So, as follow up to my last post regarding my pulmonary nodule at the top of my lung on the right side, which is where I had my radiation therapy so I had to do the standard follow up, to ensure that it's not cancer caused by the radiation therapy (it was clearly not from a lymph node, so it was not Hodgkin's Lymphoma):
- Waited 3 months (Dec 2015 - March 2016), to see if the nodule grew or went away. Grow = bad, stay the same/go away = good
- No CT contrast to slurp down, since it's a plain CT scan of only my chest, though I still have a IV contrast while in the machine
They have stylin' chairs in the waiting room now
The nodule was originally 6mm, and it's stayed the same size, but has gotten more transparent, which basically means it's dissipating and may disappear all together on my next scan. It was probably caused by some sort of respiratory infection like pneumonia.
I'll have to have another scan in 6 months (Sep 2016), since the nodule is still there, though should disappear or be much smaller, but that's my next regular scan anyway. If my scan in September is good, that means I won't have to have another for 12 months until Oct 2017, and that will be my last scan all together at the 5 year mark since diagnosis and means that I'm cured.
My oncologist was reviewing the scans before the radiologist finished the report, but we knew what we were looking for. Then just as my appointment was about to finish, he's scrolling through the slices of my body, and says "hold on... what is that?" On the scan there was a very-very bright spot in between my lung and heart on my right side, about the size of two to three inches. He then asks me if I still have my port installed, I don't, it's been out for about 3 years now. Then he start muttering and going through all of the possible things he's looking at trying to figure out what it it is.
The reason why he asked me if I still had my port in, was because only metal would show that brightly on a CT scan. He then checked the scans going front to back, and found that it was actually much bigger and longer, like a long piece of alien-organic shaped metal winding from my diaphragm to my shoulder. So then after a couple of minutes, he says "I think it's the contrast that they injected you with, and they just started the scan a few seconds too early so it's concentrated and in your system instead of more spread out."
Doctor: "I'll just wait for the radiologists report to come in and if it's something of concern I'll give you a call, otherwise I'll see you in September."
Me: "I... uh... alright?"
I eventually got the report and per the radiologist: "nothing remarkable. Follow up in 6 months." I've found radiologist to be the most dry and non-plused of all doctors encountered, they're like the HAM radio enthusiasts of the medical world (the most hilarious are always pathologists).
I had also sprained my knee and told my doctor, and added "it's probably not within your specialties." He said "hey... you never know."
3 years since finishing chemotherapy
It's been 3 years since I finished chemotherapy. So I treated myself and went on a 2 day hike of the Olympic peninsula. I went to Hurricane Ridge, and Rialto Beach at La Push (no, don't even think about it). I snowshoed on what is probably one of the last days to snowshoe of the season. I only have 1 1/2 more years until I no more regular scans and checks, Wendy and I might go someplace internationally at that point to celebrate.
That guy (still with hair)
Eh, the view is alright I suppose
