snowbird
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Marion – Ron’s doctor has not done a new scan yet. He is basing the amount of shrinkage by feel and visual observation. All other blood tests were good, except one liver enzyme was higher (AST) and his hemoglobin dropped. Ron feels great. Dr. says that since Ron is doing so well (blood tests and healthwise), he is increasing the Gem/Cis to 3 weeks on/1 week off instead of 2 weeks on/1 week off. New scans are scheduled for Oct. 21st. (Initial scans were completed on Aug 5, 6 & 9th. Biopsy Aug. 15th and chemo started Sept 5th.)
Jason…. thank you so much for all the detailed information. It sounds like Andrea has been given the best news ever. From all that I’ve read elsewhere, if you can get by without a re-section or transplant, you are better off. It almost seems like after surgery, cancer spreads to other areas more often than without surgery, not to mention all the risks involved with surgery and recovery. You two have definitely done everything possible with all the opinions you’ve received. It is so encouraging to hear your story. Again, thanks for taking the time to share.
Lainy – Do you know if the Banner Boswell Hospital is a larger hospital? The medical community in AZ is so different from how it is in ND. I didn’t know you could make an appt. with a Dr. at a hospital. Here we can only make appts. at clinics. We do not have “Urgent Care” facilities here either.
When you say that you “looked up” this cancer center and Dr. Choi, do you mean that you have some type of list with doctors and centers that work with CC?
Hello, Jason. I am wondering how your wife is doing since you haven’t posted for a while. My husband, Ron, was diagnosed with ICC just 6 weeks ago. Your situation sounds very similar to ours. I do the research and Ron (age 59) works on healing. I know exactly how you feel about making the right decision – it’s hard for me too. So far, Ron has had 2 Gem/Cis treatments and is on the same regimen – 2 weeks on, 1 week off. After the 1st treatment, there was noticeable shrinkage and the ONC was impressed. Ron has been told all the same things as you guys – no resection, no transplant, etc. Both lobes are involved with one large lesion measuring 10+cm. We too are hoping for enough shrinkage so that a re-section is possible. Godspeed!
Shari – for some reason I cannot find how to send you a message privately. I got your messages yesterday in my email but since I’m new to this site, I don’t know how to respond and couldn’t find your post anywhere on this site. If you want, you can email me at agloaner@yahoo.com.
sharimay wrote:Hi,Has anyone ever been on erbitux? Any suggestions for the rash? I have it bad on my legs and under my arm. It is very itchy and can be painful. Trying to use cortisone cream and Benadryl. Thanks.
Shari
Thanks for all the info, Lainy. From what I could find on the internet, Dr. Choi seemed to be the best fit for Ron, for our area of the valley. Dr. Choi practices at 2 locations – one in Glendale and one in Avondale. He also has patients at Banner Boswell in Glendale. He specializes in Hepatic cancer. So you don’t think a cancer center is a good place to go?
Ron’s diagnosis is Adenocarcinoma. Primary CC with meta to the liver. He has had 2 chemo treatments of Gem/Cis and has done very well. We were told that the large tumor shrunk quite a bit after the 1st treatment and isn’t as “spongy”. Last week was an off week. This week he sees his ONC and has another treatment.
Hi Shari…. I came upon one of your posts after a search and see that you are from Bismarck. My husband, Ron, was recently diagnosed with CC and he is doctoring in Bismarck with Dr. Chaudhray @ Sanford. I read that you had a rescection right away. Dr. C is telling us that Ron isn’t a candidate for surgery because of the size of his lesion (10 cm) and because there are several other small spots, so he started him on Gem/Cis. Ron has had 2 treatments so far and is doing well. Dr. C asked if we wanted to go to Mayo for a 2nd opinion, which we did. However, when a rep from Mayo called they said that since Ron had already started with chemo, they want him to wait until after the 1st round of treatments (3 months), have new scans taken, and then come to Rochester. From what I’ve read on your posts, one of your lesions was even larger than Ron’s. Is that correct? Ron’s cancer has not spread to anywhere beyond the liver. It looks like you’ve had a long journey already and ours is just beginning. Godspeed to you!
My husband and I are snowbirds… live in ND in the summer months and Phoenix in the winter months. We will be leaving for AZ in about 5 weeks and my husband, who was recently diagnosed with CC, will need to find a new Dr. in the Phoenix area. Our first thought was to go to Banner MD Anderson in Gilbert, AZ but our current Dr. says that it is not anything like the MD Anderson in Houston and is basically like any other hospital – just that the Dr.s in Gilbert train in Houston and consult with the Houston Drs. We are leaning towards going to Dr. Choi who works at the AZ Center for Cancer Care in Glendale, AZ. Have you heard of Dr. Choi or this facility? What are your thoughts on MD Anderson in Gilbert now that it’s been open for 2 years. Our Dr. also says that the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale is not as good as the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. Any thoughts?
Lainy wrote:Teddy Sardina is being treated by: Dr. Jack Cavalcant Oncologist
Banner Desert Hospital Phoenix
Dr. John Kresl Radiologist
Banner Good Samaritan Hospital Phoenix I want to add that Mayo Clinic in Phoenix has been doing a lot of liver transplants and MD Anderson is opening here the end of September 2011.
