Mayo Clinic formally identified the brain tumor
I moved out of my Portland house on June 25th, and started the drive east with my puppy and a small UHaul trailer in tow.
I’m in Rochester, MN right now, and have had something like 8 appointments at Mayo Clinic in two days, with two more scheduled tomorrow before I depart - including another pituitary scan.
The below was hard won, given the way the medical system behaves toward suspected Cushing’s cases, but I finally have it. The next step is removing the tumor, and it feels like that’ll happen in July. It also seems like life may open up in ways I haven’t yet experienced after that - including through Seeds:
“EXAM: MR PITUITARY WITHOUT AND WITH IV CONTRAST
COMPARISON: Outside pituitary MRI 03/12/2026
FINDINGS:
Dynamic imaging of the pituitary gland demonstrates a 5 mm focus in the left aspect of the pituitary gland (series 8 image 300), showing relative hypoenhancement compared to normal pituitary gland parenchyma with associated subtle T2 hypointense signal (series 7 image 8). This appears more conspicuous on today's study when compared to MRI 03/12/2026 and likely represents a pituitary microadenoma.
Right aspect of the pituitary gland is unremarkable. Midline pituitary infundibulum. Normal T1 hyperintense posterior pituitary bright spot. Patent suprasellar cistern without mass effect on the optic chiasm/cisternal segments of the optic nerves. Normal flow signals within the cavernous and supraclinoid ICAs.
No suspicious intracranial enhancement. Tiny left cerebellar DVA (series 15 images 32-33). Ventricular system is normal in caliber. Trace mucosal thickening of the paranasal sinuses and left mastoid air cells.
IMPRESSION:
5 mm hypoenhancing focus in the left inferior aspect of the pituitary gland likely represent pituitary a [sic] microadenoma.”
The United States turns 250 in a few days. Its Pluto return has been fascinating to watch, amirite. But it feels like things are starting to shift toward a higher vibratory level, for real, in a way that seems like such a relief, and also really exciting.
-Rachel