Chemo Pet

Today I have a PET scan to see progress of chemo. The CT I had in the hospital showed no change although Dr. Patt is not convinced of the results simple because they differ from her clinical testing. The hope and expectation is that the tumor the CT picked up is a sack of necrosis (dead cancer cells). The result of the PET scan will be discussed in my doc appointment tomorrow morning which will also determine the next step of treatment. If there is necrosis then I will continue with chemo tomorrow as planned. They will admit me to the hospital tomorrow (Wednesday, June 3, 2009) to administer chemo. Hopefully I will only be there a few days as opposed to weeks! If the PET scan comes back that there is no change, radiation and surgery will be the Western next step. I am trying to avoid BOTH in that next step!!! Radiation is VERY damaging to the mouth with long term effects which can be very devastating to live with. Surgery on the tongue is tricky… the tongue, being a muscle, is like a whole bunch of rubber bands being stretch underneath the mucosa (thin outer later). Once you cut into the muscle, the fibers (rubber bands) retract. If the surgeon misses one active cancer cell, wherever the tainted retracted fiber lands, cancer can develop in that area. The form of cancer I have is very rare and there is not much research going into this particular area of head & neck cancer. So even if I get the best of the best surgeons to do the job, there will still be a lot of educated guessing going on rather than moves directed by fact and proven experience.

Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers over the next few days. To recap, I’m hoping the PET scan results in a large percentage of necrosis if not total necrosis! I will post again tomorrow with the results of the doc visit along with hospital info.

Thank you all for your love and support. I hope this posting finds you and yours happy and healthy.