I saw the consultant yesterday, and we discussed how things were going in general, which is really very well indeed. He was pleased that I was experiencing less pain, and that I now need to take a reduced dose of the anti-nausea medication I’m on. He asked again where I was experiencing the pain in my back, so I showed him the two places where I notice it the most, at the bottom of the ribs on my left side, and under my right shoulder blade. He looked a bit smug, which was an unusual reaction, I thought.
The reason soon became clear, when he produced the results of the MRI scan. It turns out that he had been sure for a while that there was a third tumour on my spine, but it hadn’t shown up on either the CT scan or the bone scan, which was why he scheduled the MRI scan. It confirmed the two bone metastases on my T8 and L5 vertebrae, which we had seen earlier, but it also showed a small metastasis on my L1 vertebra, between the other two that we already knew about. The consultant said that was what he was had expected, and it would account for the residual pain that was lower down than the pain from the T8 vertebra, the uppermost of the two we knew about. The small size of the L1 tumour means that it is responsible for only a small amount of pain, which is why I’ve been feeling so much better recently. We decided, after a short discussion, to defer radiotherapy on L1 until after Gillian and I come back from our holiday in Wales. It would be a terrible shame to have the first part of the holiday ruined by pain and vomiting. Besides, there is no guarantee that it would be possible to schedule the treatment before we leave.
The final thing we discussed was a fourth metastasis, on my C4 vertebra in my neck. Well, it’s not at all certain whether it is a metastasis at all, the word the consultant used about the diagnosis was “equivocal”. We decided, as I’m not experiencing any pain in that area, not to bother treating it for the moment.
That was it. The next time I see the consultant will probably be when I go to Cheltenham for the next round of radiotherapy, and after then not for a few weeks.
This period of temporary remission is much nicer than the period of treatment. Long may it last.
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Hi Chris,
Glad the results were good – hope you’re enjoying yourself more now, and have a good holiday!
Cheers,
David.
Thanks, David, I am. And I’m looking forward very much to the holiday. I should have some photos to show afterwards.
Have a wonderful holiday – and enjoy the end of chemo.
Thank you, Joan. I intend to. Just a few days to go now.
Hiya Chris,
Have a wonderful time on holiday and enjoy it to the most! I’ll keep my fingers crossed for beautiful weather 🙂
Julie.
Thank you, Julie, I’m sure it will be a great holiday. Wales is, however, famous for its rain, and it looks as though it will be raining at the beginning of the holiday. Oh well… We’ll take waterproofs 🙂
Hello Chris,
I attended Zoe’s wedding on Friday. There I learnt of your news.
I am so very sorry. I realise you may be past the I am sorry stage, as I only just found out please permit me to say so.
I will continue to read your blog.
If there is anything else I can do please do let me know.
Mantina, how lovely to hear from you! It’s great to have you reading the blog. Of course I’ll be very glad to make use of your kind offer, but at the moment, as you will have seen, things seem to be going quite well.