Hi Cecilia,
I've been treated through Pacific Oncology in Vista, CA (north San Diego County). I also have seen two specialists at UCSD in La Jolla, CA (Moores Cancer Center). Since I wrote last, things have changed a little for me, though. The CT/PET scan I had in January was apparently done without contrast (the CT portion of it) & I was told I only had one spot on my liver that showed up on the CT, but not the PET. Well, I just had another CT (they didn't do a PET again yet- insurance reasons) & this time 3 spots showed up in my liver. Upon carefully re-reading the report from my January scan, I discovered that there was no contrast given & they called it a "limited CT". It turns out I don't have new liver lesions- they're in the same place as an earlier CT I had in Nov. I was bummed that I was given false info based on a bad scan! Anyhow- I am now scheduled for a liver resection on May 23. I have decided against having Cyberknife (as I had mentioned as a possibility in my other posting). With other liver tumors that had shrunken away during chemo, I felt that liver resection vs. cyberknife would possibly better address any microscopic cancerous cells that may remain where I previously had tumors. Also, my liver specialist said that it's happened to him before where during surgery, he discovered additional tumors that never showed up on any CT's. When he does my surgery, he'll use a handheld ultrasound device to check out my entire liver. Hearing this is what made me decide on the liver resection. Dr. Andrew Lowy of UCSD will be performing the surgery. I know he was at MD Anderson for a while before coming to San Diego & also in Cincinatti- anyone know of him or his work? Anyhow- not to give you depressing info, after I was so excited with my news in my last posting. I still have good news re. not needing the rectal resection- that tumor did completely disappear! IMRT radiation, if radiation is needed, is definitely something to talk about to your Dr. I had 28 doses of it for the rectal tumor (along with weekly cisplatin infusions- which caused neuropathy- that's another story). But, anyhow, I tolerated the IMRT radiation very well- I didn't have any burned skin until the very last 2 days of treatment & only about 3 days of diarhhea, when I was told it could be a lot worse. Comparing my situation to others I know of who had traditional radiation, I believe the IMRT radiation was a definite blessing.
Best wishes to you!!
Lisa