PET Scan Results

Hey everyone!

So November 8th was PET scan day. First we went in and had a consultation with her Radiation Therapist, Dr. Jerry Lucas, of Arizona Oncology. He let us know what kind of radiation she would be using. She will be receiving internal and external radiation. They also let us know some side effects that may come about now and further down the road. The internal is kinda freaky so I won't go into details, you can e-mail me if you feel comfortable with it. :] But they were kind enough to set up an appointment with us the next day for external radiation mapping. They put all these little crosses and stickers all over her lower abdomen so they knew exactly where to point those radiation beams.

After that, she was prepped for her scan. We were supposed to get separated because they were going to inject her with some radioactive material!! Crazy huh? The syringe they had to use was inside this steel cylinder! But I decided to stick around just for a little bit. After a while of joking around about how she would probably glow in the dark, the Dr. said, "Let me show you something." He pulled out this radar gun thing that shows radioactivity. Where I was standing, it showed a 0.25 (its supposed to be at zero) but when he moved the gun towards Momma it was at like a 2.00. I thought maybe I should go sit in the lobby, LOL. I decided to call my Grandma, Grandma's always know what to say to make you feel better. So while I was talking to my Grandma, Mommy was taken to the back where she was wrapped up nice and snug in a warm blanket, with her arms up, and put through a big tube for the scan.

Today November 11, 2010 we were called for the results of her scan. Unfortunately, they were not the results we were hoping for. The cancer has spread to her liver, lymph nodes, and is affecting her kidneys, and of course in her uterus and cervix. It has also come slightly down into the vaginal walls. So from my understanding (I didn't get to talk to the Dr myself) in order to do Chemo, she has to have properly working kidneys. The tumor is blocking the "drain tubes" from her kidneys to her bladder, making it hard for proper kidney function. They are going to have to put a tube in her kidney, attached to a bag, that will help her through out Chemo, once the tumor has gotten a little bit smaller she will have to have an operation, where they will put a stent in her kidney for proper kidney function and she won't have the tube or bag anymore. Radiation and chemo should take care of the cervix, uterus, and lymph nodes. But her liver is considered treatable but not curable. She will have to go in for Chemo once a year probably for the rest of her life. I don't really know what else to say or do...but pray. That's all I know for now I'll update as soon as I can. Love you all.