Lumbar tumor, treated with Radiation

From the MRI yesterday, we learned Liz had a tumor growing in her lumbar 3 disc, which is putting pressure on nerves to her leg. (Other discs also had growths. We also know the wedge of T11 is still there.) We went to Huntsman for planning and immediate radiation treatment, a one-time dose that should kill the tumor. Hopefully it will shrink quickly as it grew, and relieve the pressure and pain. (Dr Tward said 50% shrink and 80% have less pain.) Liz has had a lot more pain just today than before and took oxy (2 or 3). She has been nauseous as well. Dr. Tward said if he had done a five day dosing it would have a 10% chance of returning but with the single dose it has a 17% chance. It can be treated again later. This area was NOT treated in April's radiation (even though small tumors were present), because they don't want to irradiate too much of the bone marrow at a time.

Liz stopped BRAF drug (last dose Th night) and we feel fine about its interaction with the radiation today. Any skin burn/rash won't show nearly as much on her low back and belly. By Monday's SRS on her head, she will have been off for 3 full days, almost 4. It also seems to matter more how much she has right after radiation, when its effects are highest.

I told Liz I think her leg pain/numbness has been a tender mercy, even if it doesn't feel like it. By learning of this pain Th night, we added the MRI of her lumbar the next day, and got it treated the second day. Perfect timing. It is hard to think of it being good when she is feeling so sick and in pain. Her shoulder pain was probably due to the Zometa and is waning.

We had an extra adventure on the way to the hospital today. We decided to take the suburban so Liz could stretch out better (sitting hurts more than lying down or standing). As we stopped in SLC the car died. No power at all. We pushed it around a corner, and Brad fiddled with scissors and got the battery connected again. A few blocks later it did it again. We got it going, and duct taped the scissors in place to get the rest of the way. Brad dropped us off and went to fix the problem. He got back soon enough to get a tour of the various X-ray machines in the radiation oncology department - fun for a guy who works in that field. :) We were very pleased with the care Liz got and especially that she got in so quickly, on a Saturday.