I have continued to do chemo every 3 weeks but I've missed writing about my last two CT Scans. The first one was just after my 6th chemo session and and the second one was jut now on Tuesday. Both scans showed reductions in my tumours but my last one didn't even show tumours but merely some thickening on the chest wall. My oncologist said that for the time being while it is working we may as well continue with the chemo. I agree with him but don't know how much more chemo my body can tolerate. It seems to be affecting my nerves. Each time I had a CT Scan I was surprise there were reductions in the tumours because my pain levels seem to be increasing. I now think it is the chemo that is damaging my nerves.
Anyway today I emailed my oncologist to asked him if I could do a PET Scan before my next chemo session next Wednesday. The PET Scan shows up active cancer and I thought that there might be a chance that my cancer is no longer active. My Mesomark test - a blood test that measures the level of mesothelioma - was down to normal. If the PET Scan result does show no active cancer then it will mean I am in remission. It would be hard to believe that this will be the case but on the off chance that it is, it also means that I won't have to do chemo.
It is quite a stressful thing getting test results from a scan. The difference between a good result and a bad result are life changing. All my future decisions and thoughts would completely change depending on the outcome. On Facebook, many of my fellow meso warriors go through this same awful stress of waiting for test results. As mesothelioma is still an incurable cancer, a good result usually gives us a bit more peace of mind while we all wait for the cure that medical science will no doubt find. And very soon I'm sure. I am surrounded by fighters who continue to keep positive in the midst of this bastard meso. The hardest part for me is when I see it taking away my friends with meso knowing that a cure can't be far away.
Last week Emma and I were on the Channel 7 news. They did a story on 'Women and Mesothelioma' and interviewed me for it. Click here to watch it.
Another thing I'd like to link to was an excellent report on The Daily Show recently exposing and ridiculing Canada because it is continuing to mine and export asbestos. Shame on them. It is really hard to believe a country like Canada can allow this.
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| Ored to Death | ||||
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I really would like to make an effort to post more frequently. No promises but at least I finally got out a well overdue post.
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9 comments:
That was a great blog Anita - good to see you back. Good idea about having the PET scan. If you can avoid having unnecessary chemo so much the better for your body.
Good luck with it all.
Julie Bastian
You express so well in words what you feel ok in sharing about you, your life, your pain, fears, and advocacy for yourself and so many others...I really appreciate that you educate so many with what you share on your blog......you share your experience with boundaries that you set, and focus ob hope...I always look forward to learning from what you share. Take special care....and thank you...
Good for you Anita. Keep strong and know what a strong support network you have and an even stronger one that is lurking in the background just waiting to be tapped.
Its over three years since I finished my chemo. I had pain for a few months after whilst the tumour continued shrinking.
Good luck, as Julie says, avoid unnecessary chemo if you can!
Lyn
Anita, Gordy here. I couldn't agree more with the other comments re Chemo. I hope you make the decision to avoid it, PET scans permitting.
I only wish that when Adrian was halfway through his chemo (which was affecting his mental state a lot more than his physical at the time) had decided to stop it. As his condition was terminal we were informed that chemo would not halt the progression of the disease, but only buy him time. However he elected to continue, and I was hoping he wouldn't, but I decided to stop influencing him and didn't voice my wish for him to stop. I regret this, as his quality of life really started to deteriorate after that decision to continue with this ravaging treatment. I wish I'd spoken out and now I'm asking you to avoid it - if YOU feel it's unecessary...stay well and I hope to see you soon! Love to you and Emma from Gordy XXo
Lyn, I would love to ask you some questions about your chemo. I am very interested to hear about the fact that your tumours continued to shrink even after you finished chemo. That was good to hear and has made me more confident about deciding not to continue with chemo. I would love to hear how you are going. Did you go into remission? How often are you being tested? Where did you have your exposure to asbestos? etc. You can email me or respond here on the blog (Hope you are reading this)
Thanks everyone for your kind comments!!
Hi Anita, wow how tough are you!!! So much chemo, it must be exhausting! My dad was diagnosed with meso last November and you hit the nail on the head when you wrote about waiting for scan results and how much they can really throw you off course! Just on thursday my dad had some CT scans looked at by the radio-oncologist and even the words they use stick with you and change everything so quickly! I can never remember any of the positive things that are said, only the bad things, its shit!! Take care Anita, my thoughts are with you!
Good to hear scans look fine, my partner was diagnosed in Oct 2010, we are just coming towards the end of a 6 session chemo, have the nervous wait ahead for scan results. Reading your blog helps keeps us positive when you know you aren't alone
Good luck
Amanda
Hi Anita
my partner was diagnosed with meso back in October 2010.He is currently coming up to the last of the 6 chemo treatments scheduled. Know what you mean about waiting for test results- our life seems to be on constant hold.
Wishing you all the best
Amanda
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