A Mixed Bag

We saw Dr. Chue this morning and are all a little confused about the results of the PET scan. The report today told us that one of the tumors in Jon's liver has shrunk while one has increased in size. The odd thing is that this scan lists several other tumors that were not listed in the last PET scan but were called "to numerous to count" in the first scan. What is even stranger is that the radiologist compared the size of these tumors to the previous scan where they were never mentioned at all. When I got home I pulled out all three scan results and read through them several times. The only conclusion I can come to is that there were so many of the small tumors originally that they appeared in too large of a number to quantify. Many of the small tumors were killed by the first two rounds of chemo and have left several smaller tumors that are evident in the most recent scan and now quantifiable in both number and size. The good news is that they scanned Jon's entire body and found no additional metastasis. There are two nodules in his right lung that do not "light up" in the PET scan which means they are more than likely a scar from the Gemzar (notoriously hard on the lungs) and not cancer. The pancreas still looks good and his SUV (intensity of the scan) has reduced from 8.9 to 2-3 which is considered a very good response.

I guess I would say that Jon and I are a little disappointed with the results. He looks and feels so good we were really expecting a better report. The two largest tumors in his liver are still too large for ablation so on we go with chemo. Dr. Chue feels that the remaining tumors may be the ones that are resistant to the chemo that we have been using so we are switching to Doxil for the next round. Jon will have that in combination with Taxol which he has had all along, it is the chemo that destroys the blood supply to the tumors to starve them out. He will have four weeks on with Doxil/Taxol, one week with just Taxol, then repeat the cycle for 14 weeks. He will have another PET scan in April. No more Tarceva since he doesn't tolerate it very well.

We continue to be optimistic with his prognosis. Dr. Chue is as excited as ever to make Jon his next poster child. I asked Jon tonight how he feels about all this and he responded, "I'm just basing my progress on how good I feel." I can't argue with that.

We have a break until January 15 which gives us time to enjoy the holidays with our friends and family. Jon plans on working out and getting stronger so that he can continue to "kick cancer's ass" in 2008!