Short Executive Status (Summary) -- Blog is below

Active Tumors:
»
5+ liver tumors -- largest is 7 cm by 5.2 cm (70 x 52 mm), Gold tracers inserted Nov 21 for CyberKnife x-ray 3D movement tracking. Thu Dec 1st,2011, CyberKnife planning. Dec 16th, treatment 1/3 done to whole liver. Dec 19th, treatment 2/3 done to whole liver. Dec 21st, treatment 3 failed, couldn't get tracer alignment. Dec 22nd, treatment 2.5/3 done using 2 of 4 tracers. Final 0.5 treatment was to be done Tue Dec 27th. Cancelled due to complications and hospitalization.

»
12 lung tumors -- largest is 8 mm in size (0.8 cm)

»
1 lymph node tumor -- near left renal vein & artery of left kidney (1.4 cm). Nov 14th: Ultrasound done of both kidneys and bladder area, all 3 areas are cancer free.

» 3rd-8th brain tumors -- 6 new brain tumors. Sizes all less than 5mm(0.5cm). Some as small as 2mm(0.2cm). Full brain radiation or CyberKnife TBD in Jan after 2nd MRI to see speed of growth.

Inactive Tumors:
» 2nd brain tumor -- Killed via CyberKnife Sep 29/2011, 5 mm in size (0.5 cm).
» 1st brain tumor -- Killed via CyberKnife May/2011, was 20 mm in size (2 cm). Nov 21st, still showing brain tissue swelling, but not active.
» Original Esophogeal Cancer tumor (source of everything) -- Surgically removed June/2010 by 3-field Esophogectomy. Was roughly large egg sized.

[ Note: 2.54 cm = 25.4mm = 1 inch ]

5 pictures included in album


2011_11_16, Shane in BIG CHAIR



Link to 34 surgery June 2010 pictures and some post surgery shots.

Latest Picture

Latest Picture
Shane - 2011_11_27, Photo Shoot lighting prep

Monday, November 21, 2011

2011-11-21: CyberKnife tracer insertion done.

Two needles inserting two tracers / markers per needle is done. Two tracers per largest two tumors in the liver. Surgery was performed without any problems.

Neat factoid: The tracers are gold cylinders. The gold doesn't corrode, interact with radiation or drugs (is inert) and shows up in x-rays. My liver tumors are now expensive. lol

No follow-up appointments yet. I expect to be called soon once they have arranged them.

FYI:
  • R.F.A. (radio frequency ablation) has been ruled out. Tumors are too large, as expected. 
  • Also, the discussion I had with the radiologist gave me the impression that while embolisation may be a possible short term palliative care measure, it would be extremely painful for a few days after the procedure, and the tumors (being so large) would relatively quickly find another source of blood and would continue growing after that. So long term (longer than I have? or shorter? not sure) it is not a viable solution. Especially with all the smaller tumor lesions spread through the rest of my liver. 
  • The radiologists believe that CyberKnife radiation is my best bet at this time.
Regards,
-- Shane

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