more bad health news
I've just been at the hospital for another appointment. I have previously mentioned two new recent tumours (side of head, left hip); I discovered another a couple of days ago, just south of my left buttock. The registrar thinks the very bad neck pain (and now my left arm is very weak) is probably due to a nerve trapped by another tumour at the top of my spine. My liver is also swelling due to the tumours there growing.
What this tells us is that the cancer is spreading very quickly and aggressively. They don't have a way of predicting where the next tumours will come. If I am very lucky, I may well have several months left, but if they strike at vital organs, I could die in a week, and some weeks is a more likely prognosis than some months, apparently.
In the meantime they want to scan my neck. He'd prefer an MRI, but that depends on the stent. The records don't show what it's made of - if it's plastic, no problem; if it is ferrous, it can't be done; if it's a non-magnetic metal it can be done, but the stent might get very hot and painful. If the MRI isn't on (I think that is the likely answer), they will try a CT scan, and if there is a tumour trapping the nerve they can try a one-shot radiation attack on that, apparently, to try to remove that very bad pain, which would be nice. In the meantime I am on new morphine-based painkillers.
I've actually been feeling rather better for the last few days - I'm getting some solid food down me (which is still quite hard, for various reasons) and drinking much more, and thereby rehydrating some). I've regained a couple of pounds from my low of 9 stone. All this is helping, but of course the spreading cancer trumps these small benefits. I just have to keep my fingers crossed that vital organs are spared for a while longer.
What this tells us is that the cancer is spreading very quickly and aggressively. They don't have a way of predicting where the next tumours will come. If I am very lucky, I may well have several months left, but if they strike at vital organs, I could die in a week, and some weeks is a more likely prognosis than some months, apparently.
In the meantime they want to scan my neck. He'd prefer an MRI, but that depends on the stent. The records don't show what it's made of - if it's plastic, no problem; if it is ferrous, it can't be done; if it's a non-magnetic metal it can be done, but the stent might get very hot and painful. If the MRI isn't on (I think that is the likely answer), they will try a CT scan, and if there is a tumour trapping the nerve they can try a one-shot radiation attack on that, apparently, to try to remove that very bad pain, which would be nice. In the meantime I am on new morphine-based painkillers.
I've actually been feeling rather better for the last few days - I'm getting some solid food down me (which is still quite hard, for various reasons) and drinking much more, and thereby rehydrating some). I've regained a couple of pounds from my low of 9 stone. All this is helping, but of course the spreading cancer trumps these small benefits. I just have to keep my fingers crossed that vital organs are spared for a while longer.