The appointment with Dr Liau was AWESOME. She had reviewed all of my scans, and wasn't sure if I even had any tumor tissue. She said that before she would cut me open, she would need for me to have a Dopa PET scan. It's the scan that we've been wanting, but my doctors at UW would not authorize. It's a special scan that's used for low grade tumors. The scan would differentiate between tumor cells and scar tissue.
If the results from the scan show that the tissue in question IS tumor, she is very confident that she can remove it. She would have me do a functional MRI to verify the location of the tumor against healthy tissue. A fMRI is a typical MRI except for the fact that they ask you a bunch of questions, watching the areas that light up. Then they will stick little needles in different muscle groups and watch again for the different areas of the brain that light up. My tumor is in my language and sensory location. All in all she seemed very happy with my current situation, that I seem perfectly healthy, and the area in question seems to mostly be growing out in the tumor cavity which is great! It's better if it grows into the void as apposed to into healthy tissue.
Dr Liau thinks she could remove all the tumor (if that's what it is). I would not need to do another awake surgery, unless something comes up on the fMRI (if my speech or movement areas aren't where other peoples are). I would not need to shave my whole head, she would just shave along the original incision on either side. Sounds do-able!
The meeting happened so fast, it seemed, although she answered every single question. I'm so excited, and I literally adore Dr Liau. I can't go back to UW. I'm a convert. It's going to be tricky to visit Liau for all of our MRIs and appointments, but heck, she is LEGIT. She was on board that I should not do radiation (at this point). She scheduled the proper test, Dopa PET. She is kind, and exceedingly intelligent. She's the best oncologist I've ever met.
Now I need to go, I have an appointment with an acupuncturist. I'm very excited!!
I can't believe how different Dr Liau is compared with my other oncologists at UW. My oncologists at the UW have been pressuring me for radiation since October, and they keep telling me how much the tumor has been growing, constantly freaking me out. Dr Liau was quite the opposite. And, if it does turn out to be tumor, after reviewing the Dopa PET, Dr Liau was very confident that we could remove that tissue, and use it for the personalized vaccine.
This just reiterates to me the necessity of choosing the right doctor. Thank you for all of the support along the way, this journey just keeps getting better and better!
