Roller coaster ride is not over yet

Thanks Shan...the boys miss you already!

I had so hoped to report on a clear CT scan today. Instead, I sit here with a headache and puffy red eyes…and being uncertain. Our case coordinator and point person at CHOC in the oncology group called us today to say our doctor would be calling us later to go over the CT scan, but there is something he doesn’t like on it and we’ll have to get a bone scan and an MRI done again. Matt and I panicked and were looking into the likelihood of this developing into something. Then, we’d find more information to justify it being something other than the big C…which we HAVE to believe it is not.

A couple hours later our doctor called. Matt and I both got on the phone to talk to him and ask questions. He said there is an area on Carter’s ribs he wants to get a better scan of, as well as an area on his spine. He said the area on his ribs almost looks like trauma. We are wondering if it was something from his transplant surgery. Carter has never complained of his ribs hurting at all, although we already know he has a pretty high pain threshold. Our doctor said both areas could just be showing some signs of osteoporosis. They were expecting, and already believe is the case with Carter, that there would be bone density issues from the chemo. We’d be fine with this result and can deal with having to take calcium and vitamin D supplements.

So, tomorrow Carter will have an x-ray. Then, we are hopeful CHOC can get us in for a bone scan and MRI as soon as possible. These are two different scans and will most likely be on two separate days. The bone scan involves the radio-active dye and takes several hours, and the MRI involves Carter having to be put under. Unfortunately, he’ll have to endure some more testing. But hopefully, it will just give us that much more confirmation that there is no cancer left in his body. We have to hope and pray for this result.

Our “slow” week of… Carter having his cast taken off on Wednesday and leg x-rayed again to make sure the break has healed, and going to UCLA on Thursday for blood work and to see the doctor…has become another busy week. We don’t mind the appointments as long as it gives us answers, and GOOD answers!