Just got the test results from the HCG test (Philippines). It is at encouraging that the measurment is the same as the test in June. We are going to try to do this test every 8 weeks or so to monitor it "serially" as the doctor suggests below.
Your latest HCG test result on 11-6-09 is: Index +/- 4,(52.2 Int. Units) This is within the positive range. It shows no change as compared to the last result on 6-9-09(52.2 IU). Results can reach as much as 10,000 int. units or more especially in testicular cancer, some uterine cancers(H mole and choriocarcinoma) and germ cell tumor. However, most other cancers have result from 50 to 80 or 90 int. units. The test cannot stage the cancer but when done on a serial basis, say once a month or once every two months, the progress of the condition can be monitored.
INTERPRETATION of READINGS
of Chorionic Gonadotrophin Urinalyses
Index Int. Units Reading Interpretation
0 zero (-) Negative
1-3 1-49 (+/-) Doubtful
4 50-400 (+) Faintly Positive
5 401-999 (++) Definitely Positive
6 1000-3000 (+++) Moderately Positive
7 3001-5000 (++++) Markedly Positive
8 5001-10,000 (+++++) Very Markedly Positive
9 over 10,000 (++++++) Excessively Positive
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Monday, November 2, 2009
Round 3
Just so ya'll know what's up...November 17 I'm getting another PET/CT scan to see what the status of the cell mass is. We should know the results by about Nov 24. We're hoping to see shrinkage in the cell mass and a lower activity level than the PET/CT in September. That would be encouraging. We're also really hoping to see no spread and no other potential "hot spots".
Also, we have sent in the HCG urine test to the Philippines. We're expecting the results for this to be in this week sometime.
Will post again when this comes in. Until then...be safe (but have fun)!
Also, we have sent in the HCG urine test to the Philippines. We're expecting the results for this to be in this week sometime.
Will post again when this comes in. Until then...be safe (but have fun)!
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Watching and Waiting
Just a quick entry here...
I'm sending an HCG test to the Philippines today (see earlier posts for description). Should get the results back (via email) in about 2 weeks. Last 2 tests were in the low 50's...40's means "cancer free".
I'm also scheduled for another PET/CT scan on Nov. 17. We'll know the result of that the next week when I go to the Oncologist on Nov 24.
Praying for the continued shrinkage of size and activity of the tumor!
I'm sending an HCG test to the Philippines today (see earlier posts for description). Should get the results back (via email) in about 2 weeks. Last 2 tests were in the low 50's...40's means "cancer free".
I'm also scheduled for another PET/CT scan on Nov. 17. We'll know the result of that the next week when I go to the Oncologist on Nov 24.
Praying for the continued shrinkage of size and activity of the tumor!
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
How's your habitus?
I'm just going to start by typing exactly the "findings" section from the most recent PET/CT scan...
Findings: Tracer distribution in the head and neck appears normal. Tracer distribution in the chest is also normal. No tracer avid pulmonary nodules are seen. Prominent lymph nodes are present in the mediastinum which are not metabolically active. There is heterogeneous uptake of tracer in the liver. Some of this is due to limited resolution secondary to the patient's body habitus. No definite focal abnormalities are seen. Again noted is a mass in the leftward and posterior wall of the rectum. The mass demonstrates increased tracer activity with maximal standardized uptake value of 8.7. This is significantly decreased from the prior study in which the SUV was 21.5. The size has also decreased from approximately 2.9 x 5.3 cm to 1.8 x 3.4 cm. No definite lymphadenopathy is evident in the abdomen or pelvis.
That is to say, sometimes doctors say things in strange ways...c'mon doc, just tell me I'm fat, OK :)
So, since 1/2/09 (the last PET scan...I've had CT scans since, but not PET) the SUV value has gone to almost 1/3 and the size of the inflamatory mass has shrunk to about 1/3 the size. This doesn't mean we're out of the woods yet, though, because the Oncologist says he likes to see the SUV under 2.5 and not be able to see the mass at all, but of course it could just be mostly scar tissue... He still recommends we discuss surgery with the surgeon, but he does not recommend any Chemo at this time because there is no spread and the Chemo is not as effective on the radiated mass because the blood vessels are severely compromised around it due to the radiation.
So, the options are: A) Have surgery to remove the tumor (basically the same risks as before) B) Wait 2 months and have another PET scan to see what the state of the tumor is at that time.
We are not taking this lightly and are definitely considering the options. Whatever we do, I am continuing with the Budwig and suplements. We also plan to send in for another HGC test in the Philippines.
Please pray for us as we make decisions that we would have wisdom to make the right decisions for me and us and that we would have grace to accept the outcome of the decisions whatever that may be.
God is good!
As always, feel free to ask me questions if you have them.
Findings: Tracer distribution in the head and neck appears normal. Tracer distribution in the chest is also normal. No tracer avid pulmonary nodules are seen. Prominent lymph nodes are present in the mediastinum which are not metabolically active. There is heterogeneous uptake of tracer in the liver. Some of this is due to limited resolution secondary to the patient's body habitus. No definite focal abnormalities are seen. Again noted is a mass in the leftward and posterior wall of the rectum. The mass demonstrates increased tracer activity with maximal standardized uptake value of 8.7. This is significantly decreased from the prior study in which the SUV was 21.5. The size has also decreased from approximately 2.9 x 5.3 cm to 1.8 x 3.4 cm. No definite lymphadenopathy is evident in the abdomen or pelvis.
That is to say, sometimes doctors say things in strange ways...c'mon doc, just tell me I'm fat, OK :)
So, since 1/2/09 (the last PET scan...I've had CT scans since, but not PET) the SUV value has gone to almost 1/3 and the size of the inflamatory mass has shrunk to about 1/3 the size. This doesn't mean we're out of the woods yet, though, because the Oncologist says he likes to see the SUV under 2.5 and not be able to see the mass at all, but of course it could just be mostly scar tissue... He still recommends we discuss surgery with the surgeon, but he does not recommend any Chemo at this time because there is no spread and the Chemo is not as effective on the radiated mass because the blood vessels are severely compromised around it due to the radiation.
So, the options are: A) Have surgery to remove the tumor (basically the same risks as before) B) Wait 2 months and have another PET scan to see what the state of the tumor is at that time.
We are not taking this lightly and are definitely considering the options. Whatever we do, I am continuing with the Budwig and suplements. We also plan to send in for another HGC test in the Philippines.
Please pray for us as we make decisions that we would have wisdom to make the right decisions for me and us and that we would have grace to accept the outcome of the decisions whatever that may be.
God is good!
As always, feel free to ask me questions if you have them.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Learning to be (a) patient
My visit Monday with my Oncologist was a lesson in being (a) patient! I got there at 1:50 for my 2:00 appointment, got my blood drawn (they do this every visit) at 2:10, then waited until 3:00 until they put me in the exam room. At 3:40 the doctor came in...next time maybe I should just show up at 3:30...
We talked about the last CaT scan and he said there is no visible sign of cancer. However, this doesn't mean there isn't microscopic cell growth somewhere in my body.
He said it is tough to tell what the next step should be because their studies don't follow the path we've chosen. People in my situation who are part of a study go for surgery. Since we didn't follow the "normal protocol" the statistical numbers are fuzzier.
He said had I gone for surgery, he would suggest doing a 4-month round of Chemo where I go for Chemo for 2 days every 2 weeks for 8 cycles. He said that usually gives a 30-40% better chance of non-recurrence.
He said he doesn't know how he would work with Dr. Dramov (my Naturopathic doctor) because there just aren't the studies available in that genre of medicine (because the FDA doesn't back it and neither does Big Pharma).
Anyway, we will schedule another PET/CT scan in the next few weeks and then see Dr. Chang again the end of Septemeber. We need to make a decision whether to go through more Chemo or just to monitor at this point. Basically, if I decide to do more Chemo, I need to start sometime in October.
We will be researching the effects of the particular Chemo he suggests using and see if it sounds like a good idea at this point. Right now, I'm kinda 50/50 because I know some of the potential effects from reading before, but I didn't have any besides fatigue and diarhea before.
Please pray for us that we will have wisdom in this tough decision.
We talked about the last CaT scan and he said there is no visible sign of cancer. However, this doesn't mean there isn't microscopic cell growth somewhere in my body.
He said it is tough to tell what the next step should be because their studies don't follow the path we've chosen. People in my situation who are part of a study go for surgery. Since we didn't follow the "normal protocol" the statistical numbers are fuzzier.
He said had I gone for surgery, he would suggest doing a 4-month round of Chemo where I go for Chemo for 2 days every 2 weeks for 8 cycles. He said that usually gives a 30-40% better chance of non-recurrence.
He said he doesn't know how he would work with Dr. Dramov (my Naturopathic doctor) because there just aren't the studies available in that genre of medicine (because the FDA doesn't back it and neither does Big Pharma).
Anyway, we will schedule another PET/CT scan in the next few weeks and then see Dr. Chang again the end of Septemeber. We need to make a decision whether to go through more Chemo or just to monitor at this point. Basically, if I decide to do more Chemo, I need to start sometime in October.
We will be researching the effects of the particular Chemo he suggests using and see if it sounds like a good idea at this point. Right now, I'm kinda 50/50 because I know some of the potential effects from reading before, but I didn't have any besides fatigue and diarhea before.
Please pray for us that we will have wisdom in this tough decision.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
No News is Good News
We don't have a lot of news on the Cancer front at this time. I am still following the Protocol and I have a meeting with my primary oncologist, Dr. Chang, on Aug 31.
The Barn is coming along, and everybody wants pics, but I don't have time to take or download, but maybe in the next few days...
For anybody who doesn't know yet...Jeanah is soon going to be re-employed at Integrated Services where she worked previously. She will again be the "best receptionist in the world" there. Although we will both be working there, we will not be carpooling as I will remain on the 4:30 am shift into the foreseable future (by my choice).
Please pray we would know what the "next step" is in the cancer treatment process and for wisdom for us and my doctors.
God Bless!
The Barn is coming along, and everybody wants pics, but I don't have time to take or download, but maybe in the next few days...
For anybody who doesn't know yet...Jeanah is soon going to be re-employed at Integrated Services where she worked previously. She will again be the "best receptionist in the world" there. Although we will both be working there, we will not be carpooling as I will remain on the 4:30 am shift into the foreseable future (by my choice).
Please pray we would know what the "next step" is in the cancer treatment process and for wisdom for us and my doctors.
God Bless!
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Yes, We're still here...
I'm sorry I haven't posted in a while. We're still here! I'm feeling quite well and we're building the barn in a frenzy. We have some help here this week and we're about ready to put up the roof trusses.
As far as the cancer goes, we're in a wait and see mode. I'm still doing the Budwig protocol and trying to eat as healthy as possible and taking supplements.
The last CaT scan showed no cancer growth or spread. I'm feeling as well as I've felt in several years.
I'm going to try to blog on at least a weekly basis whether there is something new to report or not.
Love ya'll!
As far as the cancer goes, we're in a wait and see mode. I'm still doing the Budwig protocol and trying to eat as healthy as possible and taking supplements.
The last CaT scan showed no cancer growth or spread. I'm feeling as well as I've felt in several years.
I'm going to try to blog on at least a weekly basis whether there is something new to report or not.
Love ya'll!
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