Latest info on Robin -12/12/04

 
Lots of folks have been asking about the CT and Bone scans that Robin received last Wednesday. Although we do not have the full story yet, I felt obligated to tell you what has happened since my last report, and we have been told so far.

Robin has completed the first five steps of preparation for Chemotherapy. She has given so much blood one vial at a time that she was beginning to look like a pin-cushion. Her blood work shows her sugar levels are high, but everything else (including cholesterol) looked good. Her infection is improving with the antibiotics. Her EKG on the December 3rd indicated an anomaly, so she was referred to a cardiologist. Her oncologist said that she would probably use a different chemotherapy; one that was less difficult on the heart. On Monday, the heart doctor looked at the EKG, gave her an Echo-Cardiogram, and said everything looked good. He scheduled her for a stress test (treadmill) on Thursday, but had to reschedule when he figured out that the CT and Bone scans would be Wednesday, and she would still be full of radioactive isotopes. On Wednesday, Robin had the scans done - a full day experience. They said the doctor's report would be available on Friday.

Friday, Robin called the Oncologist's (Dr. McClure's) office to find out the scan results. Late that afternoon, a nurse from McClure's office returned Robin's call. She said that the doctor had not seen the reports yet, and probably would not get to them today, but the nurse read the information to Robin over the phone.

The report indicates that Robin has clusters of "diseased" lymph nodes on her right side that are near her trachea (wind pipe) and near the heart. Needless to say, this was alarming, but the nurse couldn't elaborate or answer any questions. Robin asked to see the oncologist on Tuesday before chemo.

Robin called Dr. Mason, her surgeon to let him know that the results were available, and to find out if this changed the plans. He called back a couple of times over the weekend, but missed Robin. We finally connected with him on Sunday evening, and he said that this finding would not delay the plans to start chemotherapy on Tuesday. He read the reports and said that the nodes were "moderately inflamed", and he expects more tests to be ordered by the oncologist; probably biopsies from that area. He said that additional specialists might need to be called for these.

We were pleased to hear that the findings will not delay the start of chemotherapy, for we are anxious to get treatment under way. Of course, the scan findings are distressing, but there are too many unknowns to start worrying about it. We are thinking that these findings represent adjustments that have to be made in the plans. I'll send more information when we have completed the chemotherapy. Hopefully, we will know more about how the scan results will affect the plans by then.

Larry

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