My well-studied bod

Just a quickie today: I had a PET scan earlier today, which looked at me from head to abdomen. On Tuesday I will have a colonoscopy and on Friday the biopsy. Surely that will provide plenty of info for a diagnosis! That's a lot of fasting too. 

xoxoxo

Katie

Much better news yesterday

On Wednesday, Al and I trundled down to the SF Kaiser to meet with their top colorectal surgeon. Based a physical exam, he said I looked great. He suspects the remaining mass mentioned in the CT report is just scar tissue. (It turns out that having a real doctor interpret the report is far better than depending on a total neophyte like me. The report was full of medical jargon in addition to the non-native speaker challenge.) A biopsy on January 2 will verify. Fingers crossed!

Needless to say, we at the Walter house are much cheerier and more in the Christmas spirit. There are far too few days remaining. Get that shopping done!

Much love,

Katie

Not healed yet

I just returned from a wonderful week in Boston with my sister - and snuck in two days in NYC with my niece, who went down with me on the train. Macy's, Bloomingdales, Tiffany, Fifth Avenue and Rockefeller Center Christmas lights, and dinner with Dan and Aimee. It surpassed all expectations. Sister Maggie and I polished off my last day in Boston with the Colin Firth Pride and Prejudice. The definitive smoldering Mr. Darcy. It was quite the week, and my energy is returning in a very big way.

However, while I was in Boston I got the results of my first post-treatment CT scan. I suspect the radiology report was written by a non-native speaker, so it's tough to understand. But I think it's fair to assume that "Less defined the previously 4.3 cm rectal mass, but persistent soft tissue mass with markedly symmetrical with thickening and luminal narrowing of the rectum extending to the adjacent distal sigmoid colon..." is not the best possible news. A more detailed PET scan is scheduled for December 28.

Al and I are seeing Kaiser's top colorectal surgeon in SF this Wednesday, so I hope to know more then. In the mean time, many thanks to everyone for your continued good thoughts and love. 

Happy shopping! 

Much love,
Katie