Updated State of Me
I had a CT scan last week and an appointment with the study oncologist today.
The tumours are still growing slowly. Apparently, it is still possible for a late immune reaction from the zombie virus to do something for me, but so far no. I have been feeling more short of breath lately, and apparently some of the tumours are impinging somewhat on the entrance to my right lung. The right lung is also apparently not inflating as much as the left. This is ungood, obviously, but it is comforting in an odd way to see what I am experiencing reflected in the scan result. I am being referred back to my radiation oncologist to see if there is anything more that can be done.
The other exciting news is that I have new metastases in the form of lumps under the skin on my scalp. This is only really problematic because one of them hurts when I roll over on it at night. Apparently, the most likely treatment for this is radiation. The study oncologist was quite careful to warn me that it is possible I will lose the hair in that spot and that it may not grow back. Compared to the other side effects I have dealt with, I think a small bald spot is really pretty small potatoes!
I've also been in more pain again. This time I didn't wait until I was completely out of cope to report symptoms. I am back on the happy pain pills. No more wine at happy hour at the hospice for me, but no more pain, either.
The upshot: things continue apace, the care I receive at the Cancer Centre continues to be excellent, and I am feeling OK.
The tumours are still growing slowly. Apparently, it is still possible for a late immune reaction from the zombie virus to do something for me, but so far no. I have been feeling more short of breath lately, and apparently some of the tumours are impinging somewhat on the entrance to my right lung. The right lung is also apparently not inflating as much as the left. This is ungood, obviously, but it is comforting in an odd way to see what I am experiencing reflected in the scan result. I am being referred back to my radiation oncologist to see if there is anything more that can be done.
The other exciting news is that I have new metastases in the form of lumps under the skin on my scalp. This is only really problematic because one of them hurts when I roll over on it at night. Apparently, the most likely treatment for this is radiation. The study oncologist was quite careful to warn me that it is possible I will lose the hair in that spot and that it may not grow back. Compared to the other side effects I have dealt with, I think a small bald spot is really pretty small potatoes!
I've also been in more pain again. This time I didn't wait until I was completely out of cope to report symptoms. I am back on the happy pain pills. No more wine at happy hour at the hospice for me, but no more pain, either.
The upshot: things continue apace, the care I receive at the Cancer Centre continues to be excellent, and I am feeling OK.