I have been anticipating this PET scan ever since I started chemo, because it is the halfway progress report on how the chemo is working.  It really varies for everyone who is in chemo, and it all just depends on how well your body reacts to that specific type of chemo.  I have felt like the chemo is working, but I still felt very nervous, because the last time I had a PET scan I had terrible results which showed that my cancer had metastasized to two spots on my spine and one on my pelvis.  That was when I was categorized as having Stage 4 breast cancer.

For the scan I was strapped inside a big round white tube that moved my body back and forth while I had to lay perfectly still inside.  Occasionally a voice would tell me to hold my breath and then to begin breathing again.  This lasted for about 25 minutes, and then I was done and went back to my room.  We were not sure if we would get the results that day or not, and I bugged the doctors and nurses a few times to find out if my results were back in yet.

Branden had to leave before the results came in, but when the doctor came in to go over the pictures and report of my scan with me I called Branden and had him on speaker phone so he could listen.

The results are very positive.  We looked at the pictures of my old PET scan on one side of the computer and looked at the pictures of the new scan on the other side so that we could have a good comparison.  They were basically looking at four main areas:  The original site of my cancer and lymph nodes that was removed during surgery, the two places on my spine, and the spot on my pelvis (which had been the biggest spot before).

The site of my original lump and lymph nodes showed no cancer at all.  I hadn’t really been worried about that area, but it is possible to have a recurrence there, so that was good that it was clean.

Next we looked at my spine.  I looked at the old scan and saw the two spots that lit up showing the cancer on my vertebrae.  On the new scan the whole spine looked just the same.  There was no sign of any vertebrae glowing any brighter than any of the others.  We found the exact spots where the cancer had been, and there was no evidence of cancer there at all.  Another part of the scan showed healing tissue in those spots, which is further proof that the cancer is gone from my spine.  I was so happy I didn’t even know what to say, but I was still feeling very serious as we looked at the spot on my pelvis.

To me it looked like there was a very faint glow in the spot that had been very bright on the previous scan.  The doctor said that the amount of glow could actually just be from tissue that is healing, and they did not count it as cancer, although they cannot say for sure that there is not still a little bit of cancer in that spot on my pelvis.

The results of this PET scan are everything we could hope for.  The report stated that there was no evidence of the disease at this time, however the doctor reminded me several times that this did not mean that I am cured.  It also does not mean that there is not still some cancer out there, because the PET scan can’t pick up everything, but the results do show that the chemo that has been annihilating me has also been annihilating the cancer!!  That’s what I wanted to know.

I went back to my hospital room talking to Branden on the phone, and both of us were finally able to let go of the tense feeling we had had all day awaiting these results.  I cried of course, because I am just so grateful that this is working.

The doctor came in this morning and reminded me again that I was not cured, and that I need to continue treatment, of course.  He also reminded me that Stage 4 breast cancer is not ever considered curable, and that we were just trying to make sure that I was able to live as long as possible.  I’m not sure at all why he felt the need to put a damper on the very positive results that we got from the scan, but for some reason he did.  (This is not my normal doctor that I go to, just the one who is taking care of me while I am in the hospital.)

But later my doctor came in for a visit.  I told her of the pessimistic spin that this doctor put on my awesome PET scan results, and she made me feel a lot better and told me that we have every reason to celebrate and to be optimistic.

I am so so happy that the 4 rounds of chemo I have done so far have been effective, and I am certain that the next 4 rounds will get rid of any remaining cancer that is lurking in my body anywhere.  And I don’t care what that doctor says, I am planning on being cured!!!

For now, I am feeling a little better each day.  I still can’t believe the beating my body took from this chemo, and that I have had to be in this hospital for over a week now.  I miss my family so much, and I am hoping I can go home tomorrow.

Next week my doctor does not want me to do chemo again.  This is fine with me.  She wants me to get feeling completely better before we get going on the final four rounds.  She said that she does not think the next type of chemo will be as hard on me as this has been.  I should have the hardest part done with.  I am looking forward to getting home soon and having a couple weeks of feeling good!