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So sorry about your Mom’s PET Scan results. Teddy gets his results Nov 6th. Cancer redefines your whole life! Everything you feel is absolutely normal. For us it has just become our way of life. We live for the good days and on a bad day we also look forward to a good day. Teddy believes ATTITUDE is everything. A positive attitude even when things look darkest helps one mentally as well as physically. We have no pity parties. And yes, it becomes your way of life. Its all in how you handle it that makes the difference. As much as Teddy has been through he is still doing very well compared to most. I know that the real tough times are yet to come. We try to be optimistically realistic. We talk about it a lot but never in a negative way. I have found it easier to just be open with everyone about it. It also helps to write things out on this board and I am always sending updates by email to friends and family. The more I can express it all the better I feel. In the end yes, the thoughts overtake your life, its what you do with those thoughts that count. Stay strong!
Hi everyone,
Well, got the results from Mom’s latest PET scan. Not exactly the news that we wanted to hear. There are three spots which showed up on the PET scan. Here is the information they gave us…. A 1.3 cm left supraclavicular lymph node, a 1.3 cm hypermetabolic para-esophageal lymph node, and a 1.9 cm left periaortic lymph node. The spots showed up within range, but on the high end. Mom starts chemo on Tuesday. She is going to go every two weeks for two months. She is going to have a port put in this time. The drugs they are using are Oxaliplatin and Gemzar. All of the organs are clear.
Anyone have any advice about what is going on? The doctor has told her that they are confused about all of this, which makes me a bit nervous, but we trust her, so we are going to go with her advice.As everyone knows this seems like it isn’t even happening. I can see how the thoughts about what is going on can totally overtake your life. I could be sad all of the time, but I know that isn’t healthy for any of us. Do you just have to come to grips with the fact that you or someone you love are going to live with cancer? We can’t let it overtake our lives, but right now I don’t know how to do that.
I am so thankful to have you all as a part of our life.
Thanks a bunch, Amy
Hi Amy
Wishing your mom only good news from her PET/CT on Friday. It sounds positive in that it is very small and the surgeon does think he can resect it after the chemo. I’m sure it was very difficult though, after two years, to get this news.
You were mentioning that IU has a Gamma Knife. It does differ from the Cyberknife in that Gamma Knife is used only for brain lesions. The Cyberknife has the advantage of being able to be used on any area of the body. I checked for Indiana and three Cyberknife centers are listed: Indianapolis, Fort Wayne and East Chicago. If you google Cyberknife, there is an area to search for locations on the web site.
Thinking of you and your mom and wishing for the very best!
Jean
Hi everyone,
We went to the dr on Friday. She was very optimistic. This is cc again. The first step is to do a PET scan on Friday to make sure that the cancer is only in this one spot. I guess that from the scan there are three lymph nodes. Two of them were two small to biopsy, but they believe that they may be affected also. If it is contained to this area, Mom will have chem for two months and then the surgeon believes he can remove the cancer. It is the same surgeon from the original cc surgery. The radiation oncologist is on vacation, but Mom has an apt to visit her on November 17th. Jeff and Kris, thank you for the idea about cyberknife. IU hospital has a Gamma knife, which is essentially the same thing. So, we have that as a back up if surgery isn’t an option. So the next couple of weeks will be full of dr apts, but it sounds like we have a plan.
Mom’s oncologist encouraged us to visit this site. She was happy to hear that we aready are members. I told her that we were already a part of the family
.Thank you for your words of encouragement and support.
Amy
Amy,
So sorry to hear that your Mom’s cancer has returned. Good luck on Friday. I will be thinking of you both.
Darla
Amy,
I am sorry you got the news you (and all of us) didnt want to hear. I also think that you should check out cyberknife. It sounds like it gets such positive results. Stay strong and think positive. Best of luck at the consultation and dont forget that you can ask questions and advocate for your preferred choice of treatment.Kris
Amy, Sorry to hear the cancer has returned. 2mm spot is very small. They should be able to deal with it hopefully in a positive manner. It is a bummer for your Mom. I know what she is thinking. It’s just not fair and she really hates to think she has to go through surgery again. Mentally, it is so draining and exhausting just thinking about it. Maybe cyberknife or PDT might be options, time will tell. I wish only the best for your Mom and will send plenty of positive thoughts your way.
Bless You Both,
JefffAmy…..so sorry to hear this. And you are right in feeling good about the minimal size of the tumor. Your Mom may very well respond to another treatment or surgery, if applicable. We focused on an positive approach when new areas of concern arose and continued to look for options coming our way. Sending tons of good wishes your way and awaiting your report on Friday.
Hugs
MarionHi,
Well, the dr called yesterday and told Mom that it is cancer. We go on Friday to discuss the options. The dr. will call us tomorrow and let us know if this is cc again or another strain of cancer. I am not really suprised, I have read a lot about the stats, just really sad. Mom is down. She doesn’t want to have to go through all of the trouble again. I feel so sorry for her. The dr did say that it is only one spot and the spot is less than 2 mm. If for some reason they can’t do surgery, does chemo and radiation kill the cancer, or does it just put the cancer on “hold”? I feel good about the fact that this one is small.
Please, if you have any spots, get them tested.
Thank you all for being her to help.
Amy
Amylea,
Best of luck on the biopsy. They arent painful at all (except if they have to push down on the incision line). I do like the sound of your doctor. Sometimes I dont think they understand how much stress we are all under worrying about things.Kris
Hi,
Thank you all for your replies.
Mom had her follow up scan yesterday. The dr called and said that they will do a biopsy next week. She said that she isn’t concerned, but she knew that we were, so they would go ahead and do it. The spot is less than 2 mm, and it is right where her incision started for the initial surgery. The spot hasn’t changed from the initial cat scan. I am glad that she is willing to work with us, and do what makes us feel better.
Mom had blood work done last week and we noticed that the liver numbers were up some, the dr said that she isn’t concerned about them. That is usually caused from medication. Mom also asked if there were any other spots, and the dr told her no. They are going to start sending a copy of the reports to us at home.Lots of love to you all. I will keep you posted….
I too had a “funny” lymph node which turned out to be nothing once they biopsied it. I too think it is odd that they arent comparing scans. I guess if they found nothing then there is nothing to compare it to, but since they found a funny node, you would think they would. It might be a big deal or not, but when you are not a medical professional and when they dont do something you think they should be doing, it can make one panic a little. You might just want that second opinion to ease the mind. Best of luck on it being nothing.
Kris
Hi Amy, Marion said it all. Very happy for your Mom. But like Marion said for peace of mind, have the scans compared. If there has been no change on any of them, My opinion your Mom would be doing great. I can’t believe the doctor said it was rare for a cancer to jump from one side to the other. CC can and does jump any place it chooses, close by previous or distant. You would think some one played pin the tail on the donkey with my recurrence. Any hoot don’t be arlarmed, just compare scans. I can’t believe they don’t do that either knowing the history. The requesting physician can add that to the consult for future scans. I’m so happy for your Mom and you Amy. Stay in touch, we love success stories.
Bless Ya!
Jeff G.Amy….such great news about your Mom feeling as well as she is. As I have pointed out before…it never hurts to have a second, or third opinion. It might be helpful to gather her scans and surgery report in order to have another physician look at it someone, of course, who is familiar with CC. It will put your mind at ease and is well worth the trouble. Otherwise, I am so thrilled with the success your Mom has had.
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