Metastatic lesions in my skull

This afternoon I saw my radiation oncologist to get his opinion of the results of my April 12 brain MRI. While the shrinking of the metastatic lesion in my brain is certainly good news, he is concerned about three small bony metastatic lesions that the MRI detected in my skull. Two of them require no immediate treatment, but one of them is close to my brainstem and throat and he recommended treating that soon with radiation treatments Monday through Friday for two consecutive weeks.

Before he can start those treatments, he needs to design and construct a brace that will hold my head in exactly the same position for each of those ten treatments. And to do that, he needs a specialized CT scan.

I was already scheduled for a PET scan tomorrow morning, and since it is in the same building in which his CT scan would be done, he arranged for his CT scan to take place tomorrow right after my PET scan. That’s very convenient.

The ten radiation treatments will be targeted close to my brainstem and my throat. Of course, that’s a concern. I find myself thinking about Philippians 4:6-7: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Yet I find it hard not to be anxious, maybe even a bit fearful.  

In my last post, I mentioned I was going to have surgery to open a bladder neck contracture. That surgery was last Wednesday. After returning home following the surgery, I had to go to the ER later that day and then spend three days in the hospital. I’ll spare you the details but it was one of the most painful and emotionally traumatic experiences of my life. I wonder if the emotional trauma from that experience has affected my reaction to the news of needing ten radiation treatments near my brainstem and throat. I’d sure love to experience “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding” as I deal with this.

And in the meantime, since I’m finished with chemo my hair should start growing back soon. Now that’s something to look forward to!!

Comments

  1. CLARA DAVIDMay 3, 2021 at 2:45 PM

    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  2. CLARA DAVIDMay 3, 2021 at 2:45 PM

    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Some of you have requested information about Ken Elder’s service.  It will be held Thursday, July 22, 2021, 11 am at Crossings Community Church (in the Chapel) 14600 N. Portland Avenue Oklahoma City, OK 73134 405-755-2227   For information on the livestream or the recording, go to www.crawfordfuneralservice.com Click on Ken’s Picture or name and it will take you to his tribute page.   LIVESTREAM WILL BEGIN AT 10:45 AM ON JULY 22 ND AND RECORDING WILL BE AVAILABLE AFTER LIVESTREAM ENDS. https://vimeo.com/577245464/816086b4df
Read more

Lung Cancer

It started a few months ago with a chronic cough. Then shortness of breath became an issue. Three months or so ago I could play three hours of pickleball without any problems. A couple months later I’d be breathing hard after just one game. X-rays showed nothing concerning. Then, on Tuesday December 15, 2020 I went into a fairly violent coughing spell and coughed up a lot of blood. We (Joanie and I) went to the ER at the hospital where my pulmonologist works. After doing a CT scan of my lungs the ER doctor told us I have lung cancer. The next day I saw my pulmonologist’s PA. She said the CT scan results were “suspicious” for lung cancer but a biopsy would be required to confirm that. She scheduled me for a lung biopsy the following Monday. She also commented that it is extremely rare for a non-smoker like me to develop lung cancer. The following morning (Thursday December 17, 2020) I coughed up more blood. We knew there is an excellent pulmonary oncology team at the Stephenson Ca
Read more

Chemo and Gamma Knife

Image
I had two new experiences this week: my first chemo treatment and a Gamma Knife procedure. The chemo treatment Monday was a piece of cake. Before starting the chemo drugs, they infused me with three anti-nausea drugs. And to minimize the chance of developing peripheral neuropathy, they wrapped my feet in ice packs and had me keep my hands in a tub of ice water during the chemo. So the nausea that so many people dread with chemo never happened. I am, however, having some issues with my lower legs. No numbness or tingling, but a bit like shin splints. Friday was Gamma Knife day, and that was a fascinating experience. It began with an MRI that they compared with the MRI I got on 12/18/2020. The comparison showed that the lesion in my right parietal lobe had grown 20% in those 35 days. Then they moved me from the MRI machine to the Gamma Knife machine, put on some relaxing classical music, and I just laid there for probably 20 minutes. Then it was over. Today my right eyelid is very
Read more