Results from first checkup scans

Hi everyone, well talked to my Oncologist today about where I stand since chemo was started. Here are the results…
Tomography of the chest:
The spiculated mass obstructing the branch of the lower right lobe bronchus is significantly smaller compared to 5/1/10. This mass is approximately 3.8×2.5cm smaller compared to 5×5.5cm previously. There are also smaller scattered nodules in both upper and lower lobes, these to are significantly smaller. There is peribronchial consolidation involving the posterior aspect of the left upper lobe and also the lower lobes especially the right suspicious for peribronchial tumor infiltration. These also have improved. There are enlarged lobes in the mediastinum along the paratracheal area extending to the precarina, subcarina, pulmonary window, lateral to the aortic arch and both hilar areas. They also have improved.
Impression: Improvement of multiple masses in both lungs and lymphadenopathy in the mediastinum compared to 5/1/10.
No significant pleural effusion is seen, Axillary areas are normal.
Tomography of the pelvis and abdomen:
No abnormal mass, Liver and spleen are normal, Pancreas is normal, both adrenal glands are normal, Kidneys are functioning with no abnormal mass or hydronephrosis.
MR Brain with and without contrast:
No evidence of acute intracranial pathology. NM Bone scan Whole Body:
No evidence of metastatic disease within the skeletal system. Healing right 5th and 6th rib fractures. PET CT Base of skull to mid thigh:
No comparison available, pelvis shows no significant hypermetabolic mass. Inguinal are normal.
Impression: Hypermetabolic mass lesion in the left lower lobe consistent with malignancy. There are multiple patchy areas of slight increased metabolic activity in both upper and lower lobes. No other significant hypermetabolic mass is seen. Ok, so when my Oncologist told me this and then saw my blank face he put it in language I could better understand lol.
Apparently all the cancer in my body has shrunk. I do however still have a bit of debris left over from the pneumonia that is still lodged in my lower lungs. It will take time for my lungs to kick that crud out.
The lumps that I had on my neck are gone! The chemo just eradicated them. The tumor on my left lung has shrunk considerably. The scattered nodules throughout both lungs have shrunk significantly. The rest of my body is free from any cancer. It hasn’t spread!
Some people say there is no God, but I say to them, I’m not a church going person, I do believe in God and I do pray to him. And to be honest, since I learned I have cancer I’ve prayed alot more. And you know what, 3 months ago I couldn’t walk, talk, barely could breath and quite honestly I almost died from pneumonia. Now here I am 3 months later, I can walk (not far mind you but I’m working on that) I can talk without coughing every 5 seconds, ( I still cough but not near as bad or as often), and I can breath much better than I was. Now you can say oh well that’s the chemo doing its work. But I say if your mind isn’t right, all the drugs in the world won’t cure you. And my faith in God is what gets my mind right.
After the interview I had a hard time not breaking down while I tried to thank the young man that saved my life. I couldn’t express the words. How do you thank someone that saved you from cancer, and has given you your life back?
Anyway we are off to celebrate! (in moderation of course!)
God Bless all cancer fighters, survivors, caretakers and their families!
And God Bless CTCA!
PS: Zion decided to shut off all the street lights as I walked by =p GLOWING =p

Above is what I posted on my other blog at blogforacure.com.

I just wanted to add a few thoughts, First of all I wanted to say that the Cancer Treatment Centers of America are awesome. If you have discovered that you have cancer you need to go here. These people really do help!
I can't say enough about them, they treat you like family, they hug you, love you you and try their best to cure you. They help you with anything you need, they are Godsent.

I'd like to add more but I have to rest, had my 4th chemo today.

Chemo #4

Well I'll be flying out to Zion this Monday. This will not only be my 4th chemo but also I get all my scans to check how well the chemo is working. This is the first progress check since I started chemo. I'm pretty optimistic, I think the news will be good mostly because overall I feel much better than when this all started back in May. We shall see.

On the other hand, I applied for disability, and believe it or not I got approved! Problem is they won't start paying me benefits until next December... I've been on the phone all morning trying to find out why, what a joke.
I talked to one guy, well I should say he talked OVER me. He wouldn't let me ask any questions he just droned on about appeals, and the rules blah blah blah. Now I am on hold so far for 45 minutes trying to find out some info. Called a lawyer they can't help because I have already been approved. I got to talk to a lady from our local
SS office here in Hemet only to be disconnected so now I am "Hurrying up and waiting".

Well we'll see how this all turns out, maybe I should change my name to something more Latino...

First Entry

Hi, my name is Don, I was diagnosed with ST 4 lung cancer in May 2010. I was given 6 months to live.
Since that time life has been interesting to say the least. I typically blog at, dojoven.blogforacure.com/weblog,
but I have decided to use this blog as sort of a venting blog where i can vent some frustrations I have with life in general. More to come later so stay tuned!