08/14/2020
Hello everyone!! I know its been quite a long time since I’ve posted an update on Mason, but after a few months, and many appointments and scans we are very optimistic!
About a year ago, there was a spot on his good lung-the left one, which got the attention of his oncologists. At the time, the nodule was very small, about 2-3mm. every 3 months he would go in for another scan to see if anything grew and to also see if that nodule got any bigger. Sadly, it grew, but did not grow much. After 6 months or so, our oncologist reached out to a specialist in Philadelphia at the children’s hospital there about Mason. They spoke and our oncologist, Dr. Tersak, shared Mason’s chart and history with her. After reviewing everything, she wanted to speak with us. She wanted to have him scanned at the hospital there because they have a special scanner that Pittsburgh doesn’t have. A PET/MRI. We tried to plan a trip to Philly in the early spring, but then COVID happened and it just wasn’t possible.
Pap and I drove to Philly yesterday and we had his scan this afternoon and we got to meet with the Specialist face-to-face. She was incredibly nice and kind. She did an excellent job of explaining what she saw on the scans and what they meant in terms that we could understand. The nodule grew more, its now about 10-11mm. still very small, but because its grown steadily over the past year, she was slightly concerned.
She explained that the radioisotope they use for contrast gets metabolized by the liver at a certain rate, and they use that rate as a baseline on determining how aggressive a tumor or cancer is. She said the liver metabolizes at 1.5. The nodule metabolizes at 2.5. so, it is faster than the liver, which is what cancer cells are, but “frank cancer—proven 100% cancer” metabolizes at 30, 40, 50. That was when I calmed down. It is something, but its not nearly as aggressive as his previous football-sized tumor.
She told us, and Mason there will be NO CHEMO (HOORAYYY!!!!), and she would recommend surgery to remove the tumor so they can also test it and see what it actually is. It may not be cancer; but whatever it is, it needs to come out. If it is the same cancer as before ,there are other oral treatments available that target the mutated gene that works similarly to, but better than the Crizotinib he was taking before.
There is no immediate rush to get it out, but we as a family feel its best to get it out as soon as possible so Mason could start to live a normal life again. She also said she spoke with their top surgeon there and he felt he could go in and remove it with a scope, with minimal trauma.
She also said she was going to contact our oncologist here and see which would be better—to have it removed here in Pittsburgh? Or to go back to Philly to have it removed there. We are confident that the surgeons here could be just as successful at removing it.
So as of now, very good and happy news! Mason is not too thrilled about having surgery again, or about the possibility of taking another pill every day, but if it means he can be “normal” again, he is all for it!
Thank you all for your thoughts, prayers, and just having us all in your hearts. It means so much to have so many of you there for us over the past 7 years.
