Good News?????

[Guest guest]

I decided to take the bull by the horn and get second and third opinions on my

" disease progression. " I saw two doctors today and will see three more next week

and one the week after and perhaps may pay out of pocket to see my old

oncologist as well.

Seems that the notes by the radiologist for the recent CT scan I had are the

" worse case scenario, " according to my pulmonologist. I took the report apart

and made immediate appointments with two of my doctors in speech pathology and

pulmonology. Took the pneumonitis note and saw my pulmonoogist who allayed some

of my fears about metastasis. He said there is no way to be sure there is

disease progression even with a PET scan, as the suspicious nodules are too

small to show up on the PET scan and there are many false positives and false

negatives as well. He is the one who did my biopsy back in 2006 to confirm mets

to the lungs from previous breast cancer. He spent almost an hour with me

patiently showing me my last two CT scans and saying that even the way you lie

down on the exam table and breathe can affect the way the CT scan comes out.

When were're dealing with such small changes as 1-2mm he said, this can happen.

We talked about my previous diagnosis of asthma, which could be complicating

things and making me breathless when I walk up hills (Perhaps NOT from lung mets

progression) and started me on some stuff for wheezing, etc. He is so wonderful

and kind!! He has adopted a little eight-year old African-American girl.

Then I saw my speech pathologist three hours later, who is greatly concerned

about my swallowing/choking problem, which could cause aspiration to the lungs

(and once again the notes from the radiologist on pneumonitis in the lungs could

be from this and NOT lung mets progression). I am scheduled for a Barium

swallowing test on Monday to see if my dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) has

indeed progressed and gotten worse (it has). But he has me doing throat

strengtening exercises to build up the muscles in the throat. I then follow up

in August with him and another doctor to check out my vocal cords, as he heard

changes to my vocal cords. He is also going to show me how to take my

supplements without choking(he forgot to do this today) when I see him again on

Monday.

So, the docs did not rule out disease progression as a possibility, but they

said it is a " watch and see " type of thing. I haven't even seen my oncologist

for my follow-up visit next week, who noted that " Since the changes were

small-to-known " we won't be changing our course of treatment. " Perhaps I

panicked and read into the report the " worse case scenario, " but at least some

good things came out of it for me!! I will be coming up with some answers

potentially which explain things that do not necessarily point to " disease

progression " from cancer, but from other causes.

I have easily moved into an all raw diet, with absolutely no cravings for cooked

foods. Made dehydrated foods and snacks all week to munch on for comfort foods.

I am ordering Pure Synergy and VitaMineral Green this week-end. My speech

pathologist is impressed that I am on a raw diet and mentioned to me today that

he needs to lose weight!! I told him I had lost 92 pounds from my highest weight

back in December 2005.

I have renewed hope!!!