well I guess its been awhile ..

On October 2nd, I met with Dr. Demming a UW Health digestive health specialist who deals only with colorectal cancers.  He suggested a blood test to monitor my cancer going forward.  This test is Signatera Molecular Monitoring.  It has just been approved by the FDA.  In 2017 they removed cancerous lymph nodes. This test can aid with early detection by monitoring the circulating tumor cells in DNA. It gives similar information as a biopsy just by a blood draw.  It is able to see if there are tumor cells circulating in blood.  Less invasive. Not as accurate as a biopsy but an amazing tool. They just got approval from Medicaid to cover the cost too so that's huge because its $8000 each blood draw.  AND, they are sending someone to my house every three months to draw my blood so I don't have to drive to the west side of Madison. 

I got my results last week Friday.  They came back positive for active cancer in my blood.  Not the news I was hoping for right off the bat.  Dr. Demming called me and we talked about what this really meant.  He said that either the radiation didn't put my cancer on "pause" like we were hoping OR it did, but new spots have popped up that they couldn't see on my last scan.   Either scenario sucks in my opinion.

I have a CT scan scheduled for 8:30am tomorrow.  Then I see Dr. Eastman, my oncologist on Monday at 4:00pm to go over the scan, blood test and talk treatment plan.  I am sure its either more radiation or more chemo.   (Insert puke face here) I am going to ask about clinical trials too. 

another fucked up thanksgiving and Christmas brought to you by the letter C