I was scheduled for a PET scan last Thursday but received a call that morning saying the machine was broken and I'd need to reschedule sometime this week.  I realize there was no way I could have known this ahead of time but I was still annoyed that I had spent the last 24 hours on a very restricted diet. And if I had more notice, I would have planned lunch with a friend or something else fun!

Dr. Kaplan had called earlier in the week with my cancer marker blood test results and I was actually disappointed with them.  They do show progress (less cancer) but the difference from 3 months ago is minimal.  This made me wonder if there was enough change to warrant a reduced treatment schedule.

I talked to Dr. Kaplan this morning and he said the blood test really only tells him if there is more cancer or less cancer, not how much change there has been. So I still need the scan, which I've scheduled for Friday.

 Another incorrect assumption I made was that if the scan showed a certain amount of improvement, my treatment schedule would be reduced.  It's actually the opposite.  If Friday's scan shows any improvement, I'll continue on this treatment schedule because the current drugs are still working.  If we've hit a plateau (which isn't likely, based on the blood test), I'd be put on a new medication with a less intense treatment schedule.   That's not intuitive, is it?  But that's what it is.

So, although I'm disappointed that I won't have less treatment any time soon,  I guess it's a good thing.

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The "sore throat and cold" I mentioned last month turned out to be a nasty virus. It started 10 days before Christmas and I didn't have much energy until New Year's Eve.  Just as I started to feel better, I got an ear and sinus infection. I'm thankful that James and the kids stayed healthy.  It would have been too much if we were all as sick as I was.  

I went to Urgent care the first week because I was sure I had strep throat.  I didn't have a good experience (not one staff member smiled) but at least I found out it was "only" a virus.   The doctor told me I was just like the 20 other patients he had seen that day and he didn't seem concerned that I had been receiving chemo for 8 months.  My favorite line was, "I hope you feel better soon but I doubt you will".

Nice, huh?

I saw Dr. Kaplan two days later and told him about my experience.  He gave me a more thorough exam and said next time I need to call him so he can remind me about signs of a secondary infection. He also said he would have been nicer to me.  I have no doubt.

I thought I was going to have another PET scan at the beginning of the month but I'll finish one more round of treatment first.  I really don't know what the results will be. It might look the same as it did 3 months ago, be marginally better, or a lot better.   Whatever it says, you know what I hope the outcome is -- less treatment!

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