As many of you have heard, the doctors found a small spot (measured
in millimeters) on mom's last two MRI's. After much debate, they
decided that it is most likely a recurrence of the SNUC tumor, even
though it is in a totally different area (the cerebellum rather than the
frontal lobe). Even though that's rare, it would be more rare for her
to develop a completely different type of tumor. As one doctor said, it
would be like lightning striking twice. We were a little disheartened by the news at first, but we soon decided that this was really the best of all possible bad news.
They found no
other areas of concern in the PET scan, so they are going to focus on
the spot. The consensus regarding the treatment approach is that she
should have Stereo Tactic Radio Surgery (aka STaRS). This is the "one
dose" of radiation that they mentioned earlier. It's basically a very
intense, precise dose of radiation that will remove the tumor. So even
though it is called "surgery," there's no cutting involved. Just
radiation.
She was fitted for the radiation mask the
week before Christmas, so everything is set for her to have the
procedure next week. They would have done it sooner, but she had
planned to visit Allie and Natalie and families in Virginia this past
week and the doctors were very much in favor of her doing that. So,
she's back home as of last night and resting up for the big day.
Hope that 2012 has already brought you many blessings and that it holds many more,
jk
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