Not Good News…
It’s the BEST NEWS ever!
Circling back to my previous post, I have had a pretty busy start to this week with test after test and appointment after appointment. The week started with an MRI on Monday morning followed by a Thyroid Biopsy. Everything went well, aside from being delayed in the Ultrasound department for an hour before the biopsy took place. The radiologist performing the biopsy this time was incredibly quick, and the procedure was much less painful / uncomfortable than last time. He looked at the image on the screen, numbed my neck and within about 5 minutes he had taken four samples. The tech placed a band-aid on my neck and we were finished.
I am still waiting for the results of that biopsy, but I am not concerned about it.
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
Psalms 56:3
Tuesday was our day to meet with the surgeon and go over the results of the MRI, ultimately giving us a more clear direction regarding my future treatment and possible surgery. The results were not exactly as we hoped. Once again, we were met with disappointment as he informed us that the lesion (tumor) is still visible although it has not grown. In addition to that, there was one additional small lesion that appeared in a nearby segment of my liver. After further discussion he concluded that the smaller lesion did not have the same shape as a typical tumor, and was likely non-cancerous. All of that to say that he is going to perform a Liver Resection, removing a small section of my liver containing the original tumor and while he is in there he will perform a Liver Ablation (click here for more information on that) on the other small lesion.
This surgery is schedule for August 10th, with a predicted 2-3 day in-patient stay at the hospital.
The anticipated recovery time is 4-6 weeks, when I will then resume chemotherapy for the final Seven rounds. I would love to say that I will not need the continued chemotherapy, however, my oncologist said that is not risk she is willing to take with me. There are studies now showing that patients who have had chemotherapy prior to surgery, then having surgery, do not necessarily need to complete the full regime. That is not my option, however, given my history and the nature of my diagnosis as Stage IV Metastatic Disease. Honestly, I was a little disheartened to hear this, but I am at peace with my oncologist’s reasoning. I appreciate that she wants me fully healed. I want that too!!
Okay, I said it’s the BEST NEWS EVER! Well, it is! Today (Wednesday) I had a PET scan in the morning. It was in the basement of the Fairview Riverside Hospital, which met me with many emotions. This is the hospital that just a few short months ago held our final Earthly goodbye’s with my father-in-law. A myriad of emotions overwhelmed me as I entered the front doors, checked in, and headed to the same elevators that led to a floor I hope to never visit again. My scan was in the basement of this building, so thankfully I only needed to go down one level. I checked in for my scan, and proceeded to go through the quick process of a glucose test and then the injection of the radioactive sucrose solution. (YIKES) After all of the different contrast I have had this week, I might just glow in the dark! Haha!
We met with my Oncologist, Dr. L., this afternoon and she went through the PET scan results with us. Everything that we were concerned about on the liver showed ZERO activity, which indicates that the chemotherapy is working and killing any active cancerous cells. The lesion that we saw on the MRI is likely scar tissue / dead cancer cells!! Praise God - for He is good!
The Shadows don’t win,
The Mountains don’t win,
The Darkness doesn’t win!
OUR GOD WINS!!!
I will take the next few weeks off of Chemotherapy leading up to surgery. After surgery I will have 4 - possibly 6 weeks of recovery before I begin the final 7 rounds of chemo. I can say I’m not looking forward to that, but I am grateful that we know the chemo is working, and if there are any rogue cells out there, they will be destroyed.
We wait for the Thyroid Biopsy results, but without major concern. In the meantime,
It’s the BEST NEWS EVER!
