UPCOMING PETSCAN

Hello to all and Merry Christmas. Even though I do not post often I still read the messages. Brief update. Dx.ca/colon Aug.2003.8/20 nodes positive. Stage 4 locally advanced ca. Still have
a illeostomy bag on right side and a draining mucous fistula on the left side(part of the disconnected colon). Since June of 2004 after my last treatment of chemo, 2 weeks on and 1 week off of Cpt11,lecovorin and a shot of 5 FU also 5 1/2 weeks of radiation. I still am receiving blood transfusions. I have been thru 4 bone marrow biopsies and 2 well known physicians in Manhattan in New York city. One was from Sloan Kettering and one currently I am seeing from Mount Sinai Medical Center. My tests are coming back normal. The bone marrow is making red cells. There is no evididence of autoimmune deficiency. There is no evidence of the body attacking the red cells. No chromsome damage. Yet I am still getting transfusions for just red cells. It started as every 8 weeks and now down to every 5 weeks. I have been thru every blood test there is and yet no answer. There is a posibility it is the start of MDS (myloid dysplasia syndrome) possibly from the radiation to the pelvis but inconclusive at this time. My CEA last week came back as 0.4. My CA19.9 was 39. I am do to have a petscan on January 9th, 2006. I have not had a petsscan since Feb.2005. The anxiety waiting for the results is worse than having the test itself. The bone marrow is another issue. Although the physician in the city did give some goos news that the bone marrow biopsy did not show any cancer. I told him he only biopsied one area.(not too positive thinking on my part). I asked him if colon cancer can go to the bone and he said cancer can go anywhere. He did say there could be a mass somewhere signaling the bone marrow and suggested that it has been almost a year since the last petscan. So I scheduled one. And at the same time I booked a cruise in March. Good news or bad I am going on this cruise. I need to get away from all these inconclusive diagnosis. I will keep you updated. Merry Christmas to all and a Happy New Year.