Lungs Still OK/Jim Update

V had another lung CT scan and consult with the thoracic surgeon yesterday. He said the lung mass has shrunk measurably in the past 2 weeks. Definitely, he says, not cancer of any kind. Need to repeat the CT scan in 2 months.

The interesting news is that although the CT scan clearly shows the lungs of a long-term smoker, the pulmonary function and blood gases tests for the most part show excellent function. That still doesn't explain, though, why V continues to have trouble breathing. Maybe it's just a chemo side effect thing.

Jim continues, slowly, to improve. Good chance he will go to the transitional facility today. The final diagnosis is alcohol-induced hepatitis (liver inflammation), probably with some cirrohsis thrown in. The GI doc said if the cirrohsis is mild, the liver can regenerate over time. She said that it may take 6 months for Jim to get all the way back.