I didn't study for the test....

...but I received a good grade anyway. On Friday I had a PET Scan. (PET = Positron Emission Tomography: after being injected with radioactive sugar they create a 3D image of my entire body with CT scans. The sugar metabolizes faster in areas where cancer cells are, so that is how they can see if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.)

On the scan in December they saw fluid in my lung cavity and in my pelvis, a spot on my liver and on my spine. I received 14 radiation sessions for the cancer on my spine for pain management, and so far 5 treatments of systemic chemotherapy to treat all the other tumors.

The scan on Friday showed no fluid anywhere, the spot on the liver gone and scarring on the spine consistent with radiation treatments. So very good news. The sweetest words on the report were "no metabolically active malignancy in the abdomen or pelvis is evident." Can I hear an AMEN!

Neither this scan nor the one in December picked up the tumors in my bile duct and hepatic ducts. The doctors said this is because they are long and thin. We already got great news on those tumors from the doctors down in Denver when I had my last stent procedure on February 13th and they found there was significant improvement. We'll hear more about that progress in 4 weeks when I return to Denver for my next ERCP/stent check.

I also had some bloodwork done this week. The tumor marker CA19-9 was better. It was 5100 in January and 1093 just 3 weeks ago. Last week it was 603. Less than 60 is normal. So it is headed in the right direction. Our understanding from previous discussions with the medical oncologist is we will continue the chemotherapy until the tumor marker is back in the normal range. We meet with the medical oncology team this week Tuesday (St. Paddy's Day!) to review my progress and update my treatment plan. Immediately after meeting with the doctor, I'm scheduled for my next chemo treatment. As you may recall, they have me on a 2 week on/1 week off schedule for the next several rounds.

Last week was my week off from chemotherapy. I have been able to reduce my pain medication to almost 1/4 of my January dosage, which is great news. I have, however, still been battling both extreme nausea and extreme fatigue. I'm still taking about the same dosage of nausea medications as I have been since starting chemo, and while my energy seems to be a little better on some days, the smallest activity just wipes me out. I frequently have to stop at the landing half the way up the stairs, and while I've been able to venture out of the house more often, even small trips send me back to bed for several hours and sometimes the next day, too.

Words seem inadequate to express my gratitude for all the prayers from all of the people who care about me. It's very clear to Bill and me that it is those prayers more than anything else that account for my astounding progress. It was almost impossible for us to see arriving at this point in my treatment so quickly, and while we know we're not out of the woods yet, we find ourselves filled with gratitude and renewed hope. Thank you, thank you, thank you, and please keep those prayers coming!

I would like to thank my ride coordinator Karen for driving me to my PET Scan appointment on Friday. I would also like to thank my personal chefs, Brenda who brought me over a wonderful lunch and stayed with me through the afternoon and Suzanne who brought me up to speed on all the City of Fort Collins IT Department gossip and cooked us a delicious chicken dinner, also on Friday. Turns out they haven't boxed up my cube just yet. Chris and Kelly both were working on Friday and Bill felt more comfortable having someone here to baby sit me.

Have a peaceful week.

Michelle (Bill helped a little bit this week, too)

P.S. I heard the coolest thing on a TV commercial this week:

I don't have an Expiration Date!