Ultrasound Results

Here is my promised update after my ultrasound this morning to measure the extent of tumor shrinkage: Both of the breast tumors are still there, but they are VERY small. Dr. Sussman (one of the awesome breast radiologists here at Mills Breast Cancer Institute) said that he could not detect anything in the lymph nodes, three of which were shown to have cancer in the PET CT I had in late November; however, the lymph nodes are more difficult to see on ultrasound. The doc did say that the reduction in tumor size is SIGNIFICANT. I asked him for exact measurements, but he wouldn't give them, as ultrasounds are just too fuzzy to really nail down a precise measurement. However, he did say that they are now measuring the tumors in millimeters rather than centimeters.

Apparently, the doctors look at two things when they're looking at the images: Size and conspicuousness. Conspicuousness refers to how well defined the tumors are, or how much, regardless of the size, the tumors pop out on imaging. Importantly, my tumors are not only significantly smaller, but also significantly less conspicuous. They are just plain harder to see. This is very good news, as I am only seven treatments into the first twelve week course of chemotherapy. Hoping for continued shrinkage to the point of disappearance come March 5th!