In a few weeks, I’ll go in for my common six-month check-up with my oncologist. It will likely be my first go to that isn’t preceded by a scan of some kind. Throughout my prognosis of follicular lymphoma, therapy and the primary 12 months after therapy, that meant a PET scan; since then, it has meant a CT scan.
Earlier than I used to be recognized, I didn’t actually perceive the distinction between such scans. Since then, my oncologist has advised me that PET scans are higher at exhibiting metabolic exercise (most cancers cells are very metabolically lively) and CT scans are higher at exhibiting structural particulars. After I’d been in remission for a 12 months, he switched to CT scans as a result of they use much less radiation, and since there are baseline scans, they’ll present any enlarged lymph nodes (a key sign up follicular lymphoma).
I’ll nonetheless get blood work accomplished just a few days earlier than, so the outcomes shall be accessible to my oncologist in time for my go to. He’ll nonetheless do a bodily examination. I do know, having handed the two-year mark for remission (I used to be formally declared to be in remission in December 2020), that the danger of recurrence dropped considerably at the moment, that the danger of recurrence is decrease now, and drops the longer remission lasts. Nonetheless, the danger of lymphoma by no means will get as little as it will be for somebody who’d by no means had it; the shape I’ve is taken into account continual and incurable, if very treatable.
Even so, I’m undecided how I really feel about not having a scan. There was a suspicious-looking lymph node on the scan accomplished this time final 12 months, so as an alternative of ready a 12 months, one other one was accomplished six months in the past. The tough scan knowledge confirmed that very same spot, however the scan with distinction confirmed that there was nothing there. I do know that’s a great factor… but it surely was nonetheless a suspicious spot on the scan. The radiologist was backed up and the scan wasn’t learn till after I noticed my oncologist. He noticed that very same suspicious spot and didn’t realize it was the identical one till he checked the earlier scan, which was not notably reassuring.
Then, too, like lots of people with blood most cancers, I used to be recognized at a late stage, which will increase the danger of relapse. Many types of blood most cancers don’t have any signs till they attain stage 4, which is what occurred to me; my oncologist’s greatest estimate is that it had been growing for 5 to 10 years earlier than I had the signs that led to my prognosis. People who find themselves recognized earlier are sometimes recognized by mistake; they’ve an sickness or damage that results in a scan or X-ray, which unexpectedly finds enlarged lymph nodes. Figuring out that it had doubtless been growing that lengthy scares me.What if it comes again and, within the time between scans, nobody notices?
As I stay in remission longer, the scans will step by step get additional and additional aside, and I do know that’s a great factor, and but… and but. There’s no blood take a look at that may really diagnose most cancers, though there are some being developed, and except one blood issue, my blood work was regular after I was recognized, and that one blood issue pertains to cell breakdown; it may simply as simply point out a therapeutic damage or an an infection. So whereas good blood work is a optimistic indicator, it doesn’t actually rule out a relapse.
So there it’s. It’s a great factor — I do know that cognitively. However emotionally, it scares me to not have a scan, even when nobody however me thinks I ought to have one.
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