P.E.T. Scan October 2017 (P.E.T. Number 10)

17th October 2017.
97 days since Stem Cell Transplant 

Blood test are a day late due to bad weather conditions in Ireland – Hurricane Ophelia sent a Red Warning across Ireland so couldn’t drive on 16th

The blood tests are for CB4 T Cell subsets, TFL, FSH, LH, Bone profile & Testosterone.

CB4 is the T Cell count which I had done about 5 weeks ago

Testosterone Now this is an interesting one. The extreme levels of Chemotherapy used in ICE & BEAM prior to Stem Cell transplant  can cause serious hormone trouble, nice been told after it’s done, this includes spontaneous crying for no reason, growth of man boobs and so on. Don’t think it applies to me but needed checking. All results due next week

20th October 2017 9:30am

100 days since Stem Cell Transplant 

P.E.T Scan  100 days waiting for this test. I don’t particularly like them but this is number 10. 10 PET scans in 3 years & 7 months has set a record in the hospital.  (PET Scan – A Positron Emission Tomography scan is a type of imaging test. It uses a radioactive substance called a tracer to look for cancer cells in the body. P.E.T. Scan)

As normal I have to avoid pregnant women for the day (been avoiding them for 40 years so won’t be difficult) Stay away for small children (same as above) drink loads of water, this is to flush radiation from body. And rest.

Results should be available on Tues 24th but full analyses will take a week and the team in St James will deliver the news.

I am sure every cancer victim will agree that the waiting for theses test and results can be more stressful than the procedures

24th October 2017

Results:

Okay the results are in but not fully. This is classed as a provisional report

104 Days since Stem Cell Transplant

Blood Test

We are still awaiting the T Cell subsets results but they can take two weeks.

My Oncology Liaison Nurse has confirmed that the Testosterone results were “Outstanding” which means I’m not likely to grow man boobs & breakdown crying anytime soon.

All other blood test were normal

P.E.T Scan
It was confirmed that there was no FDG uptake, in other words there was no visible trace of Lymphoma, it was completely clear. I have a copy of the scan results & I can assure you I have read them word by word about 50 times..It is the first PET Scan since diagnosed in 2014 to be completely clear of cancer.

The scan did show issues with my Gallbladder which I’m not surprised about, the massive amount of aggressive Chemo used in April May and July would have place my Gallbladder and Liver under extreme pressure. I suspect that the hospital will follow up with ultrasounds to watch this.

It is estimated that it could take 6 months to 2 years to recover from treatment but I’m already doing more than the doctors expected so I hope to return to work in early 2018 with the okay from Oncologist

We are now waiting for St James to confirm that I am clear so that the medical teams can place me in officially in remission. This could take till Friday

Second time to kick Lymphoma back to hell.

Stage 4B Hodgkins Lymphoma and reoccurrence Stage 4 Non Hodgkins Lymphoma both beaten

I will update here when I am officially told

A note to all diagnosed Lymphoma victims reading this blog: I am a 55 year old Male victim, diagnosed as Stage 4 HLD 2/2014, classed as terminal in Dec 2014 – relapsed to Stage 4 NHL 3/2017 and now cancer free. It is possible to beat cancer, the right mindset along with the right medical team can beat anything. Stay focused, stay strong & fight hard.