Two Differing Full Body Bone Scan Reports. Go figure.

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Here is one for you to cogitate about.

Full body bone scans:

10 July 07 Kingman, AZ

3 Jan 08 Yuma, AZ

99m-Technetium injection used on both tests. Same amount.

10 July 07 result:

" IMPRESSION:

" Numerous areas of increased radiotracer activity present within the

lower cervical, thoracic and the lumbar spine. Increased activity

identified within multiple anterior and posterior right and left ribs.

" Increased uptake present within the sacrum, iliac bones, pubic bones

and the ischia bilaterally.

" Increased uptake present within the proximal femurs bilaterally.

" These findings are consistent with diffuse metastatic disease. The

kidneys are visualized bilaterally. "

3 January 08 result:

" IMPRESSION:

" 1.Degenerative changes in the shoulders bilaterally.

" 2. A small area of slightly increased radionuclide activity in the

left first rib, which may be due to previous trauma, but the

possibility of solitary osseous metastatic site in the left first rig

cannot be entirely excluded. No other osseous abnormality is seen on

the whole body nuclear bone scan. "

A little background to put the scans in perspective for those who are

not familiar with my case.

February 2006 PSA 20. Enlarged prostate. Penis catheter inserted in

ER. Two and a half liters drained. Catheter left in. Uroxatral

prescribed by urologist, Brawley, CA. Took daily. Had no effect on

prostate. No follow up.

June to July 2007 Stuck catheter removed, Kingman, AZ. Supra-pubic

catheter inserted directly into bladder. Replaced about every 4-6

weeks. DRE indicated rock hard, swollen prostate gland on right side.

Three probe needle biopsy done. Bladder stones found, pulverized. PSA

test.

Gleason (4+5)=9. PSA 322.73. Bone and CT scan. Spread to bones. Upper

legs, pelvis, spine, ribs, possibly into bladder. Stage IV.

June 2007 No surgery, radiation, or chemo. My decision after extensive

discussion with urologist, several days of net research, and reading

groups. Started on Flutamide, 125 mg 3 X day. Two weeks later, Lupron

30 mg, 16 week shot. Started on Artemisinin (from Allergy Research

Group) 2-100 mg caps, upon arising.

Mid-Sept 2007 Stopped Flutamide due to uncontrollable serious side

effects. Those side effects ceased shortly thereafter. Had one

intermittent annoyance that ceased when I stopped alcohol: beer and

wine. Since then, able to consume some wine if diluted 50% with water

or juice.

30 August 2007 Fasting. Liver function and glucose tests. Kingman, AZ.

Alkaline Phosphatase high: 285. Normal 25-160. Glucose high: 124.

15 October 2007 Fasting. Full range of lab tests. Quartzsite, AZ. PSA

59.6. Alkaline Phosphatase high: 386. Normal 39-160. Glucose high: 129.

29 November 2007 Started casodex. 50 mg 1 X day at bedtime.

Lupron 16 week shot 18 December 2007 by urologist.

Medical oncologist: first appointment: 26 December 2007. Yuma, AZ.

Started finasteride, 5 mg one time a day. Fasting CBC and

Comprehensive Metabolic blood tests. PSA 166.

3 January 2008 CT scan with contrast, and barium drink. Full body bone

scan.

I asked the med oncologist's office to mail me the scan results. They

mailed the bone scan report but not the CT scan, so I cannot compare

results. I will call them tomorrow and get the CT report on the way to

me. Might take a week or two for them to do so, if they do. Scheduled

to see med oncologist in Yuma, AZ, 23 January 08. Will schedule a

follow up bone scan in Yuma as early as possible. If the CT scan shows

continued cancer in the bones then the bone scan was probably a false

negative. Right now I do not believe that all the cancer spread in the

bones suddenly disappeared using Lupron, Artemisinin, flutamide,

until stopped, then casodex from June-July 2007 to 3 January 2008. I

am not a religious person but it that has happened it would be nothing

short of a miracle. Meanwhile, I continue on the drugs and Artemisinin.

Chef