We had the call with the radiologist today and received the best news possible in the current situation. The doctor indicated that radiation is a viable and effective treatment for me.
The area to be treated will be the entire area where there is some residual activity showing on the PET scan and all the residual tumor mass. The doctor categorized the area as “very, very small” and the effectiveness of the radiation should be “very good” and greatly reduce the chances of a reoccurrence.
The risks of damage to the heart & lung are “minimal” and the side effects of the radiation were termed as “much less than chemotherapy”. Possible issues are difficulty swallowing, nausea, and tiredness all which are temporary and will resolve post-therapy.
The treatment plan is typically daily, Monday to Friday for three weeks. However, “because of Covid” they are considering 5-6 days. The same overall radiation dose would be delivered in higher daily doses. This schedule is TBD and the doctor is evaluating and will let us know shortly. The next immediate step is a CT scan likely within a week. Radiation treatments will likely start in three weeks from now, so around October 5th.
Shirley and I are grateful to all of you for your support and encouragement and see this as a direct answer to prayer that this option is available to us. God is good, all the time!
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Garry and Shirley, I continue to lift you up and your desires to Almighty God. I pray for complete remission with the radiation.
Good courage!!
Praying for you Gar Bear. Strength and peace.