Tuesday I went to see Dr. Chang and he said the CaT scan looks GREAT. They are able to see the stoma area and the hernia has not changed size, so that's good. There is NO EVIDENCE of cancer of any type at this time.
Prognosis: Prepare for recurrence, hope for no recurrence and long term remission.
Dr. Chang says statistical likelihood of recurrence is "high". He said over 50%, but with every 3 month scan that is clear, likelihood goes down.
He wants to continue CaT scans every 3 months for the next 18 months or so, an if all is clear, we will move to every 6 months or every year after that.
If something shows up during the next 18 months, we will discuss likelihood of metastatic malignant disease, and subsequent treatment at that time.
That said, he encouraged me to prepare my body in case of the latter. He says the better health I am in the better I will be able to fight cancer at that point and the more treatment options there will be.
Please pray for me to have the strength, wisdom, and will power to lose some weight. He said in the long run 20 - 30% of my body weight would be good...which would get me back to what I weighed in college.
I think I would be happy with that! It won't be easy.
I have to go to his office monthly and get the Power Port flushed and give blood, so I will be able to weigh in at that time.
My tentative goal is to lose 15 - 20 lbs in the next 3 months before my mid-November CaT scan and subsequent office visit...
Prognosis: Prepare for recurrence, hope for no recurrence and long term remission.
Dr. Chang says statistical likelihood of recurrence is "high". He said over 50%, but with every 3 month scan that is clear, likelihood goes down.
He wants to continue CaT scans every 3 months for the next 18 months or so, an if all is clear, we will move to every 6 months or every year after that.
If something shows up during the next 18 months, we will discuss likelihood of metastatic malignant disease, and subsequent treatment at that time.
That said, he encouraged me to prepare my body in case of the latter. He says the better health I am in the better I will be able to fight cancer at that point and the more treatment options there will be.
Please pray for me to have the strength, wisdom, and will power to lose some weight. He said in the long run 20 - 30% of my body weight would be good...which would get me back to what I weighed in college.
I think I would be happy with that! It won't be easy.
I have to go to his office monthly and get the Power Port flushed and give blood, so I will be able to weigh in at that time.
My tentative goal is to lose 15 - 20 lbs in the next 3 months before my mid-November CaT scan and subsequent office visit...
