The Details

Yesterday was the start of cycle number five of my current therapy regiment. A new cycle is always preceded by an appointment with the doctor to check on my condition and general health. It was also time to receive the results of my latest CT scan which was performed on Friday.

Three days between the scan and the results were enough to make us really apprehensive about going to the appointment Monday. Lately the CT results haven't been great news. I am happy to report that this time it was positive news; although, we're still trying to take it with a grain of salt because we know how quickly the rug can be pulled out from under you. News regarding my condition has to be extraordinarily remarkable for me to be able to classify it as good news.

An important thing to note about CT results of my condition is that a tie is a win. Meaning that if the latest scan doesn't show up with any new growth but also no reduction in growth of the "areas of interest" it is interpreted as a winning condition. The first thing that my doctor said before he even started discussing the report was "I am quite pleased with the results." (I think I may have noticed a fleeting almost imperceptible grin too.)

Long story short, most of growths are about the same size with a pronounced (1.5 x 0.1 cm) reduction in one of them; however, many of the growths are less consolidated than they were previously which I am give to understand means that they aren't as dense. There are also several lymph nodes which are mildly decreasing in size, but the good news is that there aren't any new ones or enlarging ones.

Here is the most important quote (to me anyway) from the radiologist's report. "No evidence of disease progression." So I'm going to file this away as a good way to start the week. It will make it a little easier to cope with the treatment side effects knowing that it is actually helping me.

Thank you for all of the positive feedback. Knowing that Laela, Miranda, and I have such a supportive network of friends and family to rely on takes a lot off of my mind and helps me to focus on what is really important. Thank you for being there for us.