The Alien Within: 27 – Hoddesdon & PETs…
Work and Appointments…
A lunch time trip to Hoddesdon was the main activity of today, meeting was all over in a little over an hour, but worthwhile nonetheless.
So, even with a three hour round trip on top of meeting time, I still managed to return home in time to change and take Benson out around the normal time.
In between, or even whilst changing, I returned a telephone call to a Sue, who left a message about some appointment or other, but without saying where she was calling from, or what the appointment was for.
I vaguely remembered my Keyworker mentioning something about Addenbrookes would contact me directly about my scan. Otherwise I may not have bothered returning the call…
Anyway, I did and Sue was on another call and I agreed to hold, rather thN have her call back, as I would have been out with Benson. While holding, I managed to take a pee, get changed, sort my work bag and grab a biscuit or six to keep me going.
When Sue finally finished her call and took mine, it certainly was about an appointment at Addenbrookes as anticipated.
My PET Scan will be on 01st September, the week before I commence Chemo cycle 3 and a couple of days before my next consultant appointment.
PET stands for positron emission tomography. A PET scan can show how body tissues are working, as well as what they look like. It can help to diagnose and stage a cancer. This helps your doctor decide which treatment you need and whether your treatment is working. (Courtesy of Cancer Research UK web site)
Apparently, I should have undergone a PET before starting my treatment, to set the benchmark as it were. However, because of the aggressive nature of the Alien, it was felt more important to commence treatment without delay. After treatment has started the opportunity is lost for a bench marking scan, so it did not happen.
This will not affect the stuff they will glean from the scan I am due next month and it will determine both the effectiveness of the treatment so far and inform that still to come. Fingers crossed…
Today, itself, has been a samey kind of day as yesterday, with the high of the morning’s steroid dose and low as their effect wears off during the afternoon. And, more importantly, the Movicol continues to do it’s very important job protecting my movements.
Tomorrow is pump off and booster time for Chemo and steroids, yay!
NEXT: Week 4 – Day 5
Really glad the PET scan is happening…. Hoping it will show that stupid Alien that you’re not messing around with the arse kicking!