A clearer picture

I might as well apologize before I get started.  This post will be information packed and I'll do my best to explain everything but its still all swirling around in my brain freshly as I haven't had the appropriate amount of time to fully absorb this all. 

Last week Monday (8/12)  I had a CT scan. This is the standard way they check progress at least for my case.  So all week it has been wait and watch.  Today was my Doctor's appointment to go over the scan results but in my case I read it when I have access to it since we all want to know what it says and several of us are nervous until we get the information.  It was Friday afternoon when we got the results of the scan.  Leah came into my office exclaiming that I got a test result.  Sure enough I checked my phone and once logging into the app I had full access to the Report that the Radiologist writes based on the imaging.

Most of this report was good from the standpoint things were stable.  There were two things to note.  First the size of the tumor, and second there was a new location something was spotted.

The size of the tumor was compared to a scan I had in November (post chemo and Pre Surgery)  The report said the tumor compared to the November scan and was stable.  If you read the blog regularly in November the Size of the Tumor decresed and then after a break I had surgery to remove "Half" the tumor.  Yet the report read as if it was similar to the size of the tumor on Nov 30.  When we asked Doc about this she is willing to talk with the Radiology Doc about what he meant, however there is a tiny little phrase in the line stating "PostSurgical changes....."  meaning this isn't the same as November since it was operated on.  I have more to mention about the tumor which will come later.  Hang with me please.

A new location was spotted. This is along the liver capsule which I learned today is the rim around the outside of the liver  There is a ligament that ties your liver to the abdominal wall which is normally located between left and right lobe.  Since I really only have a left lobe it's really difficult to tell where that ligament lies that is the location where this new thing was found.  What is it you ask?  Well according to the report it is "Possibly subcapsular fluid indeterminate in etiology, probably less likely the tumor spreading along the capsule"  Which really says this is either fluid or tumor spreading.

Today my Oncology Doctor wanted to schedule a PET scan for 12 weeks from now.  Leah and I both asked for something sooner.  They walk a tight rope of what scans they can throw at you without giving you more radiation.  What everyone in the exam room agreed to is what follows.  Doc will present my case at Tumor Board on Thursday morning.  During the next week or so I will be having an MRI.  Then in roughly 2 weeks I will meet with my Oncologist again to talk over what Tumor Board had to say and go over the results of the MRI.  The MRI will give a clearer picture of what we are all looking at.  The MRI has more detail.  Likely in 2 weeks my Oncologist will order a PET CT to be taken in 8 weeks.  This test will tell where there is activity.  Between these tests we should get a good Idea of what is where and what it is doing.

At the end of the appointment we walked out and down to the ground floor and waited outside for them to bring around our vehicle.  While waiting Leah talked with her Mom and then hand the phone to me to give detailed information.  Walking across the street was my Radiation Oncology doctor.  We had a good chat with her outside the building about the details we learned and she said she was going to start looking at the report and wait for the MRI.  She will then want to meet to discuss what radiation did indeed accomplish. 

So again we are in a wait and watch kind of time until the tests come back and clear up the remining questions.  We'll post again after the next Doctor's meeting.