A Slight Detour
November 17, 2008 12:41 PM
I met with my oncologist this morning. The subject of
today’s meeting was to discuss the results of a
follow up PET scan I had last week. Specifically, he
wanted to see if the mysterious nodule that showed up
on my right lung in a test from two months ago has
gotten larger. Well, it has. Or so it appears.
According to the new scan, the nodule has increased in size from .8 to 1 centimeter. Dr. Daud admitted that 2 millimeters was actually within the margin of error of what the PET scan could resolve with certainty, but since it erred on the side of getting larger, it would be prudent to have a biopsy.
It is a curious thing. It doesn’t have any of the telltale signatures of being related to my melanoma. The official term for it is that is has a very low “uptake” compared to the melanoma in my body. Dr. Daud did go on to offer about four other explanations for what it might be; a fungus, a reaction to an allergy, the result of a long ago lung infection, and of course, lung cancer. Finally he offered that we should just go find out before starting the interferon treatment.
Biopsies of the lung are slightly more complicated than the one I had a two months ago in my lymph node. It requires live PET imaging to give the doctor feedback about the exact position of the needle respective of my lung. Fortunately the nodule is located on the right side of my right lung, very near the surface of my body under my right arm. The needle will not have to travel far.
So off I go in the next few days back to the imaging center. I get to put off the interferon for a few more days, and it looks like I’ll be able to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal before starting the drugs.
I have to say, I’m more curious than worried. I don’t have a bad feeling about this at all. It seems a prudent step and I’m happy to take it. We’ll see.
According to the new scan, the nodule has increased in size from .8 to 1 centimeter. Dr. Daud admitted that 2 millimeters was actually within the margin of error of what the PET scan could resolve with certainty, but since it erred on the side of getting larger, it would be prudent to have a biopsy.
It is a curious thing. It doesn’t have any of the telltale signatures of being related to my melanoma. The official term for it is that is has a very low “uptake” compared to the melanoma in my body. Dr. Daud did go on to offer about four other explanations for what it might be; a fungus, a reaction to an allergy, the result of a long ago lung infection, and of course, lung cancer. Finally he offered that we should just go find out before starting the interferon treatment.
Biopsies of the lung are slightly more complicated than the one I had a two months ago in my lymph node. It requires live PET imaging to give the doctor feedback about the exact position of the needle respective of my lung. Fortunately the nodule is located on the right side of my right lung, very near the surface of my body under my right arm. The needle will not have to travel far.
So off I go in the next few days back to the imaging center. I get to put off the interferon for a few more days, and it looks like I’ll be able to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal before starting the drugs.
I have to say, I’m more curious than worried. I don’t have a bad feeling about this at all. It seems a prudent step and I’m happy to take it. We’ll see.
. . . . . . . . . .