Topic: Got a PET Scan coming up!

[Ken (OP)]

Thanks Steve for checking on me, it was great talking to you!  8) ...Steve called me last night.

This med that I'm on, "Votrient", takes a toll on my energy levels to the point of not having any at all... so I've not been on much lately. There's no word on how long that the treatment will be needed, the only thing that my medical team would say was, "... as long as it takes." 

Hope that all of you are having a Joyful Christmas Season. 

[Skhilled]

Take all of the time you need! I'm just glad you're still with us. LOL

[Ken (OP)]

Yes, me too. Being here is better than the alternative! 

[Skhilled]

LOL, that's what my grandfather always says. LOL

[Mick]

Thanks Steve for checking on me, it was great talking to you!  8) ...Steve called me last night.

This med that I'm on, "Votrient", takes a toll on my energy levels to the point of not having any at all... so I've not been on much lately. There's no word on how long that the treatment will be needed, the only thing that my medical team would say was, "... as long as it takes." 

Hope that all of you are having a Joyful Christmas Season. 

Ken, feeling for you mate, I hope it's not making you too uncomfortable.  Wishing you all the best, and hope you make a speedy recovery.

Happy Christmas to all at OFF.  Just had Christmas dinner, and about to burst.   

[Skhilled]

We are cooking dinner right now.

Merry Christmas to you and your family, Mick!

[Ken (OP)]

Having a brief, two day, respite from my chemo because the past three weeks have been brutal. 
Between the total fatigue and the constant, all day long diarrhea I've been pretty much incapacitated, so on this past Wednesday my doctor decided to cut my chemo dosage in half and gave me a two day break from taking the meds. Today I've been feeling so much more normal, but the new dosage starts tonight at bed time, so we'll see how it goes for tomorrow. 

And, so far I've lost 15 lbs and about a third of my hair. 

[Skhilled]

Losing weight is good and who needs hair? Look at Kojack and The Rock...

Glad you're feeling better.

[Ken (OP)]

Thanks Steve.

[Ken (OP)]

Prayers, wonderful Care Givers... and Votrient (Pazopanib)!!!

I need to be sending out a really big thank you for all the prayers and another big thank you to all of my care givers, especially to Kay because she helps me navigate through all this cancer mess.
And, to my Doctor, Heather H Shearer, MD... she got me set up with the chemo that has caused my cancer to shrink! 

Here is the quote of the results of my PET scan from earlier today:

Study Result
Impression

IMPRESSION:
1. Decrease in size of lung nodules
2. Decrease in size of soft tissue nodule in the right nephrectomy bed.
3. The tumor was shown to not be FDG avid on prior studies. More accurate measurements could be obtained with diagnostic CTs if clinically indicated.
Narrative

INDICATION: lung nodule, metastatic renal cancer

TECHNIQUE: 11.8 millicuries of F-18 FDG was administered intravenously. PET imaging was obtained from the skull base to the mid thighs. CT images were obtained for attenuation correction and localization purposes. Glucose level was 94 MG/DL. Time from
injection to scan was 69 minutes. Comparison 10/19/2017.

FINDINGS: Decreasing size of lung nodules. A right upper lobe nodule on image 113 measures 5 mm right of the 9 mm. A left base nodule on image 146 measures only 5 mm compared to 13 mm. No new nodules.

Right nephrectomy. The soft tissue nodule in the right nephrectomy bed measures 9 x 10 mm compared to 16 x 13 mm.

Small right adrenal nodule is stable. Gallstones. No biliary ductal dilatation.

[Ken (OP)]

And... some white hair! 

Chemo usually has some rather profound effects on ones body and mind and my experience surely bares that out. One rather interesting effect is my hair... a lot of it has fallen out and whats left is turning WHITE! 

[Skhilled]

Now, you're starting to look your age. LOL I'm so glad things are turning around!

Been quite busy lately trying to get my PC issues fixed and moving all of my sites (and yours) to a new server. So far, everything is now working with just a couple of minor issues that shouldn't affect the sites.

Damn Chrome is still a problem so I may have to trash it and reinstall it...

[Ken (OP)]

Needing some prayers about now... gots a new PET scan tomorrow @9:30AM to see if the Chemo has continued to shrink my cancers.

#prayingforgoodnews


#fingerscrossed
 

#begladwhenicangetoffthesemeds!!!

[Ken (OP)]

Well, the PET scan went off OK... now we just need to wait for the results.  8)

[Ken (OP)]

We gots the old "Good news, bad news" thing going on here! 

The good news... the cancers have not gotten any worse and there are no new cancers.
The bad news... the cancers have not gotten any better! 

I'll be going to see Dr Shearer on the 23rd and she will likely change the dosage on my meds, I remain hopeful because we already know that the Votrient works... just need to get the dosage right.