2 years clear and its back!

Hello to all….just wanted to update on what has been going on with my treatment…..I finished 5 cycles of chemo which consisted of Xeloda, Gemzar, Nexavar and Abraxane….not an easy combination for me I think the Abraxane is what I lost my hair from…thought it would be more devastating but they make some very nice scarfs,turbans and hats so that didn’t bother me much. Nexavar caused hand/foot syndrome which is not so nice…rock hard, red, very tender feet and hands…lots of lotion with urea for that which helped but then all the skin peels off…good news symptoms for me at least only lasted 3 to 4 days. My ocologist raised my dose of Abraxane from 125mg to 200mg after 2 1/2 cycles of that I had to ask for him to dial it down back to 125 which he did. I didn’t get out of bed for 6 days after infusion one week. Thats my chemo story…..Went for my CT scan yesterday at Mt Sinai…then I had my visit with my surgeon Dr. Schwartz to check on the 2 lesions that I had….well after reviewing my scan I guess it was good news the chemo kept the lesions stable they did not grow…I figured with how lousy I felt during this chemo cocktail it must be doing something right? I guess its true when the Oncs tell you that you don’t have to experience side effects for the chemo to be working. Dr. Schwartz said that the 2cm lesion did not have a good blood supply so he was not surprised at no growth….he then looked at me and I asked well what can I do now….he said that he would like to operate and remove the lesions…he feels he can get them both with clear margins…I was speechless so my husband chimed in and said oh we are definitely ondboard for that! I did ask about RFA and he explained that the lesions were to close to the hepatic artery and portal vein to risk that. Needless to say I’am feeling extremely blessed today. My surgery is scheduled for August 13th. Thank you to all for the positive thoughts,prayers and just being here…I do follow although I do not post that much. I’am getting a second chance at kicking this cancers butt and I’am going to do all in my power to make it happen! Of course having my family, friends,faith and all of you with me will make me that much stronger. Thank you all!
Nancy

Percy
Thank you very much for the information. This is a brief description of the lesion from my CT scan and then PET scan. CT showed mass lesion left hepatic lobe measuring 2.1 cm similar lesion along inferior aspect of the surgical margin measures 1.1 cm also concerning for malignancy. PET scan showed lesion in the inferior aspect of the liver which corresponds to a lesion seeen on recent CT with SUV maximum 5.0 versus 3.0 in the surrounding liver parenchyma suspicious for metastic disease. Impression on PET states a hypodense large lesion seen on recent CT consistent with recurrent cholangiocarcinoma, the small hypodense lesion seen adjacent to the cut surface of the liver on recent CT is not appreciated on this study. So I don’t know if I’m reading it wrong but to me it seems like the lesion look alot bigger on PET than CT….I don’t know why RFA was not mentioned I do know that my surgeon called my oncologist to discuss his protocol for chemotherapy and I will be having a CT in 3 months…these are all good questions you pose and I will certainly be asking them…I did have intrahepatic CC so again you raise a good point! None of my arteries or bile ducts have any kind of blockage and there is no lymphadenopathy anywhere…Thank God…how long after your first resection did you have the other? Thanks for all the information…I’m starting my first cycle of chemo tomorrow so I will update on the side effects etc..
@Kris…. I would love to meet with you anytime…praying that your surgery will be soon and a complete success….@Margaret….. Thanks so much for sharing your Toms experience with chemotherapy that is why this board is so unique. Its just the best!
Nancy