Oncologist Input

I just got off the phone with our Oncologist.  She was quite upset by the MRI report.  The cancer has obviously grown.  It’s entered both inner ears so the deafness and dizziness are explained.

She deferred to our Neurosurgeon opinion but she didn’t think the new tumors to be operable.  They are intertwined with many vital areas of the brain so the risks are too high.  The growth is extensive enough not to warrant further Cyberknife treatments.  She recommended whole brain radiation as soon as possible.  She didn’t expect Satomi’s hearing to return.

When we first chose Cyberknife over whole brain treatments, the choice was clear:  the Cyberknife technology allowed up to 3 or 4 treatments before a whole brain session would be our only option [Radiation Oncologist post April 28th, 2009].  We only had 2 sessions of Cyberknife so I thought we had more time.

The Oncologist ordered an immediate PET-CT scan to see if the cancer has spread anywhere else in Satomi’s body.  The results of this scan will determine if any other treatments are necessary in parallel with the whole brain radiation.

Somehow Satomi heard me talking to the Oncologist.  I filled her in over dinner.  She took the news very positively and seemed not to be surprised.  I had a hard time not getting upset.