Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Just when I was starting to feel Invincible, reality slapped me in the face!- CarePages

Just when I was starting to feel Invincible, reality slapped me in the face!

Posted Oct 10, 2012 11:52am

Edit: REPOSTED FROM CAREPAGES

Last week I had my PET scan and on Sunday evening, Sean showed me the email from my Oncologist with my results. Now, I know there is no cure and that I will be fighting this for the rest of my life, but learning that the past couple of MRI's were good, showing no growth just possible scar tissue, I was starting to feel comfortable. Our summer vacation and start to the new school year were great, no worries in the back of my mind.
Back to the email, the findings from the PET scan were...
"A resection cavity is seen in the right frontal lobe. There are 2
foci of increased tracer activity. The first is located in the brain
parenchyma immediately posterior and medial to the edge of the
resection cavity and demonstrates activity slightly less than the
basal ganglia. A second focus of increased activity, which is just
above that of the basal ganglia, is seen in the parenchyma
immediately inferior and anterior to the edge of the resection
cavity. These areas are suspicious for residual tumor versus
recurrence."
My Oncologist said there were 2 "hot-spots" which we were told all along were scar tissue. The brain cancer board at UCLA will look at my images during their next meeting, which happens to be this morning. Maybe they're all discussing me right now as I write this, with my images out on the screen in front of them!! They are going to discuss the best treatment options for me and I should know tonight or tomorrow morning what is next in this crazy journey.

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

PET Scan- CarePages

PET Scan

Posted Oct 3, 2012 1:21pm

Edit: REPOST FROM CAREPAGES

I just had my PET scan to see if the glob (not the doctor's word) in my brain is cancer or scar tissue. I should find out later this week, but my Oncologist did say that there are a lot of false negatives, so it may show up as scar tissue but still be cancer. Sean and I are looking into altrenative treatments for cancer and have found 2 that we like, but are waiting on my Oncologists opinion before we start anything. But I figure that while nothing is growing in there I might as well be doing something to treat it and would rather do something natural at this point. If it started growing back, I'd probably do chemo.
Thank you to those who supported our family in our brain cancer walk. A total of over $64,000 was raised for the SDBTF!! We were so proud to be a part of that raising around $4,000 of it!
Also, don't forget to vote for me in the Yahoo Women Who Shine Contest and to share the link with those you know. It is very appreicated. My sister in law, LaVonne wrote a blog about it and her's was selected!
http://shine.yahoo.com/photos/survivor-1344924144-slideshow/melanie-kabo-photo-1347840178.html
I know the picture looks nothing like me now, but that was when I only had 3 children and still had time to straighten my long (pre surgery) hair! Thanks for all of your votes! I really appreciate it and am currently just over 200 votes behind the person in 1st place, and know that with your help we can pass her!