The MRI was last week. One of the first questions they ask the patient is if he/she is claustrophobic. Then they ask if you have ever had a reaction to the contrast that they will be injecting. Do you have a pacemaker, or any metal implants, has a piece of metal ever flown into your eye? They ask what kind of music you would like to hear while the test is conducted – but really, you can’t hear the music for the clicking of the machine. You lie on a narrow motorized gurney that moves slowly through a short cylinder (open at both ends) while computer generated imagery is gathered as your body passes through the tube. In my husband’s case the MRI took about an hour to complete and the results are in; we meet with the Radiologist on Tuesday, tomorrow. Our family GP has already called us about the scan – just to give us a heads up and so we can ask some knowledgeable questions of the Radiologist.
So we already know that the bone cancer has spread, that he has two new compression fractures in his spine at T4 and T9. Our GP also stated that there was some activity in the Cervical Spine and that the Radiologist would be better positioned to discuss options with us on this issue. The reality of our meeting on Tuesday is that likely by Thursday my husband will be having more radiation to his spine. The radiation, although it does alleviate the pain after the swelling goes down, can be quite a process. It can and did cause nausea and vomiting for my husband the last time and the pain associated with it was overwhelming. It was during the radiation in July/August that my husband could not even lift his legs to get into bed. At least this time we are more prepared and will try to stay ahead of the pain.
artfulwhimsy 