I had a PET Scan yesterday morning and here is how it went:

• I show up at 9:15am and sit in a comfortable chair.
• The technician inserts an IV into my arm and injects a glucose-like liquid (the glucose has some radioactive material in it that the scanner can detect).
• I wait for about 45 minutes for the material to sink in.
• I then get scanned for about an hour.
• I left the Nuclear Medicine building and went to lunch (I had to starve my body of sugar the previous day, so I was pretty hungry).
• I ran some errands (isn't this interesting!?).
• I went back to the Cancer Center a few hours after the scan since I was told that I could get the results... a few hours after the scan.
• After waiting a few minutes, I was told that it would be later that day or the next day before they could process the scan.
• I had a shot (Procrit) in about 45 minutes anyway, so I just read for a while.
• While getting the shot, my oncologist Dr. Woliver, found me and told me that "the scan was clean." No more cancer running around in my body. All I could do was inhale -- couldn't find the brain power to exhale for a few moments.

I was very, very happy. I had expected something like "Matt, it looks good, but there are a few areas that we need to discuss." But there was nothing like that in Dr. Woliver's report. Just a negative result, which was fantastic news.

WOO HOO!!!!!

I still need to meet with my radiologist, but I can't tell you how excited I am! A negative scan may mean that, with a little radiation, I can probably walk away cancer-free. Wow.

So now I'm ready to get my catheter out and radiation in. Hopefully, I'll find out about those in the next day or so.

To everyone that thought well of me, prayed for me, painted portraits of me, made a Matt altar, etc...

THANK YOU FOR SAVING MY LIFE!!!!!

I, Matt Rhodes, am a cancer survivor.

WOO DOUBLE-HOO!!!

Ok, I'll end this note with a little story. The background:
When seeing the doctor, you have to fill out what is known as "The Blue Form" -- you see, the form is blue so it's a very descriptive way of describing it. The form is basically a Yes/No checklist of symptoms. Do you have a cough? Do you feel any numbness? Any fevers? Win the lottery last week? That sort of thing.

While waiting for my Procrit shot, a couple in their sixties was filling out the Blue Form -- the husband was going to see the doctor and the wife was filling out the form. Here is how it went (completely paraphrased):

Doris: Harry, have you had any fevers?
Harry: Sure, last week, I had a temperature and then yesterday I wasn't feeling so-
Doris: Yes or no.
Harry: Yeah, I had one last week.
Doris: Any numbness?
Harry: Yup. In my fingers and toes.
Doris: Yes or no, Harry.
Harry: I said yes.
Doris: Have you had any coughs?
Harry: Of course. Who doesn't have coughs?
Doris: Just answer yes or no, Harry.
Harry: Do you want me to fill it out?
Doris: No. I'll do it. They'll be able to read my handwriting.
Harry: Alright.
Doris: Have you had any pain?
Harry: All over. Let them read that sh**.
(they both laugh)

This went on for a few more minutes. Bickering is fun.

Have a wonderful week. Thanks for saving me.

m