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| Deb and I on holiday in Perugia, Italy; September 2014 |
Since the last post Deb has had 2 scans (the 29th and 30th since radiotherapy). One scan was on the 27th August (which was a MRS - magnetic resonance spectroscopy - scan) and the other a normal MRI scan on the 2 November (a Sunday!). The results of the scans were the same in both cases. In each case, the radiologists report stated that there were signs of increased tumour activity. However the activity was slight. As for the first time when this activity was reported Dr Sanghera said that whatever was happening; it wasn't normal GBM growth. It was much too slow, If it it had been normal grade IV tumour growth, it would be much more clear and unambiguous. As before he repeated that he did not want to start any treatment whilst growth was slow and Deb was not showing any symptoms. On screen we compared the results of the latest scan with one taken a year ago, With the untrained eye it was difficult to see much difference. The area where the tumour was located did look slightly different as it was more 'fuzzy'on the latest scan.
If treatment was considered it would be either more surgery (not a pleasant prospect: the thought of having more holes drilled into your skull) or chemotherapy. Chemotherapy works by targeting cells that are dividing. Rapidly dividing cells (like cancer cells) are therefore more likely to be killed. If the tumour is only growing slowly - as with Deb's - chemo would not be as effective.
So it was decided we do nothing. Deb's next scan is scheduled for 3 months time.
1 comment:
Chris
I've been following your blog -albeit silently - since it started. I think I said very little simply because I couldn't add anything meaningful to comments posted by others.
I have Googled Deb's condition - and congratulations to Deb on making medical history! I didn't fully realise until now - and it's reflected in your various postings - that the prognosis in the early days wasn't good. Apologies if this sounds intrusive but it's true. But what a change in your last posting. Really uplifting.
The last sentence captures it all; if the doctors can relax so can we. So you can and I hope you do for a long time to come. Colin [I'm known as Chris Harvey on Google becasue of ID theft.]
Ap
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