Mixed Reviews!

Once again we got information that we weren't expecting when they gave us the report on Woody's PET scan. We also got what we were expecting. I will start out with what we were expecting...the Keytruda is definitely working as it is supposed to...the melanoma sites that they were watching have all decreased in size...to the point that the dye didn't even penetrate them...one of the places was at the base of his neck and the other is in his right leg just below his knee (the place that he had radiation after he was dismissed from NIH). So that is very good news and what we both were expecting to hear. Then came what we weren't expecting...he has a place in one of his lungs that measures 1/2" and then some "sprinkles/whisps" that showed up in the general area around the spot they see on the scan. They do not think that these are melanoma. They think that they are a side effect of the Keytruda...an infection that can happen due to Keytruda. He also has a cough (another possible side effect of Keytruda) that he has had for a while which is probably connected to this too. We were chocking the cough up to allergies. But Woody had mentioned just this morning before we left that he didn't understand his cough because he didn't seem to have any drainage and that it was just a dry cough. Dr. Sosman is in CA so not available to confer with his nurse practitioner so she conferred with another melanoma doctor and also a thorasic surgeon to get their opinions. The picture shows him with an oxygen monitor on his finger. He took a walk around the halls of the clinic...sort of a big circle...so the nurse practitioner could check his oxygen levels after exercising. He passed with flying colors...though he was disappointed that it wasn't 100%...it was well up there in the 90%. In the end it was decided that Woody would not have a Keytruda infusion today. We will go back next week (these weekly trips are becoming a habit that we hope to break...soon!)and have a chest x-ray, lab work, see Dr. Sosman, and perhaps have a Keytruda infusion if Dr. Sosman deems it okay to have an infusion. This seems to always happen when Dr. Sosman is away...no one seems to be able to come up with a definite plan without him! There is a chance that he might be given a round of antibiotics or steroids next week. I guess they will have to make the call about the steroids as he was given orders by NIH not to have steroids unless in an emergency situation. I did ask after NIH dismissed him and they suggested that he continue to try not to have them unless necessary...so we will see "if" this situation turns into a "necessitity!" We went to get appointments set up, but they sent us on our way as they were going to have to work out appointments with his nurse as he was booked up. I'm sure that it will be a zoo around there next week since that is when Dr. Sosman has just returned and he will be making up for "lost time!" About an hour after we got back we got a call from Vanderbilt with the appointments all made for next Wednesday. I'm hoping that we can get back on a Tuesday schedule once we get worked through this little glitch! Here is the picture of Woody with his treat for being such a good boy during all his appointments today: