January 30, 2007

When the oncologist starts to cry at the beginning of an appointment,
you know you better pay close attention.............

Cancer is one tricky disease.

But I'm getting ahead of myself. Today we met with Dr. Joyce,
Zachary's oncologist, to hear the results of the PET scan. A pet scan
is a test to see if the cancer is alive or dead.

Most of Zachary's cancer has been killed off by the first four of six
rounds of Chemo.

Most.

There is the lower right side of his abdomen, around his belt line,
which not only hasn't died but is very much alive. This is a big
problem. Is it another form of cancer? Is it the same kind of cancer
only it isn't responding to treatment like the rest of the cells? How
does one treat such a thing? If it is another cancer, how do you
treat both at the same time? How much can the body take at one time?

Right now he is scheduled for another biopsy with Dr. Jessup tomorrow.
The biopsy will go to both Bloomington hospital and the Mayo Clinic
for reading. Dr. Joyce in Bloomington and Dr. Robertson in Indy are
conferring on what the next steps will be based on the biopsy.

I will keep you posted.

Thank you for being in our lives.