Finally an Update

We haven't posted in awhile because there hasn't been anything to post. That's a good thing. E. finished his course of steroids, which seemed to do the trick as all the "funky brain stuff" improved. Based on that, we're assuming there was indeed some swelling in the brain and now it's gone. Good deal. The steroids did make his blood sugars go out of whack as expected and so in addition to his oral diabetes medication, he is still on the long acting and quick acting insulin shots. He of course is not thrilled with that set-up, but is managing. E. was able to wean off the one anti-seizure medication (Dilantin) and titrate on the other anti-seizure medication (Keppra). It was a surprisingly long and slow process.

But the bigger update is that E. had a PET/CT scan on Tuesday and a MRI yesterday ... EVERYTHING IS STABLE! "There are no findings to suggest recurrent tumor or metastatic disease."

The PET/CT scanned from the base of the skull to the thighs, while the MRI focused on the brain/skull.

The PET/CT was clear. Nothing lit up. Gotta love that.

The MRI looked very much the same as it did three months ago. The "enhancement" (the white area around the removed tumors that lit up) looked the same. As you may recall, at the time of the last MRI, we weren't sure if the enhancement was delayed treatment effect or if it was new cancer growth. We were in the "wait and see" mode ... waiting for three months to get a comparison MRI. Yesterday's MRI showed no change, which indicates the enhancement is in fact treatment side effects. Woot Woot!!! The "necrosis" (the dead tissue where the tumors used to be) is actually a bit smaller. When asked if these areas of enhancement and necrosis would change in the future, Dr. L. said that they may stay looking the same and she thinks "that will be the case here."

Next up ... repeats scans in six months. Yippee!!!