2nd PET Scan Results

 

Soooo yesterday was a LONG day. Someone remind me not to schedule back-to-back appointments out of town when the first one is a NPO from midnight the night before. It was after 3pm when I finally got to have a real meal. I was almost hangry and that would NOT have been good for Paul as he was driving me back from Charleston and I am already a card carrying back seat driver on steroids without the addition of Hangryitis lol 

Anyway... the lack of food situation was especially worrisome when I arrived at my second appointment, checked in, and overheard some ladies in the waiting room complaining that their appointments had been at 11am and they STILL weren't into a room yet.My appointment was for 1:30! Luckily for me (not them) they were seeing another doc in the practice, and I was called back right on time. 

The official results of my PET scan are that the cancer is still in just my esophagus. It has lessened in degree and activity though which indicates a positive response/result from the chemo/radiation. This is a HUGE answer to prayer, and we are proceeding forward with the surgery. Once I got home, the PET scan had dropped into my mychart health record, and the doctor who had read it had been really thorough noting lots of things. The medical jargon was a bit confusing, and I panicked a bit, so I didn't want to post my results until I had time to speak with my surgeon and ask a few clarifying questions. They were not worried about anything really and said they are pleased with the results and want to move forward on this journey and get this aggressive cancer out!  The gold standard (and everyone is different) for treatment is chemo/radiation followed by surgery and then maybe chemo and/or immunotherapy on the backside of surgery to make sure there isn't any lingering cancer cells at work. Only doing the chemo/radiation portion leaves statistically an 85% chance of recurrence and usually metastasis. Surgery is off the table as an option if the cancer spreads. 

So, this scan was truly a big deal, and I am so grateful to God that my results look favorable, that we can proceed, and that there is even a surgical option that has been developed to give those of us affected a chance.  I am also so so very much in awe at how comforted I felt during the actual testing. God shows up in our valleys. I am a witness and have a testimony to speak about that. It brings me such peace to know...He is ALWAYS there. No matter what we face. No matter how big it is. No matter the outcome. We dont ever have to face anything alone.  Knowing this, I know Im going to be ok. I don't know yet what that ok is going to really look like, but I know the One who does, and He is trustworthy to be allowed to guide me through it. 

Next Steps

 It looks like my surgery will be March 3rd in Charleston. It is pretty much an all-day procedure and barring no really serious complications or setbacks, they said I would probably be released about a week later. It is an intense procedure and he also said I would come out of surgery with 5 tubes and there is a chance I will need to remain ventilated for a bit of time. It also is going to be drastically life changing as I will basically lose all of my esophagus and a third to half of my stomach. It is all overwhelming to say the least but...I will get through it the way you get through anything... a step at the time and with God holding my right hand.