Today is Day 15, last of the treatments. We wait about 2 months before she is rescanned to see if there is any impact and if there is any spread of the melanoma in her spine. It's been a very benign treatment, especially compared to brain radiation. The daily trek to the radiation center was about the only downside, but we got to know a part of Seattle we had not spent much time in before (Ballard – an old Scandanavian part of the city that is now a hip, active and interesting destination).
Today is Day 15, last of the treatments. We wait about 2 months before she is rescanned to see if there is any impact and if there is any spread of the melanoma in her spine. It's been a very benign treatment, especially compared to brain radiation. The daily trek to the radiation center was about the only downside, but we got to know a part of Seattle we had not spent much time in before (Ballard – an old Scandanavian part of the city that is now a hip, active and interesting destination).
She still has some pain in her lower back where they identified a large tumor (separate from the area where they found 12 tumors and believe the cancer is coating the epidural walls), so apparently no shrinkage of the tumor has occurred yet. The treatments themselves were short – about 12 minutes – we got there at 11:30am each day and usually we were out by 12:10. She experienced no pain as a result of the daily treatment or any skin irritation. She didn't like that the room with the machine was kept at 64 degrees because of equipment sensitivity – even though she got blankets and wore socks and mittens. After each treatment she would be unsteady for a while – I suspect because of the impact of radiation on nerves controlling lower extremity function. They would resolve by the late afternoon, but she did have one fall when I could not catch her – fortunately only skinned and swollen knees and a bit of neck whiplash.
It is a very expensive treatment (I haven't seen the total bill, which insurance is covering, but I believe it is at least $60,000). But given that 3 weeks ago we were told it was untreatable, and continued growth of the cancer would lead to a lot of pain and paralysis, it's kind of a miracle, and will buy her some time at a good quality of life.
There is no rest for the wicked however – Friday she goes in for a brain MRI with the results visit on Monday – a follow-up to her Gamma knife brain radiation from five weeks ago. They are checking to see whether that treatment had any effect and to see if there are new tumors.
Nick
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