Awaiting PET scan results...

Hello everyone!

I haven't sent an update in awhile partly because I wanted to continue to believe whole-heartedly in the last blog that there is good news on my war with cancer. Everytime I logged on, I saw the title "Good News to Report" and couldn't bring myself to remove it just yet.

The truth is that we don't have "good news" anymore and let me update you all on what has happened so far. After the CT of my abdomen and pelvis revealed no actual cancerous tumors, it was further scrutinized by my 2 oncologists (who did not give me the initial results) to find some suspicious spots on my lungs (the CT of my abdomen catches just the lower parts of the lungs) and "thickening in the pelvic area" that they were unable to explain. I had a CT of my chest done on October 3rd and on Wednesday October 8th, my radiation oncologist informed me that there were 6-7 nodules in my lungs that were cancerous. Unfortunately, I was alone at this appointment and was quite upset but was able to go to Marnie's for the rest of the day and process this with her....she is an amazing friend.

What this means is that in order to proceed with an appropriate treatment plan, he wanted to have me do a PET scan to fully confirm the results and have 2 tests that confirmed that the cancer had spread. I successfully completed the PET scan yesterday which took 3 and 1/2 hours and Mark and I will go in tomorrow afternoon to have the oncologist talk to us about the results and how to proceed. I blogged before about my previous PET scan from May 8th if anyone wants to check that out and see what this test was all about. It was pretty cool as they were able to show me the images from my previous PET and highlighted the squatter on the computer. The PET is interesting in that they analyze its results simultaneously with the CT scan and can look at your organs (or tumors) side by side in two different images.

Although we are doing our best to remain positive, it is never a very good sign when your oncologist calls a nurse and social worker down to be present during a time when results are read.

On a happy note, I had a wonderful time last weekend in crazy Las Vegas where 24 people came out to celebrate my (and Jami Clark's) 30th birthdays! I will post a fun picture on the blog from our trip. In the meantime, I am just resting and awaiting anxiously the news for tomorrow. We will let everyone know when we know....

Thank you to everyone for your positive support and love....it means the world to Mark and I.

Love, Hugs and Good Health!