Blood Transfusions
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We did contact the Dr. and they gave her Benadryl and Tylenol… they said her reaction was normal and nothing to worry about so that’s good! I posted an update on her treatment in the General Info section! Thank you for following up!
Thank you all for your help. There is a ton of helpful information here!
My mother in law had a blood transfusion yesterday and feels worse today. She said she had a slight fever and some swelling in her face. I just hope in a few days she will feel as good as most of the people on here say they feel after a transfusion. Her nurse told her she might need one more transfusion before she feels better.She also normally just gets PET scans, but I was reading that a lot of people on this board get CT scans instead and I was wondering what the difference was. Thank you PCL1029 for all of the information! That was very helpful!
Her tumor markers went from 1300 to 938 and then this last time the doctor said the markers went down again but did not tell us by how much. Her PET scan results said no change. Which is good and bad – no growth is good, but shrinking would be better than staying the same
Thanks again for all of your help! I love this site and am so glad we found it when she was diagnosed. There is so little info on CC out there!
Lily
Hi,
Side effects of blood transfusions are fever and transfusion allergic reactions such as itching ,rash and shortness of breath ,which if occur, will be in the begining of the transfusion and generally will be managed by premedicated with Tylenol and Benadryl(antihistamine.) before transfusion.
CEA and CA19-9 are tumor markers ,along with ALK phosphatase, to MONITOR the progress of the chemo treatment. Doctors are looking for a TREND rather than single value ,together with the Cat Scan result to determine the course of treatment.
If you have advance cancer or cancer metastasized ,CEA is more likely to have higher value;a steadyily rising CEA value often is the first sign of tumor recurrence.
If you have CC in your liver(intrahaptic),you will most likely to have a much lower CA19-9 value than if you have the CC in or near the main bile ducts .
CA19-9 is ordered for checking bile buct blockage and that is why after putting in a new stent the CA19-9 will be lower.
Cat Scan is for diagnosis purpose.(including initial diagnosis and follow up after resection or chemo treatment for CC. Both MRI and Cat Scan are used to look for structural changes.PET scan is used to look for functional changes of the CC.
According to one study compared 20 intrahepatic patients images ,the extent of the tumor enhancement was similar with both MRI and CT methods,however the relationship of the tumor to the vessels and surrounding organs was more easily evaluated on CT scan as opposed to MRI.For perihilar tumors CT also has limited sensitivity for extra regional nodal disease(ie metastases to the periaortic,pericaval or celiac artery lymph nodes.)—from uptodate .com
PET Scan allows visualization of CC because of the high glucose uptake of the bile duct epithelium(the lining )– the “Hot spots” will light up on the PET scan.
A PET scan therefore can help to tell if the bile duct obstruction is caused by a cancer or not.PET scan can also be useful in determining the cancer may have return after treatment.
Some hospitals equiped with machine that is able to perform both A PET and CT scan at the same time(PET/CT scan) ;this allows the radiologist to compare areas of higher radioactivity on the PET with the appearance of the that area on th Cat scan. But according to the radiologist I talk to , A (PET/CT scan ) is not the SAME as if you take them SEPARATELY. Remember Ct scan is for structural and PET is for functional visualization. That is why sometimes doctors order a PET scan on this 3 month checkup and on the next checkup, he/she orders a CAT Scan instead.
Additional info. from uptodate.com
MRI and CAT SCAN (CT) have similar resolution for liver lesions.
CT has been considered to be superior to MRI for evaluating extrahepatic organs and calcifications. MRI is more specific than CT for differentiating cavernous hemangiomas,diffuse hepatic steatosis and focal fatty infiltration.Also MRI should be reserved for the evaluation of lesions less than 2 cm,or lesions located adjacent to the heart or to major intrahepatic vessels.If you are allergic to the IV iodinated contrast agent used for CT,then MRI is the alternative because the contrast agent used is different than CT.
I hope the above info. helps.Lily,
I have had blood transfused on 3 different occasions with no side effects. Once during surgery and twice while doing chemo, and I think I will probably get more before I am done. I have 2 cycles of chemo left. The one thing is that I now have an antibody in my blood, which means that it takes a little longer to type and cross me for my transfusion, but I feel no side effects and it also can happen during pregnancy so it is not only the blood transfusions that can cause the antibody. During the transfusions I feel fine and after I feel like a million bucks because a low hemoglobin makes me very tired and short of breath when I walk and chest pains when I walk when it is really low. They also premedicate me with tylenol to help with any possible side effects.
I have had CT scans, an MRI scan and a PET scan. They are all useful tools to monitor tumors and their status. Each scan has its positives and they are all good tools. For me they will continue to monitor me with CT scans at this point in time. The MRI scan can help define tumors better if they aren’t well defined on a CT scan. It is somewhat on doctor preference and a good discussion to have with your doctor so they can give you the positives and negatives on either scan and why they are using the type of scan they are.
As far as tumor markers go you need to kinda take them with a grain of salt. For me mine was elevated before surgery and back to nothing after they removed my entire tumor, over half my liver and my gallbladder. So each case is a little different with the tumor markers.
I hope that this helps a little.
ShariHi Lily…this is how it was explained to me. A PET shows “hot” spots that may be cancerous. An MRI shows these spots in a more difinitive way. Teddy used to get both. I also get both for another rare type of cancer. Then again I think its up to the Oncologist and what he prefers. Sorry that’s the best way I can tell the difference. Ask as many questions as you want!
I have had numerous blood tranfusions while battling cc. I had one through my hand because I have no veins left, that was probably the most pain I expierenced in this sickness. I also had 14 units of blood (not a type o) while waiting for second liver!! I guess I am a big fan of blood tranfusions!!
I have never had a PET scan, but to many to count MRI’s and Cat scans. I was told Pet was not an effective diagnostic scan for cc.-CathyI’ve never has a blood transfusion, but it’s not uncommon.
My tumor markers have been at 1576 at their known highest and 113 at their lowest. At last check they were 170. My tumor has never shrunk.
I had a CT at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics during initial diagnosis time. MRI’s are the only type scan I have at Mayo where I am being seen.
I once asked my oncologist why I did not have PET scans and he said it would not show what they wanted to see with my tumor. I do know that an MRI shows structure and have read that a PET scan shows molecular function and activity. I have a friend who has has non-hodgkins lymphoma and she has PET scans at Mayo to see where cancer might be in her body.
Cat scans are x-rays and MRI use magnets and radio waves to create the imagesKathy
I was wondering how many of you with CC have had to have blood transfusions? Also, were there any side effects from the transfusions we should look out for?
I also had questions about tumor markers. I have read on here that they are not the best source of info for whether or not the tumors are shrinking, but in your experience, how well have the numbers matched what was going on with your cancer? When the numbers go down, how much do they have to fall before it means things are shifting?
and lastly – I am trying to make sense of why some people get PET scans while others get CT scans most often to check the progress of the Chemo? and what about MRIs?
Sorry to have so many questions!!
Thank you!
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