PET/CT Scan Update

On Thursday Judy and I went to Morgantown for a PET/CT Scan followup of my chemotherapy treatment. You will remember that we started the chemotherapy in May and continued through October of last 2009. I received the chemical cocktail ABVD every two weeks and ended the series of 12 on October 21. At that time, I was in remission. (Actually I was in remission after 4 treatments)

We did the PET/CT scan preparation at 11:00 AM which entails injecting a radioactive material into the blood system and then drinking 3 glasses of jello/sugar solution. The sugar is metabolized quickly by tumors (which has a higher metabolic rate). The tumor metabolism is picked up by the radioactive material - tumors tend to appear as "glowing" areas on the PET/CT scan digital photos.

I say to those folks who have a privacy problem with full body scans at the airports (to help in security on the flights) - you should have a PET/CR scan! Every layer of your body is exposed. I certainly have no problem with medical or security scans.

I had followup labs and then met with the cancer specialist. Dr. Craig was as wonderful as ever. He came in with the news that he was concerned with an aspect of the current scan. The scan showed a "glowing" area in my right underarm lymph node area (axillary). This is the area where we first noticed the largest tumor in May, 2009.

OK- this is only a bump in our cancer recovery. We will see what this actually is. Dr. Craig suggested that there is an excellent WVU doctor, an intervention radiologist, who can most likely preform a needle biopsy - the needle being directed by the CAT scan. However, the intervention radiologist determined after looking at the results of the scan, that a needle biopsy was not possible. The next step is another lympectomy so the suspect areas rcan be removed and tested. Will meet next week with the surgeon to schedule lymph removal. Will keep you all informed. How exciting can this cancer trip be?

We stayed Thursday night with Jeff and Sarah. Sarah had a great meal prepared. We watched The Mentalist before will retired to bed. This is one of our favorite shows.

When I got up, Sam was playing his computer games.

He is so good with his computer skills. You will notice that when he got up he possessed the "chicken" hair that I have in the mornings.

Here is a cute story concerning Sarah and Sam's expertise on the computer. Sarah ordered a sweeper from Amazon. However, two Hoovers arrived. Seems she must have double clicked and put two sweepers in her virtual on-line cart.

This morning, we were in their kitchen when we heard Sam say proudly, "I ordered that one!"

There on the screen was the Amazon website and a picture of a sweeper.

If you folks know anything about Amazon, you know that once a data base is established, it only takes a few easy clicks and Sam could have added the third sweeper to the Dodson household!


Mr Nate was as charming as ever.

He has his own method of getting across the floor, but is not up in a full crawl. His personality is really blooming.



We are so blessed to be able to see these guys frequently. It would be so fantastic to be closer to Flora and Lucy so we could share in their adventures more often.

As I mentioned, we will update you as we walk the ole cancer recovery road. As always, it has been an experience that I can truly say has made me a better person.