A Liberal_Andy Update, one year after [View All]

[Liberal_Andy]

I don't know how many of you remember, I've posted here a few times regarding my medical thingy I've had goin' on since last March....

persistent sore throat, throat cancer diagnosis in April '05 (squamous cell carcinoma), thorascopy with wedge resection to remove a spot on left lower lung lobe in May (also squamous cell), IMRT radiation to neck and chemo (cisplatin and 5FU) in June and July, scans in August show throat clear but metastatic nodules in both lungs, but nowhere else,... more chemo (erbitux, carboplatin, and taxol) from September to November, November scans show more nodules, chemo changed to erbitux and taxotere to present.

In December my medical oncologist suggested I see a doctor at Duke, to see what they have to offer as a backup. He does his own CT and PET scans on me there in February, plus has his ENT and radiology oncologist check me out.

My wife and I saw him a couple days ago, and here's what he told us;

"I see no galloping tumors in your lungs. I see nothing to treat right now. My left lobe shows scarring from the surgery, there are seven nodules in both lungs, could be tumors or granulomas (benign). I do not see any active cancer on either side on CT scan. One nodule on right side may be scar. PET show uptake in esophagus, probably due to acid reflux I've been having, plus the scars from the radiation."

Best case scenario - I had isolated left lung cancer and throat cancer, both cured,...suggests stop treatment and watch, (scans every few months).

Worst case - Seven cancer nodules in both lungs, after six months therapy, one remaining on right, scarring on left. suggests continue erbitux or tarceva (oral maintenance) and watch.

He says I've been getting excellent treatment here in Greensboro, and to meet with my local doc (I will next week) and decide what to do. "God's not ready for you yet." (Good thing, no rush!) I've was on disability last summer for thirteen weeks, and went back out late December to present, probably will go back to work April 1.

If I stop treatment, and scans show the nodules are growing, then we'll know they're cancer and not scars (scars don't grow), and we'll resume chemo. They're tiny now, not time to panic yet. I intend to be around to see this current reign of witches end, and the sooner the better.

LA