. . Yet to be Determined.
This week was a bit of a roller coaster with doctor's appointments. In mid-December I had my bi-annual PET scan to note the changes in the cancer masses. I met with a nurse practitioner that week to get my results because my oncologist was on a two-week vacation. And then Christmas came. And then our trip to Florida. And this week I finally got around to seeing my surgeon to talk about the PET results and our next steps in treatment.
I was expecting to find out if surgery was an option and to make a plan that day. That's not what happened of course. The good news is that my colon and nearby lymph nodes show no signs of cancer. Other nearby organs are still clear too. My liver seems to be showing more activity (cancer metabolism). My lungs showed no activity but the small lesions are still there. Because of those pesky lesions, my surgeon is a hesitant to operate on my liver. In his words, "I only want to operate if it will help you." Makes sense. We decided that because of my age and the positive response to treatment thus far that we should continue to be aggressive in attacking the cancer. He was going to call my oncologist to discuss treatment options other than surgery. Mom and I left his office still not knowing what would be next but expecting resolution from the oncologist the next day.
When I met with my oncologist, I relayed information from the surgeon because (of course) the two had not talked. With surgery off the table for now, I am left with radiation and chemo as available options. We talked about going back on the high dose chemo for a bit and then moving to low dose maintenance chemo. He referred me to a radiology practice to find out if I am a candidate for radiation. I left his office with an appointment for a radiation consult and a back up plan if I am not a candidate for radiation.
I had ideas and tentative plans for treatment but no clear path. As I drove to my office mulling over the information and various conversations of the past 36 hours, I prayed for wisdom and guidance. I thanked God for getting me through the past 14 months and for the positive progress, and I gave my future treatment to him to resolve.
Two hours after I left the oncologist's office, I got a phone call from him. He had connected with the surgeon who has been conferring with other surgeons to see what might be possible for me. I was told to stay tuned. So I remain in a state of limbo. I will meet with the radiation doctor next week to see if radiation is an option. I'm waiting to hear from my surgeon to see if surgery is an option. I hope that things will become clear in the next week, and I will be on to the next leg of this journey. Until then, I occupy myself with things I can control as work goes on behind the scenes. Stay tuned and pray for the wisdom and insight of my medical team.
