Scan Update

When I was a little girl I used to tell my grandfather, Papa, about all the books I read and the fantastical places in those books.

He told me, “You have wanderlust; don’t worry, you'll see the world someday.”

Well Papa, I’m giving it one hell of a go! 

A pic from our recent trip — standing in the smallest country in the world. 

As many of you know, I had my full-body scan earlier this week, and we received the radiologist’s report today. The scans revealed growth in the existing tumors, along with the appearance of several new ones. While this isn’t entirely surprising, it’s still disheartening. I’ve noticed that some of the tumors on my scalp have grown significantly over the past few months, and I feared they might reflect what’s happening with the internal tumors as well.

If you’re not familiar with it, Leiomyosarcoma is a miserable and aggressive disease. That said, I’m grateful that the tumors in my lungs, according to the pathologist’s measurements, don’t seem to have grown significantly. I’m not thrilled about the new tumors, but I take some solace in the fact that they are in less critical areas, such as my thigh.

What does this mean? We’re not entirely sure yet. Jim and I will be meeting with my doctor next week to discuss the next steps. Until then, we are choosing to focus on the small blessings, like the relatively slow lung tumor growth, and will continue to move forward with hope and determination.

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**We now use A.I. to create a laymen's terms synopsis of medical reports. It does a good job weeding out the medical jargon and helps us not miss anything. It is quite blunt, but facts are facts. This is the synopsis of the most recent scan.**

Simplified Synopsis of the Report

This scan report provides an update on the progression of cancer in a 53-year-old female with a history of breast cancer, B-cell lymphoma, and metastatic leiomyosarcoma. The main findings indicate a worsening condition, with cancer spreading to various parts of the body. Here's a breakdown:

Key Findings:

1. Lungs:
• Multiple nodules in both lungs have grown larger and become more active, indicating increased cancer activity.
2. Liver:
• The existing cancerous lesions in the liver show slightly increased activity compared to the previous scan.
3. Bones:
• New and worsening cancer lesions are found in several bones, including the spine, pelvis, and thigh bones.
4. Soft Tissues:
• New and worsening cancerous growths are seen in muscles and under the skin, including areas around the shoulders and abdominal wall.
5. Head/Neck:
• Persistent cancer activity in a small nodule on the back of the scalp.
6. Lymph Nodes:
• Increased cancer activity in a lymph node in the pelvis.
7. Surgical Sites:
• Evidence of past surgeries is noted, including the removal of the spleen and reconstruction of major blood vessels after a previous tumor resection.

Overall Impression:

• The cancer is progressing, with new and worsening activity in the lungs, bones, muscles, and subcutaneous tissues.
• Liver lesions remain active and have slightly worsened.
• The report indicates the spread and growth of cancerous lesions in multiple areas, suggesting disease progression since the previous scan.