Today I had a follow up PET scan after 4 doses, 3 weeks apart, of Brentuximab, a monoclonal antibody given to me following a recurrence of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma about 6 months after the completion of 6 months of chemotherapy.
I have a follow up appointment Monday with my oncologist, but the office just called, giddy with the verbal results of my PET scan. I’ve gone into remission again. Thankfully. Hopefully, permanently.
The PET scan was ordered as a rush on Monday after my oncologist saw me for what should have been my 5th infusion. I informed her of serious itching and a generalized rash that I thought were side effects of the infusions. No infusion — just the PET scan and a rush visit to Dermatology for an evaluation and biopsy. This happened on Tuesday.
I specifically asked NOT to see the dermatologist who I call “the light box lady” who ordered ointment and ultraviolet light treatments for my itching and bodily sores for months while I grew sicker and sicker and sicker and ultimately ended up hospitalized. Doctors treating me during my hospitalization kept on wondering why she never, ever did a biopsy which would have diagnosed my Hodgkins during the early stages. Instead, when I was admitted, my entire body was shutting down because the Hodgkins was so advanced.
Well, water over the dam. In any case, I never want to see her again.
It will take about a week for the biopsy result, but the very nice and seemingly competent Dermatologist diagnosed a generalized skin infection, a result of immunosuppressive cancer treatment along with very, very dry skin, also the result of the drugs I was on. He recommended liberal use of Vaseline (yes, what was considered “bad stuff” in the past is now good. Neosporin bad, Vaseline good.)
It’s a happy day over here. I’m so happy, I’m crying tears of joy.