Fri, 22 Oct 1999 12:26

PET scan positive for tumors; optic nerve "worrisome"

The PET scan results are in, but our doctor is out until Sunday. I called his nurse after getting home from Duke (for an unrelated CT scan) and she said she had wanted to give us time to get home. I knew this meant bad news.

The PET scan confirms active tumor tissue in the spine (higher uptake of glucose than normal tissue in the 3 spine locations detected by MRI on 10/14).

The PET report says the "optic chiasm has enlarged slight white and grey matter". It is not conclusive that this is tumor but "worrisome for tumor involvement". At this point, they have not ruled out the possibility of tumor but our nurse also mentioned she wasn't sure how close this was to the radiation field and may possibly be an effect of radiation. Hopefully, there will be another test. If they end up doing either radiation or surgery to this area, it may/would cause blindness to both eyes.

No one knows at this point about the optic nerve situation; but, it looks certain that Logan's local disease has spread to his spine. Still, his CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) was negative for tumor cells--whatever that means.

We will keep you updated. Please consider us in your prayers. I really don't know what specific prayers to ask for right now.

Laura.