Stumped

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  • #87416
    dukenukem
    Member

    Kris –
    One day at a time and treasure each day as a new miracle.

    Duke

    #87415
    darla
    Spectator

    Kris,

    I too understand the not liking it but accepting what ever it is and being at peace with it. We don’t have to like it, but we have no choice but to accept that it is what it is. Hoping for better news soon.

    Hugs,
    Darla

    #87414
    gavin
    Moderator

    Real sorry to hear this latest news about Mark Kris. So wish I could say something that would help right now. I hear what you say about being at peace with everything but not liking it, my dad and I felt like that as well.

    So hoping that you both get some better news soon and that the testing can be done. You know that we are here for you Kris.

    Hugs,

    Gavin

    #87413
    iowagirl
    Member

    Dang it, Kris. This is not what I wanted to hear (nor you and Mark, I know). I just can hardly believe that the tumors grew that fast since Mark’s last scan. So, if I understand right, it is adenocarcinoma , but they have not 100% identified it yet as CC….it’s just that it makes the most sense. Right? Well, I’m still holding out for now that it’s a different and more treatable cancer. I’m glad to hear that you’re considering doing genetic testing on the tumor….because they might lead to a trial that could be of help. I will hang my hat on that for now and hope for the best. Big hugs, Kris…and tell Mark we are all thinking of him and sending prayers.

    Julie T.

    #87412
    lainy
    Spectator

    Dearest Kris and Mark, you remind me of Teddy and me when we were told that he had 5 -6 months and the ONC offered palliative chemo and T said no. That is when he started telling people that we were on our honeymoon. We did the best we could to make it an awesome 6 months. Mostly it was just being together in our home. We had no regrets and some might say 16 years is not a lot of time but what we lacked in years we made up for with love. If you need to talk I am here and I know you are a strong woman so let that strength come through. My love to you both!

    #87411
    kvolland
    Spectator

    Thanks all for the love and support. We are home now….tired but here. Mark came home on oxygen which has helped a lot with how he feels. He pretty wiped out as can be expected but happy to be here. Our kids did a great job of pitching in and making sure we came home to a clean house with minimal stuff to do. I will have to do tomorrow and pick up a few things…..grab bars for the shower and tub bench and some other odds and ends but it feels so good to be home.

    I did get a nice long talk with the surgeon today with no one else around. Wonderful man and I honestly think he is as upset about the diagnosis as I am. I asked him point blank exactly what they found during the surgery. He says he found a 6 cm by 7 cm by 1.2 cm tumor with multiple smaller satellite nodules that look to be the same. They took a large section and under frozen slide in the OR there was no doubt that it was cancerous and adenocarcinoma which is the same classification of cancer as his cc. So as Dr Hubka said it stand to reason that it is mets from teh cc. He must have apologized 20 times about having to tell me the bad news. The pleuradesis did work around the left lung except in the area where the tumors are….they are unfortunately going to continue to leak some fluid because of what they are.

    Spoke with the onc too. He is still wanting to see final pathology and then make a plan. He said that it will most likely be palliative at this point which I get. Because there are less than 2000 cases a year of pleural cancer whether mets or primary there was not a lot to go on for treatment. They would probably look at chemo and most likely the Gemcitabine again to slow the growth. We did talk about genetic testing which he says he would recommend IF they got a big enough tissue sample so we’ll have to see what pathology says.

    We got more years than we had. Mark and I were talking earlier this week and we came to the conclusion he was supposed to die when he was 14 with the Hodgkins but he beat it so these last forty years have been his bonus time and these last two years were his encore. I think we are both a peace now with what is happening (don’t like it but accepting)

    Love you all and thanks for the support.
    KrisV

    #87410
    mbachini
    Moderator

    Oh Kris…..thinking of you and Mark. Sending tons of hugs, good thoughts and prayers your way!
    Melinda

    #87409
    marions
    Moderator

    Kris……this relentless cancer! We have had thousands of reports and yes, Mark’s case is the first on this site in regards of this sort. Hoping and wishing and for the chemo to eradicate it once and for all.
    Hugs are heading your way,
    Marion

    #87408
    darla
    Spectator

    Kris,

    Sorry to hear of this, but as Lainy said, now that you know what you are dealing with you can move forward. I too am think of you two and hoping for the best.

    Hugs,
    Darla

    #87407
    lainy
    Spectator

    Kris, I am so sorry to read this about Mark. My Teddy used to say, “Now we know the problem, let’s fix it”. Life is great if you don’t weaken but sometimes I think I don’t like to be so strong all the time. Luckily, that is just a fleeting thought and the strength returns. Thinking of you both.

    #87406
    kvolland
    Spectator

    Hi all,
    Well I guess I lied. They did the biopsy surgery and the initial pathology came back as stage 4 metastatic adenocarcinoma…..mostly like mets from tuye bile duct cancer. Good God….if someone can do it then it will be Mark. We will wait for final pathology before we get a plan so probably next week. I am guessing chemosince he cannot really do anymore radiation and it is such a weird spot.

    Okay and I did more reading and guess what I found…..evidence that it rarely does metastasize to the pleura…. Usually found after death with autopsy….in 2008 Japanese researchers found it in 5 patients after death…..and apparently at the same times as diagnosis of the cc. Only in my life. Here is the link to that study. At least it gave me something to look at even of it wasn’t the best of news.

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2710741/

    They were able to drain a liter of fluid off his lung and they were able to do the pleuradesis with the talcnso hopefully it won’t come back. He has a chest tube in right now and is less than happy about that…..so sore.

    So I guess we have now seen mets to the pleura with malignant pleural effusion. Still not too old to learn stuff.

    KrisV

    #87405
    middlesister1
    Moderator

    Kris,

    Good wishes coming you way that leftovers are what they are.

    Take care of yourself as well,

    Catherine

    #87404
    iowagirl
    Member

    I agree with Lainy on this one….leftovers are good….and that is what we are going to pray for. Hugs…Julie

    #87403
    lainy
    Spectator

    Kris, not rattling and I am sure you are REAL tired. You know we always say the Caregiver need to be kind to herself! In a way this is good news and let’s wish for it to be nothing more then leftovers. As you know most ‘leftovers ‘ are good so I am hoping that is what it is. Please rest up.

    #11085
    kvolland
    Spectator

    We have the docs stumped again which is not always a good thing. Out onc doesn’t have a clue and is very open about saying that right now. They do not believe it is a return of the CC but if it is anything then it will be a new cancer. I did a bunch of reading (not always a good thing). There are a lot of things it could be and we will have to wait for the biopsy report. so glad they are just going to go in and see what it is rather then just keep hoping it shows up on something. And I have to give credit to a bunch of docs who moved fast. Onc doesn’t think if can be anything too bad since he had scans 6 weeks ago that were clear. They are really hoping that is is leftovers from the pneumonia. The are going to go in and drain the fluid and they do a pleuradesis which is to put talc in between the ling and the pleural so the pleural adheres to the lung and he won’t continue to have the effusion.

    Kind of a rattling post since I am so tired, will keep all posted.

    KrisV

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