Good CT Scan Results Today

Brody had a CT scan today (Tuesday).  We got good news that the tumor has not gotten larger since the last CT scan.  It's about the same size as it was at the last CT scan.  We were also told that the tumor has a "rind" around it this time wheras before it did not.  Having a "rind" around the tumor makes it more difficult for the tumor to spread to other tissues.  Also having this more clearly defined margin around the tumor rather than an undefined margin can indicate less actively growing and spreading tumor.  So we are considering all of this to be excellent news. 

 

Brody has been handling his new chemo regimen very well.  It has been the most tolerable regimen he has ever had.  Fortunately, it also seems to be working much better than others that have been far more grueling.  Brody's hair is coming back in very quickly.  His eyebrows are back and his eyelashes are getting long.  The hair on top his head is getting much thicker and longer.  It seems to be coming in a darker color now than before.  Overall, most of the time Brody feels pretty good lately.  Bowel movements can still be quite painful sometimes though.  We are keeping him well-hydrated and trying to keep his stools very soft to help with these.  He is getting more and more control of his bowels too.    Usually makes it to the potty now.  Brody does still have his nephrostomy tubes in place.  He is able to pee on his own lately though with both frequency and volume of urine excreted the normal way increasing.  We are taking this a sign that the tumor is not pressing on his kidneys and urterers as much as it was previously.  The CT scan that was done today did not show the detail they need to determine if Brody could possibly have the nephrostomy tubes removed.  Our physician will be talking with interventional radiology team about getting better images to determine if this is a possibilityyet. We should hear more about this when we are back at the hospital on Friday for more chemo. 

 

Anyhow, we were very relieved to hear the results we got today.  Let's hope and pray that the good news just keeps on coming.