Third Party MRI Results

We have the third opinion MRI report. If you had missed it, we were told by University of Washington that my MRI was stable, dating back for three years. Then, UCLA reviewed my MRI scans and told me that there had been changes in my brain, that the scans were showing recurrence and that I needed to start radiation and enroll in one of their clinical trials. (Click on the above links for the posts.)

UCLA did not review my file before looking at my brain scans, they did not look at my treatments before recommending radiation and the clinical trial. Had I not dogged them and asked many, many specific questions, I would be starting unnecessary radiation. I would be enrolled in a clinical trial for a drug that I do not need at this point in time. The treatment that I do, the dendritic cell therapy, causes some inflammation and slight increased FLAIR, but I find it very interesting that two facilities do not find reason for additional conventional treatments when UCLA made me feel like recurrence was a fact.

It is so important to ask questions, as many as you can think of. It is important to follow your gut, your intuition. You are in control of your body, and to a certain extent, your fate.

Thankfully, my family is stubborn, and we went out on our own to a private facility that reviews MRI scans. They don't recommend or provide treatment, they only analyze the images and report what they see. It's wonderful, and worth the money to get an unbiased review.

I hope you can read the report, it's fascinating. It's definitely the most in depth radiology report I've ever received. I feel relieved, and tomorrow I am going to celebrate by running a one person 5k. It has become my favorite distance.

Thank you for all of the love and support and kindness. I live on an inevitable roller coaster, but today I can hop off for a minute and just breathe.