Remission

Yesterday my oncologist delivered the official reading of my most recent CT scan checking for cancer: Your scan is spectacular. There’s nothing there.

I had read the scan results myself earlier in October and summed them up here in my October 10 post:

A moment of Bun

I was fairly certain about my reading of the scan results but held off on fully enjoying relief until I heard word from the doctor.

It was a sweet visit made even better with this assessment from the doc:

I have never seen a relapse in cancer when a patient experiences an exceptionally strong autoimmune response to immunotherapy.

Exceptionally strong autoimmune response = ulcerative colitis that doesn’t respond to the standard therapy of oral steroids. This absolutely refers to my case. I started oral prednisone on May 26 with little response. I responded to infused steroids while I was hospitalized for a week in early June. The benefits of treatment disappeared when I was back home.

My oncologist appended his first remark with:

Of course, ulcerative colitis is a steep price to pay.

Amen to that.

Highlights from the scan

Because I’m a technical writing fan and I appreciate crisp and clear writing, I’m including some choice sections from the scan write up.

The report includes a lot of None and Normal and Clear and sets the stage with the history and date of a previous scan the radiologist used as a comparison.

In the history, the neoplasm — an abnormal and excessive growth of tissue — refers to the malignant tumor arising out of my right adrenal gland that kicked off my health odyssey.

HISTORY: Neoplasm Of Uncertain Behavior Of Right Adrenal Gland.

COMPARISON: 3/10/2023

The 4mm pulmonary nodule was present in the past few scans:

LUNGS: The lung parenchyma is clear without mass or infiltrate. Stable 4 mm pulmonary nodule posterior right lung.

A lack of effusion is good:

MEDIASTINUM AND HILUM: The heart and great vessels are within normal limits. There is no evidence of pericardial effusion.

PLEURAL SPACE: No pleural effusion, pleural mass, or pneumothorax is noted.

The hemangioma in my liver has been present in the past few scans:

LIVER: Stable hepatic hemangioma of the left hepatic lobe. No radiopaque calculi are seen in the gallbladder.

My right adrenal gland is still not present:

ADRENAL GLANDS: Status post right adrenalectomy. Left adrenal gland is within normal limits.

Even though the scan detected colitis, a CT scan would never be the tool for diagnosing colitis:

GI TRACT: There is no evidence of small bowel obstruction. There is marked stranding/inflammation of the large bowel from the transverse colon through the rectosigmoid region suggestive of a diffuse colitis in the appropriate clinical setting.

The bottom line

The report’s bottom line is good, but dry.

IMPRESSION:

Diffuse stranding/inflammation of the transverse colon through the rectosigmoid region suggestive of a diffuse colitis in the appropriate clinical setting.

Otherwise, no CT evidence of definite distant metastatic disease in the chest, abdomen, or pelvis.

My oncologist was more emphatic in his language. I’ve added boldface to reflect this:

Pristine

Complete Remission

Congratulations!

Next steps

My life with cancer, even if it is in remission, will include scans and skin checks for the rest of my life.

For now, I’ll reflect on this beautiful quote from Kahlil Gibran:

To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving.