15 August 2024

12 years ago I was told by my oncologist that he was fairly certain that the chemo had done its job. I was scheduled for a Petscan which would likely show no trace of the disease.

 

The left image was the original scan showing the extent of the cancer.  The right image was about 6 months later.  Some of the black in both images shows organs that that normally appear this way.  The brain, the kidneys, the oval in pelvic area and a couple of little dots [I can’t remember which organs they were but they are supposed to show as black.  The rest of the black in the left image is cancer. This is what Stage 4 looks like. I was told there was a tumor-load the size of an 8-pound fetus in my retro-peritoneum.  That’s smack dab in the middle.

12 years later, due to the passage of time and some anomalies in my bloodwork I was scheduled for another Petscan.

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The new scan shows the present extent of the cancer, again Stage 4.  The spread is extensive, into my kidneys, spleen, lungs and more.  Not what we were expecting.

Folicular B-Cell Lymphoma grows slowly and it’s probably been growing for quite a few years.  Next time, if I survive this one, I will request a scan every couple of years lest it gets to this point again.

Here is some info about the disease.

FL is the most common type of low-grade lymphoma, accounting for 20–30% of all NHL cases. 

 

FL is usually slow-growing, but it can sometimes grow quickly. It's often found in the lymph nodes, but it can also occur in the bone marrow, spleen, liver, and peripheral blood. FL is more common in older adults, with a median age of 55, and is rare in children under 20. It's also more common in Caucasians than in Asians and African Americans, and exposure to pesticides and herbicides may be a risk factor. 

FL is usually not curable, but it's often treatable and can help patients live for many years with a good quality of life. The goal of treatment is to put the patient into remission, where the amount of lymphoma is significantly reduced. Treatment options include targeted therapy without chemotherapy, active surveillance, or delaying treatment until the lymphoma starts causing problems. 

Healthcare providers can diagnose FL using several tests, including:

·         Biopsy: Taking lymph node tissue samples to test for signs of cancer

·         Positron emission tomography (PET) scan: Observing cancer cell activity and establishing a cancer grade

·         Computed tomography (CT) scan: Monitoring cancer and evaluating treatment response 

 

Originally, they were going to surgically remove a node from my groin but when the surgeon examined the scan he determined it was not a good idea. 

I am now awaiting an appointment for a CT-Scan guided tissue extraction.  I had one of these 12 years ago in order to determine the specific type of cancer.  They’re doing it this time for the same reason but also to see if it may have mutated.  I have no idea what that suggests. I’m in a holding pattern right now.

One thing that I am certain of is none of this is going to interfere with my week in Puerto Vallarta in October.