Results of PET/CT scan

I had my PET/CT scan yesterday (Monday, 7/18) & had my onc appt to go over results today (Tuesday). Yesterday after the scan, I came home and popped the CD into my computer and what I saw depressed me- so many red blobs in every spot of my lungs & some brighter on my liver than I remembered seeing last scan in March. When I went and got the written report today, I was much relieved to find out that most of the metabolic uptake on the PET portion of the scan has actually decreased and nothing has spread outside of the rectum, liver, and lungs where I have known about tumors being since my diagnosis in Aug 2007. So, it was actually not bad news at all! Of course, I would have loved news of nothing was found, but I can live with the news. I did have two areas in the lungs that did increase in size of 2mm each with some increased uptake, but that was it. The other "innumerable" pulmonary/lung nodules (as they are referred to in my scan report) all slightly decreased in metabolic/SUV uptake and did not change in size. The same with the 4 liver tumors and the rectal tumor. I was really surprised to hear that my rectal tumor actually decreased in uptake, given all the problems it's been giving me.

Regarding the problems and pain the rectal tumor has been causing me, we discussed options at great length. Surgery is still out for me- it would be required to go off chemo for 10-12 weeks for surgery & we just don't want to risk tumors growing or spreading during that time (any time in the past when I've been off chemo even for a 2 week vacation, things grew- fortunately, my upcoming cruise is on an "off chemo" week). I've been evaluated for cyberknife on it before & was told that due to the rectal wall being very thin where my tumor is, there would be too great of a chance of it causing a hole/perforation in my rectum, which would result in emergency surgery and a colostomy. So I don't want to chance that. But, I told my onc something has to change- this is awful dealing with this. So, I am going to schedule a consultation at UCI in Irvine, CA with a Nanoknife consultant. Nanoknife uses electricity via a probe inserted into the tumor to ablate it, unlike cyberknife which uses radiation. My onc said he's not familiar enough w/ nanoknife to know or not if the same risk exists as with cyberknife. So I will have a consultation and find out if it could work for me or not. I will call tomorrow a.m. to set up the appt & have no idea how soon I can be seen there.

So far as my alternative treatments with the naturopathic doctors, my onc said he doesn't want me doing any more sauna sessions for now because he doesn't want me to lose anymore weight or become weakened stamina-wise. He did say, however, that I can stay on the supplements, as my bloodwork (liver enzymes, red blood count, platelets) all look great & perhaps it's my supplements that are helping with that. I personally think what helps most with the bloodwork is the chlorella and spirulina.
That's about all the info...

Take care,everyone!

Lisa