Nailed It.

Just got the report.  I should be a radiologist when I grow up 😀

Back To Metrics And Waiting

I had a scan last week and have a copy of the scan itself.  But so far, no official report.  I have a vague sense of how to read things at this point, but far from an expert. 

It looks like there is a lot more cavitation (black dots on the image to the left) going on, which seems to indicate the #chemotherapy is working.  There are, however, other tumors that do not seem to be responding, a couple that may have grown and maybe a couple I have not noticed before.  However, with the number of tumors in my lungs,  it is difficult to keep track.  When the reports get down to less than "innumerable" (hopefully), I may start counting again  My back is feeling okay, my breathing is generally okay, but I have learned from the last few scans that is not always predictive to what I will see on the report.

So back to #triathlontraining metrics.  In addition to the general concept of trying to improve and gathering information, I look at them to see how I am feeling.  Often times when I look at the numbers when I am feeling down or thinking I am slipping, the numbers provide a bit of solace.  (Though fast is always a nice objective, I got a ways to go for that 😉)

A year ago today I did a time trial on a track.  1/2 mile warm-up, 3 miles as fast as I could, 1/2 mile cool down.  Yesterday I ran on the same track for a general run where the timing was to be a relaxed sustainable pace.  I may have pushed it a bit at some points, but far from trying to go fast (for me).  The numbers are below.  Pretty consistent.  This year 66 degrees, 7 MPH wind.  Last year 39 degrees, 15 MPH wind.  So last year may have been tougher. (I know the numbers below are slow in both cases.  Never said I was fast 😃)  Also not saying which one is which.

On the other hand, last year the cancer had not really broken loose in the lungs to the extent that is has now.  They were able to count some things as probable small mets as compared to giving up trying to list them.  And I did not have two tumors in my spine.  And I had not started chemotherapy again.  And the run I did yesterday was 3 days after I got disconnected from my most recent #chemotherapy treatment.  So I am going to call it a draw between last year and this year on the conditions for the 2 runs - cancer was better last year, weather better this year.

Today is an off day for training. Really would like to run, but need to make sure to have recovery days.  Ran the last three days in a row.  Now back to waiting for the scan reports. 

#iTRI4aCure

And Big Scanxiety Day Here

Today is a big day.  Get disconnected from my chemotherapy then shortly later go for my scan to see if the chemo is working.

At this point I am not sure what to expect.  The few times I felt positive going into scans, such as the 2-1/2 year scan, which would have meant I was probably going to be cancer free, my first immunotherapy scan, my first scan after this new chemotherapy and a scan a few weeks ago have all let-downs.  My cancer was back, the immunotherapy was not working, the chemo was kind of working and the tumors in  my spine were growing.

Avistan was added for the last 5 treatments or so there is more time to see if it is working and the spine issues could be inflammation.  I am not sure how much I am buying into either of these at this time.  Usually I should be showing better results this far into this new treatment.  But I have been a bit of an outlier with some things along the way in terms of mets and mutations.  Plus still being able to train for triathlons.  

My back pain is minor, at most, and my breathing is still well enough to exercise - in fact my breathing is fine for the most part and seems more like allergy season and some more issues on chemo week where shortness of breath can be from the drugs as much as the cancer.  I will not go in with high hopes despite all this.  It is a lot tougher thinking there is good news coming and getting bad news as opposed to expecting bad news and getting some good things.  Cautious optimistic hope is that at least things all stopped growing this time.

But perhaps the cavitation from the last scan was a good sign.   I will see.