PET Scan 7/16 and Preliminary Results

To determine whether the IL2 treatment is helping, I went in for a PET scan on 7/16. If lesions are stable or shrinking, the treatment would be helping and I would likely continue with more courses (otherwise I would need to seek a new treatment option.)

Got the scan results back from my local oncologist today -- according to the radiologist, "the previously seen areas of uptake are no longer seen on the PET scan. This indicates a good response to treatment."

Sounds like the IL2 treatment did something! I believe that means nothing significant lit up in my lungs -- the radioactive sugar was not getting taken up in any greater quantity there than elsewhere. As opposed to the first PET scan where parts of my lungs and some lymph nodes around them lit up.

I should have a more detailed interpretation once I talk to the melanoma specialist.

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2nd talk with Surgeon

Found out more about the VATS procedure today. They'll remove a nodule, and then keep me on the table while it's biopsied. If it is positive, they'll get more material, then wrap up. If the biopsy comes back negative, they'll do another nodule... and biopsy again and wait... not sure how many times they'll repeat. I guess I'm hoping for a long procedure. The surgeon said he'll ask the lab to freeze some of the material so that I could have it retrieved at a later time... mentioned I was getting a second opinion from UCSF cancer center, and that UCSF may therefore be interested in getting some of the sample as well.

Cyberknife 11/9-10

Underwent 2 cyberknife sessions, the first to treat the tumor bed of the first brain tumor, the second to treat the second one that showed up recently. The procedure is pretty straightforward, it's outpatient. The picture shows the mask they made for me which holds my head in place so the laser is accurate. Each session was an hour or so. I should know by the end of the weekend if there are any short-term complications (none I hope). Then it's a matter of letting the radiation do its job over the next couple of months. Then re-scanning to see both how the two treated areas are doing, and also to see if anything new shows up in the brain.

Cycle 4/Course 2 Finished

(8/6-8/9/2010) Finished cycle 4/course 2. Stopped this time due to some combination of high white T cell count, neurotoxicity and maybe something else. Tolerated 4 bags out of a total of 14, felt as bad as the other times where I tolerated more doses. Will get more scans in about 5 weeks time, and see what they look like compared to the last sets.

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