PET/CT - *****UPDATE*****

Buckwirth said:

Two Updates
4/13

My regular Oncologist called with the test results. They fall in the less bad category, the cancer is basically where it was a year ago when I was diagnosed, lots of lymph activity, but no spread to major organs. In a way this is good news, I have bought a year.

A Year. So what does a year cost?

In time:
Seven weeks of radiation. 24 weeks of chemotherapy, though to be fair, this was one week on, one week off, and I did well in the off weeks. So lets call this 12 weeks. The six weeks of radiation led to pain, illness and surgery, so add another 14 weeks.

Total: 33 weeks, leaving about 19 "good" weeks in the last year. They were good weeks, each one precious. To be fair, this does not add up the good days, hours, minutes that occur despite treatment, even in the hospital there were good moments.

In dollars:
I am well insured, so my costs are minimal, but what did this year cost my insurance company?

Something over $200,000. Somehow I feel like I got most of my premiums back now. This next year I can collect the interest! :-)

Side effects from the treatments have mostly been minimal, and I have been lucky enough to be able to work throughout (the company I work for has been wonderful).

So, with this visit to USC tomorrow I start anew. New year, new plumbing, new chemo, and I try to buy another year.

**************************************

4/14

Just got back from USC. Dr. Iqbal is wonderful, very straightforward with almost no sweetener.

They had the written report from the scan, and I got a chance to read it before we met. A little worse than I thought, with lymph involvement from the esophagus to the pelvis, but no sign of organ tumors.

I have a trip to Germany/Italy planned for 5/15. When we get back I will either start Erbitux/Irinotecan or be enrolled in a trial at USC. I want to read about the trial before I make a decision.

Thanks everyone! I really do love all of you!

Blake

Blake
I am sorry to hear the results were worse than you thought. I am currently on irinotecan + erbitux. I hope you have a wonderful trip + fantastic results from whichever treatment you choose.

Buckwirth said:

Two Updates
4/13

My regular Oncologist called with the test results. They fall in the less bad category, the cancer is basically where it was a year ago when I was diagnosed, lots of lymph activity, but no spread to major organs. In a way this is good news, I have bought a year.

A Year. So what does a year cost?

In time:
Seven weeks of radiation. 24 weeks of chemotherapy, though to be fair, this was one week on, one week off, and I did well in the off weeks. So lets call this 12 weeks. The six weeks of radiation led to pain, illness and surgery, so add another 14 weeks.

Total: 33 weeks, leaving about 19 "good" weeks in the last year. They were good weeks, each one precious. To be fair, this does not add up the good days, hours, minutes that occur despite treatment, even in the hospital there were good moments.

In dollars:
I am well insured, so my costs are minimal, but what did this year cost my insurance company?

Something over $200,000. Somehow I feel like I got most of my premiums back now. This next year I can collect the interest! :-)

Side effects from the treatments have mostly been minimal, and I have been lucky enough to be able to work throughout (the company I work for has been wonderful).

So, with this visit to USC tomorrow I start anew. New year, new plumbing, new chemo, and I try to buy another year.

**************************************

4/14

Just got back from USC. Dr. Iqbal is wonderful, very straightforward with almost no sweetener.

They had the written report from the scan, and I got a chance to read it before we met. A little worse than I thought, with lymph involvement from the esophagus to the pelvis, but no sign of organ tumors.

I have a trip to Germany/Italy planned for 5/15. When we get back I will either start Erbitux/Irinotecan or be enrolled in a trial at USC. I want to read about the trial before I make a decision.

Thanks everyone! I really do love all of you!

Blake

Sorry
Hey, Blake.

I'm sorry the news was not as good as you were hoping for. Enjoy your trip and then see where you go from there. Praying you have a great time on the trip and figure out the best way to meet the BEAST head on.

*hugs*
Gail

wolfen said:

Blake
Sorry the results were not better and am hoping the doctor will be able to get things under control after your wonderful trip to Germany. Be sure to take lots of pictures and have a great time.

Your Friend,

Wolfen

Blake, You've been through a he!! of a lot worse.......
and so have a lot of others in here and most of which are still here...Don't count on a year, count on a lifetime, and plan the same way....You quit planning, you quit living.....you and I both know that we are both stronger than that...and you nor I want anything candy coated. Just throw it out there and we'll deal with it as it comes. You know good and well that this will be gone, wiped out. Gotta believe that bud, nope, leaving here isn't an option. You aren't going anywhere so get a game plan and get it done and we'll move on with life.......buzz

Buzzard said:

Blake, You've been through a he!! of a lot worse.......
and so have a lot of others in here and most of which are still here...Don't count on a year, count on a lifetime, and plan the same way....You quit planning, you quit living.....you and I both know that we are both stronger than that...and you nor I want anything candy coated. Just throw it out there and we'll deal with it as it comes. You know good and well that this will be gone, wiped out. Gotta believe that bud, nope, leaving here isn't an option. You aren't going anywhere so get a game plan and get it done and we'll move on with life.......buzz

Have a wonderful trip,
Have a wonderful trip, enjoy!!! Sorry it wasn't as good as you hoped, but no new tumours is great news.

Buckwirth said:

Two Updates
4/13

My regular Oncologist called with the test results. They fall in the less bad category, the cancer is basically where it was a year ago when I was diagnosed, lots of lymph activity, but no spread to major organs. In a way this is good news, I have bought a year.

A Year. So what does a year cost?

In time:
Seven weeks of radiation. 24 weeks of chemotherapy, though to be fair, this was one week on, one week off, and I did well in the off weeks. So lets call this 12 weeks. The six weeks of radiation led to pain, illness and surgery, so add another 14 weeks.

Total: 33 weeks, leaving about 19 "good" weeks in the last year. They were good weeks, each one precious. To be fair, this does not add up the good days, hours, minutes that occur despite treatment, even in the hospital there were good moments.

In dollars:
I am well insured, so my costs are minimal, but what did this year cost my insurance company?

Something over $200,000. Somehow I feel like I got most of my premiums back now. This next year I can collect the interest! :-)

Side effects from the treatments have mostly been minimal, and I have been lucky enough to be able to work throughout (the company I work for has been wonderful).

So, with this visit to USC tomorrow I start anew. New year, new plumbing, new chemo, and I try to buy another year.

**************************************

4/14

Just got back from USC. Dr. Iqbal is wonderful, very straightforward with almost no sweetener.

They had the written report from the scan, and I got a chance to read it before we met. A little worse than I thought, with lymph involvement from the esophagus to the pelvis, but no sign of organ tumors.

I have a trip to Germany/Italy planned for 5/15. When we get back I will either start Erbitux/Irinotecan or be enrolled in a trial at USC. I want to read about the trial before I make a decision.

Thanks everyone! I really do love all of you!

Blake

Update
Hey Blake, thinking of you and I hope you have a great trip before you start the chemo.

all the best, Leslie

Praying
Praying things are better than you think!

*hugs*
Gail