Brain MRI Results, Raid Heartbeat

Last Friday, June 8, I woke up early to get my 45 minutes of Brain MRI and then drove over to the Stanford main hospital campus to meet with my neurosurgeon and radiology oncology to go over the findings. Of all scans, the brain MRI is the once I dislike the most due to the loud knocking sounds and having to stay still in the "dungeon" donut circular machine for so long and laying straight on your back on the hard surface for so long and of course being shoot up yucky contrast via my power port. 

MRI Results

I haven't officially read the results from my brain MRI scans, but from what the neurosurgeon and radiologist's discussion with me, it's good news and bad news. The good news is that from an initial look at the scans, my neurosurgeon, Dr. Chang, told me that the 7 spots of lesions that I was treated on from the Cyberknife procedure done back in March, look pretty stable. However, he does see 1 small, new lesion spot. Him and the radiologist oncologist gave me some options to A) do a wait, watch and see approach and in 3 months do another scan or B) do another 12 minute Cyberknife radiotheraphy on the spot to zap it away to prevent it from further growth.  The sooner the treatment, the less the risk and the more effective the Cyberknife radio-theraphy would be. So, after discussing it with my hubby, (I went alone since he had to take the kids to school) and also I had to head right into work afterwards, we decided to get it treated.

So, this week, I'm all schedule to come in early at 7:30 AM Thursday to re-image my brain at closer impression to see if there's more tiny spots that could be missed and then get it treated with the Cyberknife on Friday.  As usual, I'll head right into work afterwards like last time. 

Rapid Heart Beat

One other effects that I've been experiencing is the rapid heart palpitations or heart beat. I've been feeling this for the last 3 weeks and finally I went in to see my primary care doctor today. He confirmed that I do have it and wants to me to move up my chest CT scan to see what could be causing it. So, I'll be heading to Stanford early at 7AM for it tomorrow. It's very discomforting, having to feel like I've ran a marathon or ran up a couple flights of stairs, throughout the day.  I told this to my thoracic oncologist, Dr. Neal about this side effect 2 weeks ago and again to Dr. Chang too; my neurosurgeon and since they are all specialist in separate fields, I really had to get it checked out by my primary care doctor. I hope we find out soon what's causing this and hopefully get it treated.

My concern is that sometimes with prolonged chemo infusions, it can cause congestive heart failure. Google this and this is what I found. "Heart failure doesn't mean that your heart has stopped working, or has "failed." Heart failure means that the heart is not pumping blood through your body as well as it should. "

I moved my CT of my chest, abdomen and pelvis for first thing at 7AM tomorrow so that my doctors can find out what's going and if the current chemo treatment if working. I'll post results as soon as I can. Most likely, my oncologist, Dr. Neal, won't tell me the results until next Wednesday when I see him. But, at least my primary care doctor, Dr. Shen will find out what could be causing my rapid heart beat.

I'll leave it to my team of doctors to help treat me. If anything happens, I just wanted to always say that I'm so thankful for my family, my kids, my friends, my neighborhood friends, my wonderful team of colleagues at work and for everyone's support.  I'm so blessed to have a wonderful husband and for my beautiful kids. Like any mom, I'm just so sad to have what I have and that I may not be there to see, protect, nurture, lead and be there for my kids for their future..

In any case, I'm still fighting as hard as I can and praying for all the best, for a miracle every day...Wish us well. Lots of Love.