The last question I had was of the 'physiologic uptake' seen in the kidneys etc....that means 'nothing' is seen - all clear.
Oh how I hate the words of scans!!!! I don't understand why they just don't use 'regular' words instead of these medical scan words!!! So people get a degree in this....who cares!!! Everyone reads them - the patient and the doctor besides the lab tech.
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I've been told that some feel I am to be honored, that I am their hero, that I give people strenght.....well, I can't take credit for that. I believe that it is all of YOU that pray to give me this strength to go on. Without all of your prayers and support I would not have gone this far and continue on....I was ready to give up...you never know when God is ready to take you. I believe that He knows what will be your last day on earth and with reading this last scan and finding a new lesion I felt that God was telling me that this will continue on and on until my day comes....Remember the song that Kenny Rogers sings - The Gambler ---- you gotta know when to fold....well, I thought I was ready to fold.
I will continue to fight....I am and will always be a positive person and fight for what I want - not only for myself but for my children and family and such great friends! Thank You all!
