Blood test: checks for something called M-spike or monoclonal spike. It's an indicator of the amount of cancer cells in the blood stream.
PET scan: Positron emission tomography is used with a radio active tracer to find active tumors.
Bone marrow aspiration: A core sample of bone marrow is pulled out of the hip. The sample is studied to determine the amount of cancer cells within the marrow. It hurts!
So far, the blood test results show my m-spike at 0.1. That's a very low score. I'd prefer a score of zero but I have no complaints. It used to be many times greater.
I'm in an easy chair right now with an IV in my arm, waiting for the radioactive substance to be injected. The PET scan will start in a few minutes. I'll be laying in a tube, unable to scratch my nose or any other body parts for a couple hours.
The bone marrow aspiration is scheduled for Monday. As usual, I have to go through it without sedation.
This follow-up group of appointments is a reminder lof iving here for so many months. I had hundreds of tests and treatments during the thirty-four weeks as a full time cancer patient. This short group of tests is nothing compared to last year.
Unfortunately, visiting the SCCA does remind me of the true ugliness of this disease. The faces of the other patients are new but their expressions and circumstances are the same. Many are looking for a cure but others are just hoping to add some time to their life. They don't want to die, not yet. Why them? Those of us with good relative (and I do include myself) should be grateful and sympathize with less fortunate cancer victims. Cancer needs to be defeated!
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