Here is the deal...

First, I am sorry that I did not update yesterday. During the day I caught up with one of my friends, the kids swam in the pool and had a great time! We then had a delicious dinner and I ran off to get a much needed massage! Then, I had a girls night!! I watched Twilight with two girlfriends! We were reliving our teen years! It felt good to have time to socialize. I have been on the go since school got out, first a class, then a visit from my mom, my sister Mary and her kids, then a trip home to Brockport for Mama K's birthday party, then back here for the tests! Whew, I feel like summer is finally here, not just in terms of the weather but things are finally slowing down! Soon, I'll be sitting up my classroom! ugh!!!!

I guess I was sort of avoiding a full update because I wanted the news to be different. When I found out I could have an octreotide scan I was excited because it was supposed to show if the cancer had spread anywhere else in my body. I was excited because I wanted to be told that it had not spread and that they knew that for sure because the scan was proof. One of the most frustrating things about all of this has been the fact that I had been going to the doctor for 5 years trying to figure out what was wrong with me. Now that I know, I want to know what the carcinoid is doing inside me, where it is at all times. The scan was supposed to do that for me.

Well, no one ever told me that the scan does not work for all people. The injection I had was supposed to bond with the cancer cells in my body but that didn't happen. We already knew from when I had my surgery that I have 6 tumors on my liver. The CT scan I had on Friday confirmed that. Those tumors did not show up on the octreotide scan therefore they know that the scan did not work for me.

The CT scan showed that the 6 tumors have not grown in size. That is good news because it means that the treatments are working for me. I will continue to go to Dana Farber every month for blood tests. This is one way my oncologist will monitor my progress. Currently my cancer markers have gone down which means the cancer is "sleeping" and my liver function is now back to normal! I will also continue to get a shot each month as well as a CT scan every six months to keep an eye on those tumors.

I think that covers all my new medical news. I am doing my best to stay positive and I think I am doing a good job. I can go a whole day without thinking the word cancer. It wasn't so long ago that that word popped into my head every five minutes. I have too much to live for to let it get me. I do get down sometimes, which I know is normal. However, I have so many wonderful, positive and uplifting people in my life to turn to in those times. I am so blessed! Thank you, thank you everyone everything! The positive thoughts, the prayers, the listening ears, the checking in, the time, the calls, the e-mails, reading the blog, the shoulder to cry on, the company, the laughs, the hugs, the cards, the notes-the list of gifts I am thankful for goes on and on! So many people have been there for me in so many different ways. I am so grateful and it all means the world to me. I just really want everyone to know. Much love, Theresa