Great News!

I have some really exciting news!

This past Tuesday I went to Dana Farber Cancer Institute for my PET scan. I have been having PET scans since April 2007. At first I went every three months then recently graduated to every 6 months. Well.....this one started like every other PET. I couldn't eat or drink 6 hours prior.  I woke up that morning at 6:30 and grabbed a cab to Dana Farber. I arrived right around 7am and signed in getting my beautiful hospital bracelet.  They took me back right away as I was the first appointment of the day.  As usual I sat down in my chair and prepared for the doctor to inject me with the radioactive stuff.  After about an hour I was taken to the machine where they scanned me for about 45 minutes.

Much later that day I went to see the doctor who orders my PET scans. After small talk she congratulates me on my graduation. Graduation!?! I had absolutely no idea what she was talking about. My Doc. must have seen the perplexed look on my face because she blurted out...."You are done with PET scans"

I had absolutely not a clue that this was even an option. As many cancer patients know we are often kept in the dark. Apparently my doctors had ordered PET scans for me much longer than normal. Because of the extreme situations of my diagnosis they wanted to be absolutely sure everything was okay. But, after three years of totally clear scans the doctors have ordered that I no longer need them.  I will still need to see my doctors for physical exams every six months but the dreaded PETs are over.

Im excited and nervous at the same time. I have been fortunate. Its strange to have had such a gruesome diagnosis, difficult time with treatments and almost a 2 year recover afterwards. But now I am doing so well. I am happy but am always acutely aware of my body and ready to start fighting if the cancer returns.

Here is an inside look at my PET Scan