Hello,
Anna and Jason got some really good news today.
Anna went in for her second internal radiation treatment, called HDR. During HDR, they stick the radiation device along with a miniature camera down her throat in order to be able to directly radiate the tumor in her left lung. Two weeks ago, the tumor was sticking out of her lung into her esophagus through the bronchial tube so they couldn’t get into her lung.
Today, the tumor had receded back into her lung. The doctor could go into the bronchial tube to the point where it “Y”s. One part of the “Y” goes to the upper lobe of the lung and the other to the lower lobe. In the upper lobe, the tumor is almost entirely gone — there is still one small area of tumor in the upper lung. The doctor cleaned a bunch of mucus and dead tissue out of Anna’s upper lobe. Anna is able to use the upper part of her left lung.
In the lower part of the “Y”, the tumor had receded down the tube. Some air is able to go into the lower lobe, but most of the lower lobe is still tumor.
The doctor said this was one of the best responses she had ever seen in such a short period of time.
This is big news and good news. But it does not mean that Anna is out of the woods. She still has a long road to travel.
The plan in the short run continues to be the same. About two more weeks of radiation and chemotherapy. Then a round of extensive tests before deciding what to do next.
