Choosing Joy: Halloween and PET/CT scan results

Halloween Day.

Costumes planned. Party planned. And a ghostly monster, named Cancer, decides to rear its ugly head... again.

At my appointment this morning, Dr. Laudi said the MRI confirmed that my L4 tumor was bigger and I had 3 small, new tumors in my liver with the largest measuring 7mm and so close to a blood vessel that biopsy is not possible. We discussed my treatment options. Without a biopsy, we don't know how the cancer cells may have mutated. Though my original cancer cells were Estrogen+ Progesterone+ Herceptin-, over time and after exposure to all the drugs and chemos I have had, these can change. I still have a page-long list of chemo options, some of which can be caustic to skin and tissue if they infiltrate a peripheral IV, so we had long discussion of what to do next. I feel resistant to getting a central line, like a portacath which is surgically implanted under the skin and threaded into a large blood vessel. When it needs to be used, it is accessed with a needle and covered with a sterile dressing. Blood can be drawn from it and fluids and chemo can be infused into it. In the hospital, we see many kids coming in with these central lines infected. My mom cautioned me that this is a skewed picture and encouraged me to check into the infection rates. She said she respected my decision.

For now, I don't want a port. Plan to start a new chemo on November 18.

I dropped off pictures at the Funeral Home for my Grandma's service next Tuesday. I picked up last minute costume items and pizza for the party.

We had a fun night together...