Positive Test Results • 11.30.07
Last Monday I went through a brutal test (brutal because it hurts my shoulders and the fluid I had to drink made me gag and the isotope they injected me with made me nauseas…need I go on?) that lasted 3 hours. I spent 45 min for my CT scan and about 2 hours for my PET scan. Although I’m complaining about it I’ve decided it was well worth because I just got the results back from doctor, results that surprised both my family and I, and pleased my doctor, to the point he wanted to kiss me. There was DRAMATIC change. I am PET negative. Meaning that there is no cancer showing in my PET scan. It is virtually gone. There are still some cells that exist, along with the mass in my chest, but they are microcellular and invisible to the scan. The mass in my chest has shrunken (about half the size it was) and was not even visible in the PET scan because it is no longer active. As I understand it, there are still cancerous cells in my body, but so small they are undetectable. (By the way, for all those who don’t know, a PET scan shows all the hot spots of my cancer) In the CT scan all the lymph nodes shrank dramatically as well. It felt really good to see my mom’s emotional response and know that she and lots of others would be worrying a little bit less about me. For me, I knew we were headed for good news all along, although I’m not quite feeling like celebrating yet because there is four more months of chemo to go. However the news does mean that I am going to have two less cycles of chemo, ending my treatments in April, instead of June. I will be in remission in January, but because of the standard protocol for ABVD (my chemo protocol) I have to have two more cycles of chemo after remission. This is the best possible news for me because the second I can get my life back on track I am going to take full advantage of something. These past 10 weeks have been so surreal and I can’t believe that by January I will be considered in remission. A wild ride for sure. I still have a rough path ahead of me, but I just wanted to thank everybody again for all of the support you have given me these past few months. Without all of you, cancer would not be my bitch; I would be cancer’s bitch. I think we all know which one is better. As for school and everything else, a lot has changed and for right now I think that I’m going to be attending UCI in the spring. Although, nothing is for sure, it’s a one day at time life these days.
With love and appreciation
Ben
P.S. Picture props go to my best friend Ski. Thanks buddy.
