We Now Pause For A Medical Update

In town all this week for tests and to start the new drug trial (Lapatinib + Fritanib). Got the results from last week's CT scan, bone scan, and echocardiogram. Echo was good. I continue to house a heart that functions as it should. CT scan shows no discernible change in the size or number of lesions in my lungs. The spleen is also unchanged, and there is no sign of cancer spread to any other organs (vital or otherwise). As for the bone scan, it shows some sclerosis on the pelvic bone near base of the spine (ie scaring from a past trauma, not necessarily related to the cancer or its treatment). This has shown up on every bone scan since 2007 (when I had my first), so no telling how long its been there. Scan also confirmed a compression fracture of the T10 vertebrae (likely the result of moving furniture a couple of months back) which would explain the ongoing tenderness in both my lower back and the lower rib cage area. A stress fracture has been detected in my right foot, the result of walking "too much" while overseas. There is also some evidence of a minor owie of a similar sort on my left foot, though its nature is less obvious. Same goes for the area around my left knee. The latter is likely arthritis.

Except for the odd occasion when I turn my foot on an angle, or try to walk more than a block or two, my right foot is more uncomfortable than really sore. Friend Verline lent me an air cast, and I get much relief from that when the foot is a bother. In generally, I'm trying to keep off it to aid in the healing. In fact, I'm giving both legs as much rest as I can to better facilitate their repair. As for my back, not much can be done about that. A compressed vertebrae is not reversible, so I will have to refrain from lifting much of anything and continue using better lumbar support when I sit.

On an up note: I can honestly say that life really cracks me up!