The radiation oncologist came in this morning and told us that the MRI showed five small tumors in Cheryl's brain. There are two at the back, two in the middle and one in the front. He said that the largest is about the size of a Raisenette. The standard treatment is to do two weeks of whole brain radiation. Each daily session will last about 15 minutes. She can expect to lose her hair and may have some nausea and mild confusion. He checked her CT scans from last month and said the goods news is that the chemo appears to be working from the neck down and that her torso and abdomen show no signs of tumor activity.
They gave her the first radiation treatment today and will continue to do so until she gets out of the hospital. Then, she will continue daily (Monday-Friday)on an outpatient basis. Dr. Pederson (Radiation Oncologist) said that they usually have great success using radiation on brain mets and are able to stop the cancer's spread. They will do a follow up MRI in three months to make sure that they've got it all.
Tomorrow, she will be having a lumbar puncture (spinal tap) to check for cancer cells in the spinal fluid and a mammogram to make sure that it has not spread that route.
She is still experiencing a lot of nausea and headaches as soon as her meds wear off. I told the nurse that we can almost set a clock by her since she starts asking for the next dose right on schedule. The past several days have been really rough for nausea as she has gotten sick on almost everything she has tried to eat. She was finally able to keep down a bowl of soup at lunch and a little jello this evening.
Please be in prayer that the radiation treatments will be effective at killing the tumors in her brain and that the other tests will be negative and that the meds will keep the headaches and nausea under control.
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