I Don't Quite Glow In The Dark Yet...
So, they need to do ANOTHER test where radioactive material is injected into my body for the benefit of some high tech camera!
As I shared with you last week, I got a "bad" CT report, showing progression to my liver and possibly my spine. I went to my regular onc yesterdayand I finally actually saw the report (then drove up to UCSF to see my other onc!), and it was pretty crazy and a busy day.
On Tuesday I had a bone scan to clarify the issue with the spine and that showed (TA DA) NO metastasis to the bone. Just a little degenerative change in a completely different area of the spine. So now I'm a degenerate.
But it gets even better (or just crazier). Another comment on the report was "the left lobe of the liver appears to be absent". Excuse me?! It was there when I went in! So now, it is I rather than the "lesion" that is suspicious.
The plan if the bone scan was negative was to get further testing on the liver spot. My UCSF onc concurred with this, and now I have a PET/CT scheduled for next Tuesday. I hope Tuesday is my lucky day again and the PET/CT shows that my left lobe is present and the cancer is gone, instead of the other way around. I won't get results of that until the following week.
In the meantime, I'm sort of dancing between my wonderful local onc and my UCSF rockstar onc, all waiting to figure out what really is going on so we can move forward accordingly.
Right now, the plan is IF the scan is negative (although that is a very outside possibility), stay the course and continue on Herceptin. Which would be a good thing.
IF the scan shows recurrence in the liver, I will likely go into a PhaseII trial of Tykerb/Avastin, which Dr. Rugo at USCF believes would be a good opportunity for me. So also a good thing under the circumstances.
Anyway, I continue in limbo. It reminded me of Tom's mom and others who have had false positives and other crazy things. I can say one thing, I don't think I want to go back to the imaging center of the bodysnatchers any more!
In the meantime, since I've never had a PET/CT before, I think I'll go back and read all about how to do that right.
Much love to all,
Happy Easter
__________________
Chris in Scotts Valley
June 2002 extensive hi grade DCIS (pre-cancer-stage 0, clean sentinal node) Mastectomy/implant - no chemo, rads. "cured?"
9/2004 Diag: Stage IV extensive liver mets (!) ER/PR- Her2+++
10/04-3/05 Weekly Taxol/Carboplatin/Herceptin , complete response!
04/05 - 4/07 Herception every 3 wks, Continue NED
04/07 - recurrence to liver - 2 spots, starting tykerb/avastin trial
06/07 8/07 10/07 Scans show stable, continue on Tykerb/Avastin
01/08 Progression in liver
02/08 Begin (TDM1) trial
08/08 NED! It's Working! Continue on TDM1
02/09 Continue NED
02/10 Continue NED. 5/10 9/10 Scans NED 10/10 Scans NED
12/10 Scans not clear....4/11 Scans suggest progression 6/11 progression confirmed in liver
07/11 - 11/11 Herceptin/Xeloda -not working:(
12/11 Begin MM302 Phase I trial - bust:(
03/12 3rd times the charm? AKT trial
5/12 Scan shows reduction! 7/12 More reduction!!!!
8/12 Whoops...progression...trying for Perjeta/Herceptin (plus some more nasty chemo!)
9/12 Start Perjeta/Herceptin, chemo on hold due to infection/wound in leg, added on cycle 2 &3
11/12 Poops! progression in liver, Stop Perjeta/Taxo/Herc
11/12 Navelbine/Herce[ptin - try for a 3 cycles, no go.
2/13 Gemzar/Carbo/Herceptin - no go.
3/13 TACE procedure
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