July 24, 2014// Finally, an answer. Even though the answer is that we have no answer, I am relieved. I’ve been waiting since the PET scan this past April to find out if the area that lit up was a metastasis, or a false positive. A series of events, including an inpatient stay, delayed the follow up CT scan until earlier this month.
The initial CT report showed nothing to suggest the presence of cancer. My oncologist was not comfortable with this results, since the CT was preformed without contrast for various reasons. The films were sent back to the Interventional Radiologists at the hospital, asking them to review again and consider doing a needle biopsy. Three out of the four docs said no immediately. The fourth finally responded saying the area was too deep, so little tissue present, and so filled with fluid that it would not be safe – he would not do it. My ears pick up on the fact that the area is filled with fluid, since that is one of the things known to produce a false negative PET results.
So at this point we still don’t know if the area in question is cancer returned or not. But the decision was finally made, since there aren’t many other choices, to simply wait and see. Another CT scan in three months, this time signing waivers to use contrast**, and we’ll see what that shows. Hopefully nothing.
Meanwhile, I feel like a weight has been lifted. Back to life as normal, or as normal as my life ever is, with the occasional prayer to remain cancer free.
**There is a hesitancy to use contrast in someone with only one kidney. The dye is expelled through the kidneys, and failure to do so can cause kidney failure.
Seeing Sunrise 