So what
exactly have I been exposed to over my 16 month lung cancer odyssey.
As always
first let me first express my gratitude for still being alive. When I began my
odyssey I knew no one who lived this long after a diagnosis of lung cancer.
Over the
last 16 months I have had 17 chest x-rays, 5 CT scans, a single Nuclear Stress
Test, and 2 PET/CT scans.
RadiologyAssociates of New Jersey claims “Experts say 3 mSv per year is probably OK for
most of us; 20 mSv for those who must have medical tests.”
To
liberally paraphrase the radiologist report from this past PET/CT scan,
1) 'Bob’ (see
naming of lymp nodes) continues to misbehave larger and brighter than PET/SC of 14 months ago, "consistent with metastatic disease”.
Odyssey notes – ‘Bob’ may as well be a hemorrhoid he is such a total pain in the ass. Gone one CT and back another, radiologists always label him when they find him as consistent with probable metastatic disease. ,,, My current pulmonologists contend there never was a 'Bob" on first PET/SC" ... keep in mind 'Bob' equates to the drain of the lung. Lots of lung jung or pneumonia or bronchitus and 'Bob" gets an attitude.
2) “minimal
pneumonitis since prior PET scan though increased in size since 3/15/2013 CT”
3) “misc lung
junk too small to accurately characterize and long term follow up recommended”
I was killed last March during an attempted Endobronchial Ultrasound (EBUS) went flatline. Bob was never biopsied or even seen before procedure was aborted to concentrate on reviving me.
Patrick Leer
Health Activist:
Caregivingly Yours, MS Caregiver @ http://caregivinglyyours.blogspot.com/
My Lung Cancer Odyssey @ http://lung-cancer-survivor.blogspot.com/
Hi Patrick, I'm a little confused... Does your PET detect some movement? or is your appearing/disappearing BOB a regular thing not to bother with?
ReplyDeleteKim
Bob has appeared and disappeared however he is big and bad on most recent PET. That's why I'm off to Baltimore on Monday. I'm more than concerned that 'country mouse' medicine has erased all benefits of such incredibly early detection.
DeleteI see. Hope Monday gives you some answers or perhaps an plan if answers need more time to be accurate.
Deletegood luck Patrick, you'll be down in my neck of the woods where doctors can fix anything! We will be thinking about you, Andy
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for the information provide! I was looking for this data for a long time, Radiation badgebut I was not able to find the trusted source.
ReplyDelete