preliminary results

Fantastic: The PET scan showed no new hot spots. Cancer is NOT rekindling.

Disappointing: The two remaining, shrunken tumors are not yet dead.  In a preliminary report, the PET scan technician (or whoever phones over the preliminary info) says the scan shows “residual disease” in two already-known spots, which we think are two spots originally attributed to the one largest tumor.

Encouraging: The research nurse told us Kaiser has one other person on the same clinical trial.  He started several months earlier, he’s doing great, and at this point all his tumors seem to be dead.

Frustrating: As usual we are swimming in vagueness.  We went for our appointment yesterday and the final results weren’t in, the doctor didn’t know she was supposed to see us, nothing was there to buoy us up.

Waiting: There will be more finalized PET results next week, when Val will meet with the oncologist.  Also next week Val has a CAT scan (a regularly scheduled part of the trial) and that will tell us the latest on the tumors’ size.

Dispiriting: The cancer experience doesn’t offer a lot of concrete, reassuring definitives.  There is a lot of ambiguity, anxiety, waiting, wondering and living with perpetual uncertainty.  It sucks.

Hopeful: Nothing is growing.  The trajectory so far has been that the tumors have shrunk, shrunk, shrunk and several have disappeared.  There is more than a year left in this trial.  The one guy we’ve heard of also on the trial is doing incredibly well.

Support: My mom just read an article in the New York Times scientifically documenting the fact that people with strong friendships live longer, healthier lives.  Thanks, y’all!

Concrete: Physically Val feels great.  She feels healthy.  She has energy, she’s breathing well, she’s biking everywhere.

Emotionally: It’s been a bit of a rough ride this week.  We appreciate all the love and care.  Thank you.

Next up: Deborah to Carbondale to help with Abby’s thesis show (!).  Val playing with the dog and the garden and relishing the gorgeous Portland spring.