RollerCoaster Express!

A PET Scan is quite an experience! The way it works is after a spot is picked up on a CT Scan, the  next step in diagnostic imaging is a PET scan. They inject a sugar solution of radioactive material and let it circulate about an hour. The idea is that a malignancy is an active group of cells and responds to the sugar. The sugar is carrying a radioactive material that is picked up by the scan. If there is no activity, the spot does not "light up" as they refer to it. Rabbit Trail .... what does that say about people who have cancer and are eating sugar...... another side note, if you ever have to have a PET Scan, you are in this big machine for about 30 minutes, you are told not to move and your arms are stretched back and over your head, that gets real uncomfortable after about 10 minutes. When I got out I asked what did they do if a person could not put there arms in the overhead position. I was told there is an alternate position with your arms at your side.....doesn't give as good results, that's the one to opt for!

We got the results of the PET Scan.... looks like the spot behind the pancreas was nothing.....however, there is a spot on my lung, about 2 centimeters, that reacted to the radioactive sugar water. So now we have a problem... the spot could be a cyst, an infection or a malignancy. The only way to find out is to get a piece of it and look at it under a microscope. So this little hiccup has placed everything on hold. I get to keep my teeth for a  while and the bone marrow transplant won't be done if there is another active cancer. They are still holding the time in Seattle pending the results of a biopsy on May 26th. I continue to feel good, strong but grumpy, this waiting business is not a good thing. On the upside, there is a spaghetti dinner at my daughter's house tomorrow night and I got the garden tilled today, we went to dinner at Sweet Tomatoes tonight, I have a full belly and all is good!

A Time for Grumpin!

Maybe I am not in the best mood to write this entry tonight, but then, maybe I am. Got back from the VA today after a CT Scan and another Bone Marrow biopsy. Those by themselves have the potential to turn a beautiful Oregon spring day into something less than a rainy day in December and on top of that the doctor told me that the CT Scan had revealed a small mass on ny left lung and another in a lymph node near my pancreas. Tests will begin immediatley to determine the nature of those masses and for the time being we have cancelled the tooth extraction untill it can be determined what we are dealing with. Well, thats a good thing, but that also means we have to cancel my steak eating party prior to the extraction event. Currently we are still scheduled for end of June, first week in July for the transplant in Seattle, yet depending the outcome of these new tests, that may change also. Blood counts still look good and I feel great, worked all day yesterday making some modifications on the kennel and plan to spread barkdust and begin the pond filter tomorrow. We have another pond in the canyon and it is the most beautiful place this time if year. The elk have been using the area extensively and we look forward to seeing calves make thir debut any time now. A pair of mallards have setup home on the pond and saw a flock of geese drop in yesterday, as a bonus I have a new beautiful little 9lb grand daughter, healthy as a horse, MaMa is doing fine also, thank you ....... There, I feel better already just talking about the things I love. It is a good thing to live in today....my brother has a saying that he puts at the bottom of his emails....."yesterday is history, tomorrow is future but today is a gift, that's why they call it the present". Too often, I lament at what could have been and the dumb decisions I have made and spend way too much time planning and worrying about tomorrow, today was a beutiful day, full of turns in my Adventure of Life and I am now writing this to people in my life who care..... so, maybe I'll go get a dish of ice cream......why don't you do that also!!!!!!!!!