After three months I went up to North Dakota, too early to be back Taylor and I both agreed, to get checked up. I was to get a PET/CT and a PFT test. It was Taylor, Dad, and myself going up again. We stayed at the Air Force base like my Dad always does since it is cheaper. We arrived on Sunday, the 15th and left for home on the 17th. We had two early days while we were there, which were tough since I am currently working nights for the remainder of my summer. Even with that we managed to wake up at 6:30am both days.
Monday was a busy day, waking up at 6:30 being ready to leave by 7. Once we arrived at the cancer center I checked in and we headed down stairs. After a short wait I was called back to get the labs drawn, radioactive junk put in, and an hour of waiting in a small dark room. While I was doing this Dad and Taylor went off to get some breakfast at Perkins. I tried to nap while I was in there, but to no luck. I couldn't fall asleep. Eventually I was let out, instructed to use the restroom and then brought to the room to get the scan, and after an uncomfortable 30-40 minutes I am done. We leave to run a few errands, get some breakfast for me, and visit my friend Eric for a few minutes. After this we are back at the hotel, and I can't stay awake any longer and lay down, Taylor and I take a nap.
When we wake up we head back to the cancer center to get the results of the PET/CT. This is when Dad says that he is a bit nervous, and I don't blame him. After we get there we were brought back to the exam room fairly quickly. After the nurse left the doctor came in just minutes later. He goes over a few things and we look at the scan.
We are told that there isn't any thing PET positive any longer, I am rid of the cancer. When we got the news Dad and Taylor both say " Yess! " :)
So, I guess that makes me a Cancer Survivor.
Now I will see the doctor every 3 months for check-ups and CT scans every 6 months for a few years. What I need to do now is stay this way for 5 years, because then the odds of it coming back are very slim I am told.
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The next day was another early morning for the pulmonary function test. More breathing into this tube thing, and one thing I had not done before. Walked around at a quick pace while they monitored my oxygen level.
After we went to check out at the hotel, visit the commissary, and check out a garden before heading back to see the lung doctor. When we go back we are given more good news! My lungs aren't as good as they were before I started treatment, but they are within a normal range. This is very much improved. The doctor isn't sure if they are as good as they will get or if they will continue to get better. I'll do another PFT in 3 months to find out, but other than that he doesn't think I need to do anything else.
So there you have it, Cancer defeated, lungs recovering. Hope you are all doing well.
Showing posts with label CT Scan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CT Scan. Show all posts
Friday, July 20, 2012
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Chemotherapy Done. Next steps.
Since my last post I have completed my last chemotherapy. So that is all done and over with! After that I had a couple weeks to relax and just focus on school. Then on the 16th I went in for a PET/CT scan. Today on the 18th I went in to the doctor for labs and to visit about that scan. The news that I got wasn't exactly what I wanted, but it wasn't exactly bad news either.
The PET scan showed that I am -mostly- negative. There were two spots that were brought up. First, there is apparently a enlarged lymph node in my chest, however it is not PET positive, which I took as means it isn't really a problem. Second, there was something in my neck still. Two nodes were asymmetric, one was larger than the other. This is what they want to look at closer. So tomorrow morning, April 19th, I will go in to the hospital for a CT scan of the neck. My oncologist was going to schedule an MRI of the neck, but was told to just do a CT scan instead. I will also do another pulmonary function test to see how my lungs are after going through chemotherapy.
So that's where everything is at right now.
The PET scan showed that I am -mostly- negative. There were two spots that were brought up. First, there is apparently a enlarged lymph node in my chest, however it is not PET positive, which I took as means it isn't really a problem. Second, there was something in my neck still. Two nodes were asymmetric, one was larger than the other. This is what they want to look at closer. So tomorrow morning, April 19th, I will go in to the hospital for a CT scan of the neck. My oncologist was going to schedule an MRI of the neck, but was told to just do a CT scan instead. I will also do another pulmonary function test to see how my lungs are after going through chemotherapy.
So that's where everything is at right now.
Monday, October 17, 2011
The last couple of days..
After going to the Urgent Care at the Altru Hospital here in Grand Forks I was referred to a E.N.T. doctor. (Ear Nose & Throat).
Morning after my urgent care appointment I called up the number that I was given and to my surprise I was able to get an appointment the next morning, that was October 14th. When the day came I went into the main clinic entrance, but had no idea where I was going so I asked the lady at the desk. 4D is where I was instructed to go, fourth floor room D.
Entering 4D I walked up to the registration desk and announced that I had an appointment, got signed in and was told to sit down. Waiting for the doctor each of these times just seems like the longest thing ever. Eventually one of the nurses called my name, brought me back to the room and went through the questions before the doctor. Nothing out of really out of the ordinary. Nurse leaves and again I sit and wait. A little while later the doctor came in, Dr. Alan Johnson. After a few questions he checked out the lumps on my neck, finding each one that I had found myself. I was a little relieved that he didn't find anymore than I had, but then we started talking about what it could be. Lymphoma was his biggest concern, and was something that I looked up a few times. Hearing him say it was a lot different than just my own little research.
I was sent to get a CT scan of my neck. When I got to radiology the lady sitting behind the desk was expecting me. Originally the radiology department had said that there wasn't an availability during that day, but Dr. Johnson gave them a call and got them to do it same day. I was instructed to follow these set of tiles to a small room where I waited for them to get the room ready. Sat in that room for a bit and eventually someone came to get me. I laid down and an I.V. was inserted into my arm and I was put in to the machine. After a couple pictures the iodine was injected and the rest of the photos were taken.
After this I wait the weekend to go in and get some results. It was a long weekend, but I got to spend it with Taylor and she helped keep my mind off all that stuff.
Finally today, Monday came. Woke up bright and early and drove over there. My appointment for today was at 8am. After I got there I went up to 4D and signed in and waited. So much waiting. The nurse came out and brought me back for the quick before-doc-questions. This time my weight was asked, but I didn't have an answer because I don't own a scale. She just weighed me and entered it in. My weight was down from normal, which had not occurred to my knowledge yet. Dr. Johnson finally comes in and we go through my CT scan from Friday. Apparently there is a lump in my chest too, sort of pushing on my trachea. Which explains a little bit of shortness of breath every now and then. He also noticed that I have a deviated septum, but I knew of that sort of already. (I knew my nose was crooked inside). I had another CT scan originally for 3PM today, but that was canceled and a PET scan was ordered. A needle biopsy was done, and I was also scheduled for surgery for a lymph node biopsy.
The surgery is tomorrow, I will go in at 8:30AM and be there for 4-5 hours is what I was told. (Surgery time ~ 1 hour). I've never had a surgery before, or been knocked out by anesthesia, so I am worried about it. I am also worried, but anxious to find out what exactly the problem is...
Time to get some rest, big day tomorrow.
Morning after my urgent care appointment I called up the number that I was given and to my surprise I was able to get an appointment the next morning, that was October 14th. When the day came I went into the main clinic entrance, but had no idea where I was going so I asked the lady at the desk. 4D is where I was instructed to go, fourth floor room D.
Entering 4D I walked up to the registration desk and announced that I had an appointment, got signed in and was told to sit down. Waiting for the doctor each of these times just seems like the longest thing ever. Eventually one of the nurses called my name, brought me back to the room and went through the questions before the doctor. Nothing out of really out of the ordinary. Nurse leaves and again I sit and wait. A little while later the doctor came in, Dr. Alan Johnson. After a few questions he checked out the lumps on my neck, finding each one that I had found myself. I was a little relieved that he didn't find anymore than I had, but then we started talking about what it could be. Lymphoma was his biggest concern, and was something that I looked up a few times. Hearing him say it was a lot different than just my own little research.
I was sent to get a CT scan of my neck. When I got to radiology the lady sitting behind the desk was expecting me. Originally the radiology department had said that there wasn't an availability during that day, but Dr. Johnson gave them a call and got them to do it same day. I was instructed to follow these set of tiles to a small room where I waited for them to get the room ready. Sat in that room for a bit and eventually someone came to get me. I laid down and an I.V. was inserted into my arm and I was put in to the machine. After a couple pictures the iodine was injected and the rest of the photos were taken.
After this I wait the weekend to go in and get some results. It was a long weekend, but I got to spend it with Taylor and she helped keep my mind off all that stuff.
Finally today, Monday came. Woke up bright and early and drove over there. My appointment for today was at 8am. After I got there I went up to 4D and signed in and waited. So much waiting. The nurse came out and brought me back for the quick before-doc-questions. This time my weight was asked, but I didn't have an answer because I don't own a scale. She just weighed me and entered it in. My weight was down from normal, which had not occurred to my knowledge yet. Dr. Johnson finally comes in and we go through my CT scan from Friday. Apparently there is a lump in my chest too, sort of pushing on my trachea. Which explains a little bit of shortness of breath every now and then. He also noticed that I have a deviated septum, but I knew of that sort of already. (I knew my nose was crooked inside). I had another CT scan originally for 3PM today, but that was canceled and a PET scan was ordered. A needle biopsy was done, and I was also scheduled for surgery for a lymph node biopsy.
The surgery is tomorrow, I will go in at 8:30AM and be there for 4-5 hours is what I was told. (Surgery time ~ 1 hour). I've never had a surgery before, or been knocked out by anesthesia, so I am worried about it. I am also worried, but anxious to find out what exactly the problem is...
Time to get some rest, big day tomorrow.
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