December Scans

I just wanted to take a moment to update all of you on the results of my 9 month post-transplant scans. These three month check-ups have become part of the nerve-wrecking pattern that my life has now assumed, at least the next few year. Not fun, but important and unavoidible. This Decembers scan was especially taxing because it was this time last year that my scans showed what would become a relapse. I have been feeling pretty good for the most part, with my energy and clarity of mind returning almost to pre-treatment levels. My lungs and sense of touch are still not back and although they are not expected to ever fully recover, I am finding ways around the limits they impose.

With that said, there was a small spot that "lit" up of my PET/CT scan that is a possible cause for concern. A PET scan, in simple terms, measures metabolic "heat" and some things, like cancer, infections etc. give off more heat then "normal" tissue. This hot spot could be a number things. It could be a simple infection, that will resolve itself, it could be the natural regrowth of nodes after their being destroyed by therapies, and, of course, it could be cancer. This spot is very very small, less then 2 cm, and in a people with not Lymphoma history would be a matter of no concern, but for someone as "special" as I am (haha) it causes at very least a raised eye-brow- the first thought being cancer.

The only way to know for sure what is going on is to remove the node and have it biopsied. This would require a full blown surgery and as much as I want a sweet new scar the idea of yet another surgery is not all that appealing. All of my doctors seem to agree that this single small node, while cause for concern, it not worth the risk of surgery at this time. The plan is to wait about 6 weeks, repeat the scans and see if the node has grown or disappeared. Needless to say this is less then an ideal answer, spending the next month and a half in a (another) cancer limbo is not really a productive, happy, even state of mind, but this seems to be the best solution at the present time. Thank you so much for all of you that have been there for me through out all this and I'll sure to keep all of you up to speed as soon as I know more.

Take care and GOOD LUCK!

All the best,
Darrel

"For last year's words belong to last year's language. And next year's
words await another voice. (...) And to make an end is to make a
beginning."
-- T.S. Eliot