Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Sixth CT normal

"Stable CT with no significant change in the tracheo-oesophageal primary or the paramediastinal pulmonary fibrosis."

That was the conclusion of the scan I had this morning, which was both excellent news and not particularly surprising since the recent PET scan was also clear. The residual mass currently measures 1.6 x 1.2 x 1.6cm. I have some scarring in my lungs (pulmonary fibrosis) from the radiotherapy, though that has been there for a while. I can't remember if I've mentioned it here before, but my oncologist says it is nothing to worry about, though it does mean I probably won't be a world-record marathon runner (there goes one highly cherished dream down the drain).

And as small mercies, the two cannulas I received in the recent PET and CT scans have been the quickest and most painless of their kind I've experienced so far.

In Edinburgh news, last night we signed a contract leasing out our apartment when we leave and today I signed a shipping contract to get our books and clothes over there.

Friday, July 4, 2008

One month to go...

...until we go! We're in the middle of getting ready to ship things we won't be storing or taking with us. How do you decide which books should come and which should stay? It's not easy. Nevertheless, it's amazing how much you can fit into one cubic metre (which is how much we're going to be shipping).

Thursday, July 3, 2008

One more CT scan

Next Tuesday I am booked in to have one final CT scan before we head off to Scotland for the next three years. This will be my sixth CT scan. It is a little strange to be having this scan after just having had a clear PET scan last week (my 3rd), since I don't quite know what this could show that the PET would miss.

In the last week, I've met up with two old friends (whom I rediscovered through Facebook) who hadn't heard about my cancer. It's a little surreal to go back to the initial reactions all over again (but sped up since they hear the whole journey in a few minutes).