Monday, December 22, 2008

Wowee Wow Wow!

Where do I begin. Today was an awesome day. I"ll try to stick to the facts.
We met with Dr. Chamberlain today to review the ct scan I had gotten done on Thursday. When he came in to meet with us he was visibly stunned. He said that he found it hard to find any viable tumor left. (the MRI does not show the calcification that would show up on a ct and the MRI is what he had to review last week.

He said now he is unsure as to whether to proceed with resection surgery or have SIRT (selective internal radiation therapy) done, while continuing to keep the option of resection open. This is the same question Moriarty and I have been mulling over for the past few months as I continue treatments.
The positive of doing SIRT as opposed to surgery is it will destroy any remaining unseen cancer. However it doesn't offer any possible chance at having a "you can be cured" prognosis. Resection surgery however does offer that possibility.
Surgery has its own negatives of course mainly increased morbidity and as with any surgery risk of not making it through etc.

So the bottom line is this. Dr. Chamberlain wants me to have another PET scan done. If there is any metabolic activity left we go to surgery. He would resect the right side of the liver and possibly a small area on the left. He said he feels very good about having a curative outcome.

If there is no metabolic activity then we will consider doing the SIRT spheres and continue along a path toward surgery. He ended by telling me with a big smile on his face, that being so young, and a mom of two young kids, having such a terrible cancer that I am the type of patient he lives to treat and give the possibility of a cure - at life.

He has impressed us very much so far in our two meetings and I don't think I could be any more blessed than having him and Dr. Moriarty on my team. He would be talking to Dr. Moriarty today and I will meet with Dr. M. myself on Friday before erbitux. Once I get pet scheduled I will meet up again with Dr. Chamberlain.

I am at a loss for words and have been all day. I feel like I have been giving the largest serving of hope poured into my soul since this all began. God has seen me through the horrible and now I am ready for Him to see me through the good. Joy, joy, joy that is all I feel.

God Bless all of you.

Love,
Karen.....yippppeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

14 comments:

Francis Shanahan said...

No one deserves it more than you hon, love you.
-fs

Christina Clarke said...

Such a fantastic leap in the right direction - really delighted for you all!

Wishing you and the kids a very Happy Christmas and continued positive news and the best of health in 2009!

With love, Christina and David (Clarke) xxx

Anonymous said...

Karen…

You have just made my Day. *<{;o}

Hold Fast
Don MacLeod

Anonymous said...

I am in tears, happy tears of course. This is fantastic!!!! All your postivie energy is paying off. Keep it up. Hope to see you next week:)
Kenda

Anonymous said...

Merry Christmas, Karen. Thank you for giving all of us this blessed gift. Love, Sharon (Hausam)

Unknown said...

That's fantastic news Karen!

I'm so glad that you got an early Christmas present from Santa (God!), you deserve it!
Hope to see you in early January, will be in touch.

Lots of love and Merry Christmas from Ireland,
Your cousin,
Catherine Shanahan, Tipperary.

Anonymous said...

Karen, this is wonderful. What better gift could you have gotten for Christmas. You have had a long and trying Advent so we all welcome this news of life and health with you. Enjoy every minute of it with Fran Sydney and Ethan. Love galore and rejoicing in prayer with you all Josie(up Tipp. every time!)

karagh said...

Thank you Lord!

Anonymous said...

Karen, I have been following your blog since my mother was diagnosed in 2007. While she did not make it due to massive liver involvement diagnosed so late, your blog gave me such hope at the time, and I continue to check in to see how you are doing. This is wonderful news and a great gift of hope to family members of cancer patients every where. Many thanks for sharing your terrific news! Merry Christmas :)

Anonymous said...

Karen,
What a wonderful Xmas present for you, Fran and the kids! I'm nearly crying reading this - its so great! Wishing you all a wonderful family Xmas and a healthy and happy 2009. No one deserves it more! Love you loads.
Teresa, Mike and the boys xx

Unknown said...

KAREN!!!! Wow! Your news just made my day I am soo happy that you are victorious!! Wo-hoo! Can't wait to see you -Joy:)

Anonymous said...

This is such a wonderful news! Let's hope that 09 will be a wonderful year for you Karen!

Lena and Victor Antaramian

Anonymous said...

sending you lots of love. May God protect you and your family in the upcoming year.

Anonymous said...

My daughter! The Father