Different Test Different Outcomes

After going through an intense cancer battle and knowing that it was almost time to get tested once again, I was feeling very optimistic. I was hoping to receive the news that any cancer patient wants to receive, (being cancer free) I patiently waited in the doctor’s office.  After what seemed like an eternity I heard some steps, my heart started racing I thought I am finally going to see the doctor and get the needed paperwork to have these tests done. Nope it turns out that it was not the doctor coming in yet it was just someone walking by.  I started to feel anxious and excited all at once because I was ready to move forward from this nightmare.  I couldn’t contain myself when suddenly, the doctor came into the room and spoke with my mom and I about the test needed to determine if I still had cancer. He said the test was called the gallium scan. What this test would do is scan the tumor and detect if I still had cancer.

I went to have the gallium scan done and then waited for the results. This time I was even more anxious to get the test results. Finally, test results were back, and it was time to go back to the doctor’s office.  Once we were at the doctor’s office the doctor walked in sat down and said in a very monotone voice “well, it appears like you are good and you do not have cancer”. In my mind I was screaming OMG! Hearing this news caused me to be elated with joy, but then I looked at the doctor and he was not elated like I was.  My mind immediately started to panic which prompted me to asked him “Is there a problem with my test results is something wrong?” To which he replied in the same monotone voice, “you have been going through a difficult cancer journey and although the results are favorable, I am not sure about this small specs on your image scan results”.  “In order to be on the safe side, he continued “I am going to send you for a PET scan which is better imaging for your type of cancer.”  My mom looked at me with worried sad eyes and said “I agree with the doctor, let’s get this other test done.” Of course, hearing this instantly crushed me. I was hesitant and reluctantly, I replied “okay, you all win, I will go through another test.”  I was numb once again. My excited positive disposition from before had changed to indifference. I was now terrified of what the test might reveal. Despite all these feeling I went for my PET scan. After the PET scan was completed and some time passed the doctor called me and asked for me and my parents to go to his office.  I instinctively knew that this might not be the news I was hoping for after all. Suddenly dread and anguish overwhelmed me. When my parents and I went to the doctor’s office and the doctor came in his grim face and monotone voice said the devasting news “this scan shows that you still have cancer.”

Two different types of imaging scans showed a different story about my cancer.  One said I was cancer-free and the other showed that I still had cancer.  I felt so blessed that even though I was facing impossible odds again, that the oncologist decided to send me to get the PET scan due to the type of cancer I had. I know in my heart that if the second scan would not have been done, I would not be here today, telling my story.  Things happen for a reason. Sometimes we don’t know the reason for the event at the time but later find out why something happened and other times, we might never know why something happened. The only thing I know is that with God all things are possible. Every second that I am alive is living proof of that.

#Blessed