I've been staying with my three grand kids and two grand dogs since last Tuesday while the big kids are in Missouri for the wedding of one of my nephews. In addition, a friend from high school was visiting with us for several days; it was great catching up with Dee and she was a tremendous help around here.
As of this moment the kids are settled in their parents' bed watching a movie and the dogs are resting contentedly as well so it seemed a good time to begin and possibly even to finish this post.
From the title of this post you may have guessed that my test results were not what I was hoping for. The results were not necessarily bad but they were not great either. However, let me repeat myself, I have had worse results and so I am very thankful the results I did receive.
First of all, the PET scan indicated swollen lymph nodes on the left side of my chest. However, the CT scan which was performed the day following the PET scan did not pick up a problem and Dr. Patel did not find swollen nodes during the physical exam.
So, what does that mean? The first question Dr. Patel asked me is if I was feeling sick on the day of the PET scan - according to him possibly I was fighting off something. Forty-eight hours prior to the exam you are to refrain from lifting heavy things, exercising, or any strenuous activity. My forty-eight hours started on a Saturday - I remember focusing on the diet restrictions which began twenty-four hours prior to the test but I do not remember focusing on the physical activity. I usually clean house and shop for groceries on Saturdays so hopefully that is what caused the swollen lymph nodes.
Nothing else caused worry on either of the two exams so I can reason away the swollen lymph nodes however, the blood tests indicate that my tumor markers are up. According to Dr. Patel the threshold he has set is very low and I should not worry - it is just something for him to watch. Hm mm, I really prefer the appointments where he walks in smiling and pronounces me the picture of health.
Here is a little blurb from breastcancer.org concerning tumor marker tests:
But these cancer markers, unlike the more reliable "PSA" test for prostate cancer, have limitations. For example, a marker test that registers normal does not prove that you are cancer-free, nor does an elevated test prove that you have progression or recurrence of cancer.
The PET scan and tumor marker results mean that I will continue to have the monthly blood test to check the tumor markers and every three months the PET and CT scans will be repeated. I try not to think of all the radiation my body is receiving from the scans ...
I'm not sure if I mentioned on a previous post that during the port flush in June I experienced a burning sensation. Last Tuesday I told the nurse about the experience before she began to draw blood through the port; she was a little concerned so instead of first drawing blood she tried a small port flush. The burning was sharp and immediate, this time there was no doubt that something was wrong with the port.
Following the exam with Dr. Patel I was sent to Truxtun Radiology for a dye test to see if the port was leaking. The first problem found was that the line from the port was kinked and the port had to be "manipulated" in order to straighten the line as much as possible. It was both interesting and eerie to watch this on the screen. According to Dr. Williams who performed the dye test, the line from the port was too long for me and there was too much movement in the line which allowed it to twist and kink. Once he moved the kink out the iodine was injected into the port and an immediate "stain" appeared - a black ink spot surrounding the line. Yep, the line has a hole in it.
Tuesday the 15th I will return to CBCC to have the port accessed and also return later that morning to Truxtun Radiology for another dye test. Evidently the additional test will determine if the port also needs repair. At some point I will be referred to a surgeon - at this point it seems as though Dr. Patel would like for me to keep the port and the only decision is if the port can be repaired or if it needs to be replaced. I should know more later this week.
My job right now is to focus on the positive ... nothing has changed and that is a good thing.
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