It could be nothing, or it could be something.

If I had a nickel for every time I heard these words, I'd be at least a quarter richer.

My PET scan showed some hot spots in my colon and bowel area. This could explain my vague symptoms - gastrointestinal grumblings, gassiness, unexplained weight loss, a feeling of fullness. But it could be nothing or it could be something.

Cancer spreads to the colon in 50 to 80% of Mantle Cell Lymphoma cases. When I had a colonoscopy in March, right before the start of Hyper CVAD, you may recall that I came out as clean as a whistle. But with this new turn of events, I'm scheduled for another colonoscopy (GoLytely, here I come) and lower GI biopsy early next week. I'll meet with Dr. Forman to review the results a week from Thursday.

Don't worry. Dr. Forman has a lot of tricks up his sleeve to deal with the worst case scenario. In the meantime, it's more waiting and more wondering.

PET Scan(dal)

I was scheduled for a 7:00 follow-up PET Scan at City of Hope this morning, but I learned yesterday afternoon that the equipment is on the fritz. During each status report phone call, I would imagine an underemployed Maytag repairman tinkering with the sophisticated machinery.

At 8 pm, Juan called to report, "It's still down. Someone will call you tomorrow to reschedule once the equipment is operating."

The PET scan (along with the CT and MRI) is one of the most valuable diagnostic tools for a cancer center. Without it, dozens of anxious patients (including me) are left in the dark.

My appointment with Dr. Forman, currently scheduled for Thursday afternoon, will have to be put off until after the PET scan is complete. I was looking forward to this meeting to set my mind at ease about the mild symptoms (weight loss, fatigue, gastrointestinal grumblings, burning sensation in right eye) I've been experiencing for the last few weeks.

The waiting doesn't get much easier.

Tests, Tests, and More Tests

For the uninitiated, here's a brief description of the preparation required for the tests I've been enduring over the last two weeks:

CT SCAN: Preparation includes ingesting a quart of bromide cocktail from 6:30 am until an hour before the scan. I recommend serving the RediCat berry bromide chilled in a martini glass. But skip the olive. Feather boa and candy cigarettes are optional. This one was easy.

PET SCAN: Preparation includes calling the airline for a special meal because we're flying back from Hawaii and I can only eat protein and broccoli after 5 pm the night before the procedure. The Atavan knocked me out cold and I don't remember a thing.

BONE MARROW BIOPSY: Preparation includes reading posts on the mantle celll lymphoma listserve, calling the doctor to request Atavan and Demerol, calling my friend Melanie (a nurse in the bone marrow transplant department) for more information and encouragement, hyperventilating while trying to visualize the process, and talking endlessly about my anxiety levels to my husband George and daughter Cindy.

SPINAL TAP: This is also known as lumbar puncture, but the word "puncture" makes my head light. Preparation is pretty much the same as for the bone marrow biopsy above. The test is Thursday, February 29, so I'll report later on the results.