Well, the fun stopped there. Anxious over some rib pain I have been experiencing, a call was put in to request immediate results instead of waiting for the next days appointment. No call. :/ Determined to enjoy an evening of fundraising for ABCD, I went about my business and even was surprised by my daughters and Mother-in-law in attendance. What a fun night, and about as far out of my comfort zone as I've been in some time.
Up for my appointment bright and early we head out for whatever news is waiting for us. The news is not good. There are several areas of concern. One is my rib area as suspected, the other is the peritoneum or the pouch that encapsulates all the organs. It is thick in the CT scan and was not before.
Back on the merry go round we go. As always with Froedert its a fast moving get it done kind of place. I am immediately schedules for a Thurosentisis (a withdrawal of fluid from my rib area with a small tube inserted and the fluid sucked out where the fluid was seen on the CT scan). We have two hours to blow until that appointment, so back to our little shrine we go. Pray, cry, and pray again.
Back at Radiology and in for the Thurosentesis, surprised in looking at the ultrasound to locate a fluid pocket, there is not enough fluid to safely take out. Hallelujah! A small positive. The area seems to have become smaller on its own, so it appears, therefore unlikely it is cancerous. Fingers crossed.
Back to the oncologist to try and scrape some good news out of the day. He says we will proceed with the Brain MRI on Friday, the port installation on Monday, the PET scan (if they can get approval after an initial denial) on Tuesday or Wednesday, then chemo begins again on Thursday. In the mean time we are to have the peritoneal biopsied, with an ultrasound and needle biopsy similar to what was done when they originally were testing for the breast cancer in my lymph nodes. This will indicate if the cells are cancerous.
Friday arrives and off we go to spend the day at Froedert. First up, radiology and the attempt at an ultrasound. No go, a CT will be used instead. I'm rolled off to CT and get a very nice sedative, fentinol my new fav, while the doc pokes my belly....multiple times. Hopefully he got what is needed or we will have to try laproscopically next week. Straight from CT to MRI and the 30 minute brain scan. Found out I'm definitely allergic to the dye and puked in a dish. I did give them warning ;)
Now we wait. We will have more answers by Thursday. Unfortunately, this is going to be a tough battle. I know virtually nothing about a prognosis as things change daily on cancer care. I know that I have started to contact women that have this and are living with it. That, and knowledge, is power.
Lord knows, I wish this was a better update. I will be continuing my blog now with this next chapter.
Prayers accepted and welcomed.
