PET Scan Done

Today we went to Salt Lake City to the Huntsman Cancer Institute to have my PET Scan done.  It is so nice to have Ken go with me, even though he cannot be in the room with me.  The scan is not a big deal.  They inject me with radioactive sugar and then I have to be quiet and still for 75 minutes while the solution goes through me looking for fast growing cells to light up.  I get to sit in a recliner with a warm blanket in a darkened room with no distractions like reading or listening to music.  A good time to sit and pray and meditate!  The scan itself only takes about 20 minutes.  Of course, the staff can't give me any indication of what the results might be.  I have an appointment with Dr. Wallentine on Tuesday afternoon and will find out the results at that point.

What we are hoping for is nothing lighting up!  The doctor said that there may be some scarring on the liver from the tumor.  It had grown into the liver, so will likely leave it's mark there.  In the initial scan, the only place that was obvious was the tumor on the liver.  The report did have this note:  "There is a mostly calcified slightly hyper metabolic lymph node in the low left cervical paratracheal region (throat) is most likely granulomatous (small nodule), although lymphoma cannot be entirely excluded."  Yeah, I had to look up a lot of those terms!  In other words, it lit up a little, but was most likely not part of the lymphoma.  So I will be curious as to what shows up on the new scan, if anything, in that region.  It is not something that I have been concerned about because the doctor was not too concerned about it either.  But it is something that sticks in the back of your mind.  I think the chemo would have wiped out anything that was remotely cancerous!

When I came out to find Ken, he was sitting there with this cute Teddy Bear for me!

While at the clinic today, I was asked if I wanted to be part of a medical research study that would only involve today's visit.  I agreed, because anything to help research along!  It actually has nothing to do with cancer, but is a study of the relationship between brown fat and heart disease.  They ask patients undergoing a PET scan because that is one of only two ways they can see brown fat.  The other is during surgery of the upper chest and neck.  It only involved taking some blood, body measurements and some family health history.  The doctor said she would send me the results, but it will take a few months.  Should be interesting.  I had actually read something about brown fat not too long ago, but couldn't remember what it was.  So I looked it up again and it is one of the things that scientists are looking into in regards to weight loss.  It seems it takes calories from normal fat and burns it.  It is an interesting subject - look it up!

On another note, when I was first diagnosed, our doctor friend gave us the fascinating book, "The Emperor of All Maladies" about the history of cancer.  I just saw that Ken Burns has produced a documentary based on this book.  The book was published in 2010, but even since then there have been new advances and discoveries in the cancer research field.  So I am looking forward to watching this 3-part, 6 hour documentary.  I think it is airing on March 30th here in Utah.

Well, now we will just wait to see the results of this scan!  Check back next Tuesday night!!