Geometry lessons
Monday, February 9, 2009 by ShawnieMac
When is the last time anyone out there (aside from you math teachers) gave any thought to simple geometry? I know I didn't. It's been a long, long time. I'm getting old, you know.
Today we got schooled by the radiation oncologist.
He didn't have the MRI results in front of him (not quite sure why) but we relayed the news that the two largest spots shrunk by nearly 50%. Shrinkage is good. What we heard next was even better. He informed us that the measurements we were getting were diameter (or radius, I forget) but in any case, it wasn't VOLUME. A 50% (or almost) reduction in mass equals an 87% reduction in volume. Geometry. Who knew.
We also learned that it's possible that we can see some more reduction in size over the next couple of months as while the radiation is done and gone, the next generation of cells and the generation after that can continue to die off.
What now? In three more months I stuff earplugs in my ears, sing in my head as loudly as I can, and endure the deafening noise of a follow-up brain MRI to see what's going on in there. Should something crop up eventually? We also learned that there are more targeted forms of radiation that can still be used to treat them. But, we're not there yet.
Where are we? Right now, we're stable. We're asymptomatic, and we're waiting for confirmation that there's nothing in the rest of the body. And continue to live.
What else is there?
Well, maybe hair...
Today we got schooled by the radiation oncologist.
He didn't have the MRI results in front of him (not quite sure why) but we relayed the news that the two largest spots shrunk by nearly 50%. Shrinkage is good. What we heard next was even better. He informed us that the measurements we were getting were diameter (or radius, I forget) but in any case, it wasn't VOLUME. A 50% (or almost) reduction in mass equals an 87% reduction in volume. Geometry. Who knew.
We also learned that it's possible that we can see some more reduction in size over the next couple of months as while the radiation is done and gone, the next generation of cells and the generation after that can continue to die off.
What now? In three more months I stuff earplugs in my ears, sing in my head as loudly as I can, and endure the deafening noise of a follow-up brain MRI to see what's going on in there. Should something crop up eventually? We also learned that there are more targeted forms of radiation that can still be used to treat them. But, we're not there yet.
Where are we? Right now, we're stable. We're asymptomatic, and we're waiting for confirmation that there's nothing in the rest of the body. And continue to live.
What else is there?
Well, maybe hair...
well, maybe hair is overrated??? But you can get about the business of growing some now! :)
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