February 29, 2024
David had another PET scan today at Piedmont Atlanta Imaging.
When we last saw Dr. N for the post op checkup on February 13, we received the pathology on the two tumors that were removed from David’s liver. The path showed that the tumors had neuroendocrine features. This news was concerning because neuroendocrine cancer is a different type of cancer than he was initially diagnosed with in his colon (adenocarcinoma) meaning David could have a second cancer. Dr. N ordered a PET scan with Dotatate (Gallium GA 68) GA 68 is a radio tracer that is used with a PET scan to detect neuroendocrine tumors (NETs).
Initial treatment for a neuroendocrine tumor is to cut it out and that had been done, so we just had to wait for the scan to know if it was anywhere else in his body. For this reason, we decided to keep this news to ourselves until the results of the scan. We saw Dr. B in the following days and discussed the path report with him in depth. It was also agreed to continue radiation treatments as planned.
David and I went back to the imaging location where he had the first PET scan done in September 2023. They called us back and injected the GA 68 and he had to relax in a chair in a room for about an hour. He had a skull to thigh scan and was in the scanner around 35 minutes.
We received the radiologist’s report later this evening. Reports indicated “No Dotatate PET/CT evidence of neuroendocrine metastatic disease.” It also indicated the seemingly non-cancerous nodule that we have been watching in his right lung has remained unchanged. No one believes this nodule to be anything other than a common nodule that many people have in their lungs. It is just suggested that it be continually checked.
It was a relief to read that there was no further evidence of a NET at this point. While the colorectal cancer is still hanging out for now, we hope we are getting rid of it with every radiation day. Radiation 5 days a week is a lot on David. He is tired, tired, tired. He has experienced some mild nausea from the Capecitabine (oral chemo) and has started with some of the radiation enteritis symptoms now.
