MRI June 2013

I knew that this MRI was going to be critical as the last scan showed a 15% growth across the board. This was without treatment. If the first round of German therapies worked, I should hopefully see a reduction in the tumour volume, or at least no growth.

However, It seems like luck is just not with me. Despite all the pain and effort of the preceding month, the MRI shows another 15% increase. (To get an idea what this means to my liver, look at the illustration image in the top left corner and imagine all the mets roughly 35% larger.)

But there is still a ray of hope. Firstly my CEA dropped from 3300 to 972, however because the test was done in another country (Czech Republic) and a different lab, its too early to get excited till I get some clarification. The test says >972 which could mean bigger than 972 but less than 973, or it could just mean bigger than 972, in which case it could mean anything. I will find out next week and will also get another CEA test done in Germany just to be sure.

Secondly, physically I feel better not worse. This is hard to reconcile with the significant growth shown on the scan.

I am hoping that there has been a great deal of tumour necrosis and that the increase in volume is due to inflammation resulting from healing. Next month’s MRI should tell more.

I am really dreading the next MRI as I can’t sustain 15% monthly growth for much longer. I am going to ramp up the therapies this month and throw more things at my little mutants.