CT (with contrast) Results

The downside of having multiple players involved is that it takes a while to get the opinions of everyone involved.

I just talked to the surgeon (yes, he called at 7:30 pm). Luckily, the large spot that was ‘still’ on my ct scan is scar tissue, so at least that mystery is solved. However, I do have a nodule in my chest still. It’s tiny and kind of positioned behind the wires used to sew my chest back together so it wasn’t caught on any of my previous scans. No one knew it was there and it’s higher than the other one, so they didn’t get it out. They aren’t 100% sure it’s cancer, as my chest has been through a lot, but the surgeon thinks it’s likely. He suggested getting another scan in a few months and seeing if it changed. He apologized, which I thought was nice but how is he supposed to go after something he has no idea is there? I’m sure the inside of my chest does not look normal.

The oncologist reviewed it as well. I actually saw him on Monday but was waiting for the surgeon’s opinion. While he also isn’t sure it’s cancer, he said that even if it is, it’s so minimal that he doesn’t suggest starting the medication. Once I start it, I have to be on it forever and there is a higher likelihood that the cancer can mutate so that it won’t work anymore. He suggested getting another scan in a few months and seeing if it changed.

In the midst of that appointment, while he was explaining this all to me, I literally felt something in my body soften. I thought “Is he telling me I don’t have to doanything? F yeah”

The only other option is radioactive iodine. The oncologist suggested that I see the endocrinologist at OHSU as well, since he couldn’t speak to that (this is a fun dance cause he doesn’t deal with RI, while my endo doesn’t deal with the medication). He put in a referral so I’ll be interested to hear what they say, but I have no idea when that appointment will be cause it took a couple months to get scheduled with the oncologist and we likely have to drive to Portland.

All in all, I don’t really want to. I still have to do research and understand the facts so I have all the information, but considering the side effects I felt last time and the fact that I am not really experiencing any symptoms from the cancer itself, I might lean toward just coexisting with it for a while.

I’ve been so armored up and prepared for battle. I want to rest. I want to enjoy my life for a while.

Yes it’s very annoying to not have any finality and weird to think I’ll just be walking around cancer-y but it’s been a helluva year and half and I just want to play in the woods until something realllllly needs done.

Knowing he can’t really give me specifics, I asked the oncologist how long I have, even if I do nothing. He said I could have years before the cancer grows and takes over. In reality 2 years vs 10 years is a big difference, but in the end, it sounded like it’s more likely that one of my other diseases takes me out first.

So, aside from doing research, meeting with the genetic testing people, and getting another scan in 3ish months, I think I’m going to take a break from the land of medical nonsense.

So now I need a name for the nodule/cancer/mass/spot on the ct scan. If we’re going to coexist, we need to be able to have a chat. Any suggestions?