MRI results -- a bit of good news

I had an MRI today. The process was miserable. The headrest pad was too thin and the back of my head really started aching before we even got to the contrast dye portion of the test. FINALLY we got there and I only had about 10 minutes left. Then about a minute from the end, the tech comes on and says the contrast did not inject so we had to start that section over. Another 11 minutes on the table with no break. I was pretty miserable. As it was, I finished about 2:30 and had to be at the cyberknife Doc's appointment at 3:00. I rushed over there with a little time to spare.

The reward was that my head tumor is STILL "rock solid stable". Sweet! What I love about this Doc is that she always takes the time to answer questions and show me the scans to explain everything thoroughly. She confirmed for me that there has been no change in the spleen tumor. So only the hip and a tiny 1 cm tumor on the right side had grown any. She was very positive that this round of radiation would either kill or send into another long remission the tumor in my hip. She was also confident that I wouldn't have chronic pain there. She said I should take it easy, but it should be feeling better once radiation is finished.

What's more, she thinks the hormoe therapy is still being effective. She said sometimes if you have multiple tumors some will grow while others are responding to the treatment. She suggested asking the oncologist to delay chemo until the end of summer. "Scan it again in 10 weeks and take it from there." I'm sure I'll bring that up. :)

All in all a big mood booster when I really needed it. :-)

One Week Down, Four to Go

Finished my first week of radiation today and I can sure tell. My hip has been much sorer, even by the weekend. It was really bugging me last night and I had to up the dose of ibuprofen and make sure I stay on top of it. I do remember it getting worse when I did this back in 2008, but then it the pain went away completely. What makes me nervous was the doc's prediction that I would have chronic pain after this. Just how much remains to be seen. So that has me stressed out a little.

The sessions themselves are more trying, too. Lying still when my back hurts for 20 minutes wears me out each morning. Four weeks seems like a long time today.

First Radiation Session

This was something new today. I'm doing IMRT which is kindof like a crude cyberknife. Instead of 2 or 3 long blasts, they do a series of short blasts from one position, shifting the plates in the machine each time. Then on to position 2 for another series of short bursts. A total of 6 short burst sessions. Total time on the table is something like 20 minutes. The position I'm in is not very comfortable, but it's tolerable.

I won't finish radiation until July 15th so my planned trip to Kodiak isn't going to happen. I would imagine I'll also start chemo pretty quickly once the radiation is done. I gues I should call the oncologist to let him know the end date. Maybe I'll wait until I've got the results of my MRI scheduled on the 18th.

I should add that my hip has not been bothering me lately like it had been. I've been using the cane when I have to go any distance. So unless the radiation ramps up the pain, I'm doing OK for now.