The bright spot shown on the PET scan, in the inside groin area, of my stump, is most probably a torn muscle, NOT a tumor. :-)
Angiosarcoma does not usually metastasis to muscles. It will first go to lungs, liver, and kidneys.
A PET scan shows fast cell growth, like a tumor, or a torn muscle.
I spent a few hours with the prosthetic guy. He has lately been on some courses to learn about "Elevated Vacuum" prosthetic systems. He wants to practice on me.
I'll get to tryout some expensive prosthetic hardware. The leg he wants me to tryout costs about $100,000. I hope I don't like it, because if I do, then I'll be trying to borrow that money from someone. Actually I have no intention of ever paying it back, so it would be more of a "gift", than a loan. :-)
Elevated vacuum systems are another way of attaching the prosthesis to the stump. There is a seal between the socket, and the stump. A vacuum pump that sucks the air out from between the two. This makes the stump swell and form a perfect fit inside the socket. It is supposed to make the proprioception (feeling of position) much better.
One downside I see with a system like that, is that putting the prosthetic on, and removing it, is a much more complex and time consuming procedure.
Another problem is that the vacuum pump is battery driven, and needs recharging daily.
I look forward to trying the system, but I feel that reliability of a pure mechanical system may suit me better than the electronic systems. I feel the same regarding the new bionic knees and ankles. It is hard to beat the reliability of stainless steel, titanium and carbon fiber, when compared with batteries, motors, and electronics.
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