I went to Advanced Imaging on Wednesday to get a new PET and CAT scan. The purpose of these tests are to monitor the cancer and see if the treatments are working to kill the existing tumor and keep it from spreading. As I write this I am sitting in the sunlight of the solarium at Florida Cancer Specialists getting my 18th chemo infusion. I have not heard anything yet about the results of my PET and CAT scans. Hopefully, there will be no surprises.
The last time I had a PET scan it took more than an hour. Normally, the scan take 25 minutes, but apparently they had a software upgrade that was causing the machine to crash while I was in it. I became extremely anxious while in the machine waiting. The feeling was the feeling you might have if you were drowning. I almost did not complete the test last time, so I was nervous about doing the test again. This time I brought my i-pod with me and that helped to get my mind off the feeling I was in a coffin.
STOP.....FLASH!
I sent an e-mail to Scott Lunin while I was sitting here to let him know I was awaiting the test results. He just came by to personally deliver the good news! The tumor has shrunk to 2.4 X 2.1 cm in size; the SUV (sugar uptake value -- a measure of the metabolic activity) is in the normal range of 3.1 and there is no evidence of disease elsewhere! The treatments are continuing to shrink the tumor and, most importantly, reduce the metabolic activity. That is very good news indeed!
One of the peculiar things that has happened to me is that I am frequently getting leg cramps at night. I will be sleeping and all of a sudden my right leg calf will cramp, as though I had just run a marathon. Apparently, the chemo can affect the level of potassium in your blood and low potassium can result in muscle cramps. Now here is the weird part. This morning I fell out of bed and hit my face on some glass candle holders that are at my bedside. I cut my nose and lip and bruised my cheek. I THINK I was DREAMING that I had a muscle cramp and jumped out of bed to try and walk it off. But I don't remember anything until waking up on the floor. Yoko observed me jumping out of bed....standing for a second and them collapsing on the floor. (I scared her to death.) So now, in addition to having cramps I will have to determine if the cramps are real or imagined!
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9 comments:
YEAH, that is fantastic news, you've been so strong during this whole thing and so positive and it looks as though it is all paying off....not to mention your wonderful doctors. I'm so happy Tom.
That is so strange about your leg cramps, poor Yoko I'm sure you did scare her to death...good Lord. I'm sure you two are laughing about it now, but I'm sure at the time it wasn't so funny. You're lucky, really lucky that you didn't get more hurt....maybe you should relocate your end tables for a while until you can figure out what is going on with these cramps.
THings here are normal, everyone is doing well. We can't wait to go to CA, especially me...I've never been to San Diego so I'm really looking forward to the trip and the wedding. Its really coming down to the wire....are you and Yoko handling the fact that your oldest is about to be married?
Tom this news is so good, I just couldn't be happier....
xoxoxoxo
Linda
The tumor shrunk a whole lot! That is such good news. :)
The leg cramping is kind of scary, though... Is there anything you can take to keep your leg from cramping?
That is so fantastic! You are the ultimate cancer fighter! Sorry about those nasty leg cramps. It's kinda bizzare how that incident unfolded...Poor Yoko. That would've scared me death too! Jim's gone until next Friday...so the kids and I are fending for ourselves in our mostly put back together house. I'll be glad when the house project is completely completed.
Great news, Tommy - Check with your doctor and see what he thinks about tonic water for your cramps - It contains a little quinine and maybe a bottle before bed would help - in the meantime, moving the furniture might be a great idea (ha)! Love, Deb
I have already gone through 10 treatments on this round of chemo...I have 6 treatments to go and it appears I will have 18 more shots (3 per week) to the end. I will be glad when the chemo is over. Now the only thing to do will be to wait and see what develops. As long as I am receiving treatments, I feel better that the cancer is under control. When I am off treatments for a while, I may get more concerned about the outcome of the quarterly screenings. Anyway, it looks like, for now, we have this thing stablized. That is the best we could possibly hope for and I am hoping it gives me more time
I've been negligent about getting to the blog this week. Your news is fabulous and I couldn't be happier for you guys. Leg cramps.....sounds like you need to put barriers around so the idea of cramps doesn't send you to the hospital with broken bones!! Was your potassium low?? Do you think you're a little dehydrated. The cisplatin will monkey with you're electrolytes. I am sure SL is watching it. CONGRATS on the shrinking tumor...that must make bellying up to the treatments a little easier. Hugs to Yoko and you.
j
I know Janie and the rest of you thought my "dream cramps" was funny, so I would thought I would tell you what Yoko says she observed.
She watched me suddenly sit up on the side of the bed. I sat there, she says, for a second or two and then suddenly stood up to walk...I limped around for a second or two and then collapsed into the night stand. She thought I might have injured my port as I collapsed into the corner of the table. I don't remember any of this, except waking up with my face in the glass candle holders and my arms around the night stand. Yoko says it was "veerwee scarewe".
Since then Yoko has deveoped a rash on her arm that she thinks is stress related. The way she explains it, she thinks this was the first incident of many incidents to come as a result of my declining health. That plus not knowing the outcome of the PET scan had her so worried she broke out in a rash.
My thoughts? She is getting a allergic reaction from me...
ALL GREAT NEWS! I was at home during a leg cramping session and have to say it was pretty scary...
I am happy to report June arrived safely at LAX last night. We had a really good time catching up this weekend. She got to see first hand how crazy we are getting over here! It was a blast.
It won't be long before you get to be part of the madness too! Can't wait to see you in June! XOXO Paula
Oh poor Yoko, this whole experience has been so stressful on her as well. Give her my best and a GREAT big hug and kiss. It sounds like things are looking up and although the quarterly checks will be nerve racking, keep that positive attitude that I believe got you to where you are now. Hang in there Yoko and Tom.
Love you.
xoxoxox
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