One scan can change the air in a room. You hear partial response or complete response, and your mind starts filling in blanks that no one has explained yet. If you are navigating cancer treatment or living in remission, these terms are vital. They shape your hope, your fears, and your next medical decisions. Because…
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Understanding Pseudoprogression During Immunotherapy
A scan can knock the breath out of you. You start treatment, hold onto hope, then hear that a tumor looks bigger. How could that possibly be good news? When you experience pseudoprogression during immunotherapy, the first picture can look worse even when the treatment is beginning to succeed. This phenomenon is most frequently observed…
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The Road I Did Not Choose, and Why I Am Thankful I Stayed On It
I have multiple myeloma, a bone marrow cancer. I do not think I should feel proud of that. I am not sure pride and cancer belong in the same sentence. Cancer came without warning. At first, I felt tired. Then I felt worn down. Before long, my body began to lose ground. A long time…
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Recurrence, Progression, and Relapse in Plain English
One word from a scan report can rearrange your whole day. Recurrence, progression, and relapse sound close enough to blur together when you are scared, tired, and waiting for answers. It is common to feel overwhelmed by the subtle distinctions of recurrence vs progression vs relapse. But they do not mean the same thing. The…
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Tumor Board Explained in Plain English
Few phrases sound colder than the news that your case is going to a tumor board. If you have heard that after a cancer diagnosis, your mind may have filled in the blanks quickly, and unfortunately, none of them feel very comforting. The truth is usually much more reassuring. A tumor board is designed to…
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