PET Scan 2025 #11 Results

I got allowed access to the scan itself 48 hours after it was completed. But had to wait for radiology report.

The above was the initial image and it showed no presence of cancer cells- in 2014 this same scan light up like a Christmas tree. But the remain 3650 images needed to be examined properly.

11th of November 2025

Anita’s back pain has become a very serious issue for us, on a good day she can just about walk and on a bad day can’t get out of bed. A meeting with our GP on Monday prompted an urgent MRI, the choice was wait 4 to 6 months for the national health system to organize one or go private at €350 so we decided to go private and try to get ahead of the situation, and yes got a call from the same clinic I had my PET scan in for an MRI for Anita at 10:30 pm. After checking Anita in for the MRI I asked the receptionist why my PET Scan report was not completed – she checked the system and found the report was with the hematologist since the day of the scan. Unfortunately the lady could not give me a copy but she sent an internal memo to the doctor, I called his secretary this morning 13^th of November and she thought the results had been sent but found them in her draft mail as unsent. But resolved this morning and copy received. Basically its back in the retroperitoneal lymph nodes    

Definition. The retroperitoneal nodes are the parietal abdominal lymph nodes that include the inferior diaphragmatic nodes and the lumbar nodes, which are further divided into left lumbar (aortic), intermediate (interaorticovenous), and right lumbar (caval) nodes.

This is an area that was previously clear of lymphoma so they are classed as new sites. The hematologist will be presenting them to the national disciplinary meeting next week to decide on the next step but most likely they will decide to do a biopsy to confirm lymphoma. Following the biopsy report they will present the treatment plan.  As an added note the scan showed  Small bilateral non-obstructing renal calculi. In other words since the last surgery three weeks ago my kidneys have started to produce more stones but thankfully they are small.

November is looking bad at the moment, I don’t normally like the “If” word especially with cancer but I have asked “What if its back” at my last meeting with the hematologist and he felt that immunotherapy would be the approach however there is another option called CARS T cell which is in advanced trial stage and available on Cancer trials here in Ireland.

To add to the pain we are in the closing week of our house sale and where we had looked at a beautiful house in another county but further away for the hospital we have notified the agent that we can’t proceed, I will need to be closer to a hospital. Also need to talk to my legal team about best course of action i,e, Renting as against buying. All fun and adds to the stress,     

Just to clarify on “retroperitoneal nodes” within this group there are a set of nodes classed as “Left para-aortic lymph nodes”

Left para-aortic lymph nodes are a group of lymph nodes located on the left side of the abdominal aorta. They are part of the retroperitoneal lymph nodes and are crucial for draining lymph from pelvic organs and the lower abdomen, playing a significant role in cancer staging, particularly for gynecologic malignancies. Metastasis to these nodes can be an important factor in the prognosis and treatment planning for several cancers. 

Location and structure

• Position: The left para-aortic nodes are situated around the abdominal aorta, anterior to the left lumbar trunk and above and below the left renal vein.
• Classification: They are part of the larger group of retroperitoneal nodes and are sometimes called “lumbar” lymph nodes.
• Drainage: They drain lymph from the stomach, intestines, and pelvic organs, and these nodes, in turn, drain into the cisterna chyli, which eventually empties into the thoracic duct. 

Clinical significance

• Cancer staging: The involvement of para-aortic lymph nodes is a key factor in staging various cancers, such as ovarian, uterine, and pancreatic cancers, as it can indicate the spread of the disease.
• Metastasis: Cancer cells from pelvic or abdominal tumors can spread to these nodes through lymphatic vessels. For example, metastatic spread from ovarian cancer can reach the para-aortic nodes even when other pelvic nodes are not involved.and obiously Lymphoma as HLD can spread to any of the lymphoma system
• Prognosis: Involvement of these lymph nodes is often associated with a poorer prognosis, and their assessment is vital for determining a patient’s overall survival.
• Surgical importance: In some cancer cases, a surgical removal of these nodes (para-aortic lymphadenectomy) may be recommended to provide a more complete understanding of the cancer’s stage and to help guide further treatment. 

Basically when I relapsed in 2017 there was a single node in this area but slightly behind it which had shown a new site. The biopsy of that particular node was done with a CT giuded needle and was done while I was awake not a great thought but straight forward and fast.

8 years of remission and then this, 2 years short of declaring cancer clear. But unfortunately I have more waiting for biopsy and the results- this will either confirm recurring lymphoma or so other form of Cancer.