Good news, but not quite a touchdown

We went to Siteman today for my results from my first scans. And we have things to celebrate, because it was good news!

My scans showed an ever-so-slight increase in tumor size, 3-4mm, if that. I've been wanting to update so many of you today on how it went, but it isn't easy to explain in a couple sentences in a text.

So I know that maybe sounds weird, but the doctor said this was very good news, because it shows the cancer isn't progressing and growing rapidly. For an aggressive cancer, the increase we are seeing is debatable and really we don't have enough data to say for sure if it is larger from when we started treatment or not.

The scan we are using as a data point to compare to is from mid-July, a full 5-6 weeks prior to starting chemo. And it was an outside scan from Mizzou. So, with such a minimal increase of barely a few millimeters, it could be: A, either the scan was done a tad differently at the different location and measured differently and actually things are the same, or B, the tumor grew in those 5-6 weeks between the scan date and starting chemo, and now we're playing catch up, in a way, and shrinking it back down. It's hard to say.

He felt good about the path we're on, though, and since I'm tolerating the chemo so well and since I'm not showing worsening symptoms—another really good thing!—we will continue on with another two rounds of chemo and scan again. At that point, now that we have yesterday's scan, we will have a much better picture of what is going on. Plus they will have more blood work and levels to compare to regarding tumor markers and such that we didn't have today.

So, as I'm putting it: not quite a touchdown, but we got some points on the board.

Of course I wish I could tell you it shrank by half or something wildly crazy like that, but that was never really the expectation. The truth is that containing things and controlling the cancer is as much a win as shrinking. Shrinking is a bonus, honestly.

I didn't sleep a lot last night, but I was feeling good this morning heading into the appointment. I put on a new shirt, my new earrings, and new lipstick and was feeling pretty. After the good news, I really wanted Q'doba, so we got lunch, and then headed home where I promptly de-accessed my port, showered, and took a much-needed nap with Josie at my feet.