Whack! Good Results!

OK - really, it's GREAT news, but I wanted to undersell it. Of you don't read to the end, that's ok, but please SHARE this post so I can reach other cancer warriors! 

My MRI was last Wednesday and my follow up appointment isn’t until this upcoming Thursday. That’s an awfully long time for a cancer warrior to wait for results, but I have waited longer. I fully admit I get a little edgy while waiting. I am more likely to be sarcastic (how can anyone tell?!?) and short tempered. Even my dreams take a hard turn and I dream of some funky things as I wait.

See previous post about the MRI and side effects here: http://www.napkinnotesdad.com/blog/2014/5/28/the-waiting-game

I prefer to get results as I exit the machine, but I know that isn’t realistic. We’re not just looking to see what’s currently in my body. The good doctors need to compare the new images to the previous images and look for changes.

Thanks to modern technology, my medical app alerted me to an update in the system. “You have a new message! Please go to the app to view your message.”

What could that be?!? Wow! I was getting the results from my MRI before I even had a chance to hear from my doctor. In fact, the message had come in while I was asleep. I opened the app even before I left my bed.

Reason: renal cancer metastic hx of prostate cancer evaluate adrenal and liver lesions

INDICATION: renal cancer metastatic hx of prostate cancer evaluate adrenal and liver lesions

FINDINGS:

There has been significant improvement in the multiple enhancing lesions during arterial phase imaging in the liver. Many of the lesions are no longer evident. There are 2 lesions in the right lobe of the liver segment 6 which are smaller in size measuring 1.4 x 1 cm and previously measured 3 x 2.3 cm and measuring 1.3 x 1 cm and previously measuring 1.7 x 1.5 cm.

Overall size of the left lobe appears slightly smaller... No obvious filling defects are identified in the gallbladder although CT demonstrated suspicion of gallstones.. The spleen is normal. The pancreas is normal.

The tiny nodule in the right adrenal gland is no longer evident. Patient status post left adrenalectomy and left nephrectomy. Postop seroma is smaller.. Right kidney is within normal limits..

IMPRESSION:

1. Significant improvement in the hyperenhancing lesions in the liver many of which are no longer identified. The 2 which are still visible in the right lobe are smaller.

2. The 7 mm right adrenal nodule is not identified on today's study.

3. Postoperative seroma left adrenal bed is smaller.

Let me sum this up.  

WHACK! We’re winning!

The lesion on my adrenal gland isn’t seen. This is the second scan that we couldn’t find this.

The lesions we had originally observed on my liver numbered from 3-5. We couldn’t tell exactly how many.  There are just two now. Those two are significantly smaller. In case you didn’t know, this is where all guys appreciate that smaller is better!

Yes, I’ll likely continue taking this medicine. Scratch that. I will continue to take this medicine. We can hold on to Plan B (and Plans C through Z) for later. I’ll have another scan at the end of summer.

These results make taking this medicine worth it! Thank goodness!

Until then, let’s celebrate this win together. Will you please share this post? I want to reach as many cancer patients as possible. We need to stick together and support each other.

WHACK!

Again, thank you for joining me on this journey.