Mixed Bag PET/CT update

Greetings to all!

I wish that I had definitive news to tell you. I write this all down to you because it helps me gain perspective. I have been feeling very good, the best in seven years. And yesterday and today, my tests were a mixed bag with knowns and unknowns. My rectal exam went very well. My GI surgeon says that "all's great!" My CEA, or tumor marker as measured in blood tests, is in normal ranges and has actually been going down (0.9 at this reading). My tumor marker was slightly elevated at diagnosis so my doctor considers it an accurate marker of tumor activity for me. The PET/CT has inconclusive results. Everywhere but the lungs look great but there are 3 nodules that grew (to 5mm, 6mm, and 9mm in size so still quite small) from previous PET/CTs. Only the 9mm lit up at 2.8 SUV.

The 9mm nodule can be biopsied, if possible. Factors influencing that are its location (near a major vessel) and that it is small and could be difficult to find. My doctor also said that biopsies will confirm cancer but cannot rule cancer out of nothing is found. Doing the biopsy requires a thoracic surgeon.

What now? Well, there's no rush. I see my other medical oncologist in Casper on July 1 for my regular 2 month check-up and can go over all this in more detail with her. I will have my follow-up CT September 3. I have an appointment on July 12 with a thoracic surgeon at the U of U. I still need to think over more whether I want to go through an invasive procedure which can have inconclusive results that gain me maybe a month knowing for sure..or not, though I probably will still meet with him. My complementary medicine team of acupuncturist, naturopath, and internal medicine/anthroposophical doctor have all been notified and are already working adjustments to ongoing treatments and plans. I rest easier knowing I'm in good hands with all my medical team.

In the meantime, I will continue on with my plans for the summer and engage in my daily life fully as I have been: riding, weight lifting, walking, working at WMI, playing with border collie, projects with my husband Dave and enjoying beloved friends, to name just a few delights. I have quite a bit of vacation time coming and was planning to ride our horses and go fishing in the mountains a lot, if it ever quits snowing and flooding. (Fremont County is experiencing 50 year flood levels and the governor has declared it a federal disaster area. Check out Fremont County Flood 2010 on Facebook for photos and videos.)

My love to all of you out there, and thank you for your continued support and care and love while I travel on this path. This excerpt by Ranier Maria Rilke still rings true right now:

"So you mustn't be frightened, if a sadness rises in front of you, larger than any you have ever seen; if an anxiety, like light and cloud-shadows, moves over your hands and over everything you do. You must realize that something is happening to you, that life has not forgotten you, that it holds you in its hand and will not let you fall."

all the best, Leslie