So I had my PET Scan Tuesday at Huntsman and Marni, my Mom, and I had an Appt. with the radiation oncologist today to talk about the results and also about what radiation would entail. Well....It's official, I am a "Complete Responder". Our radiation oncologist says they typically don't say you are in "remission" until you are finished with your treatments (chemo & radiation) however they were unable to find cancerous cells in the scan. So the medical term is that I have had a "complete response" to the chemotherapy. All of us were ecstatic to get the results we did.
We know that next Tuesday I will be making the trek up to Huntsman to have what is called a "Mapping Session" to get my radiation set up. I found out I will be getting some tattoos. Who would of ever thought?? They will actually just be little dots on my arm so that each time I go in they will know exactly how to line up the machine as it was before. I will have 4 weeks of Radiation. (For those who don't know, that means I will go up to Huntsman every weekday for 4 weeks.) The appts are relatively short, 45 mins to 1 hour. I also know the only side-effects I should have from the radiation will be that my arm will looked sunburned a few weeks in and I could experience a little fatigue. Not too shabby. Nothing like Chemo. After the mapping session, they say it takes 4-5 days for them to get things set up so I would assume it would be the week after or so that I would start radiation.
We also found out that I will most likely be doing the MRI/Surgery in about 3 months. After I complete radiation, I have to wait about 6-8 weeks for my arm to heal before they will do any type of surgery. I may be bald for a couple more months too before I start getting my hair like it was before...
As much as Marni and I are still traveling down this road, we want to tell all of you who have been and are supporting us through this trial, how grateful we are for you. Your thoughts, prayers, and whatever else you have done for us has not gone unnoticed. We look forward to the chance that we will have to return the favor to each of you. Thank you again!
Maybe one day I will have a buzzed head and scruffy beard as you see below....
We couldn't find any better pictures to add....
9 comments:
What wonderful news!! I know you still have part of this journey to complete, but what an amazing blessing to have responded so well to chemotherapy. I'm sure that is a huge relief to not only have it (the chemo) over with but to also have it be so successful. Good luck with the radiation. You will continue to be in our thoughts and prayers.
We are so glad to hear the great news. I always knew you were special. Please let us know if we can do anything. We still need to get together for a couples date night.
I'm so happy for you guys. What wonderful news to receive. I'm sure everything else will go smoothly and you'll be completely done with everything before you know it.
Lookin' good son number 2! So happy to hear the news! Good luck with the radiation. Soon, all of this will be a memory! Love you both!
Thanks for the update! I was getting worried and am glad to hear that I don't have to be.
Hey, Marni always wanted a tatoo so I'm sure she is pretty thrilled about your dot.
Yeah, she asked me if she could get one too. I told her no.
darren,
awesome news, congrats! so good to hear. this is short, im using my new phone. paul
Great news!! You will still be in our prayers and thoughts.
Love, Uncle Bill
Darren, congratulations! Sounds like things are going well! When my dad had radiation, he was pretty wiped out each day. But I am sure after coming off of Chemo that Radiation will be a cake walk! My dad does have the tattoos as well. Maybe you could ask them to draw a little tail coming out of the dots to look like a tear drop and people will think that you are pretty tough! Just like the gangsters!
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