Kathleen808 and others with distant lymph node involvement - also bone involvement ?

jen2012
jen2012 Member Posts: 1,607 Member

Hi everyone - a bunch of old post were brought up last night by a spammer and many were lymph node posts which I hadn't found in my searches. 

Kathleen I see your husband had peri-aortic involvement some time ago.   I believe that is the same as para-aortic?   My husband was diagnosed with rectal, stage 4 in August and just finished his 8th folfox - I think he's had 5 avastin treatments.   He is stage 4 due to para-aortic lymph nodes that lit up on the first pet scan.  Surgeon pulled a couple out and they were positive for cancer.  He just had another pet scan in November and they are no longer lighting up.   Wondering if that's the end of them or if they'll pop up elsewhere.  Hoping when the surgeon did the biopsy he got the ones that were originally lit up and they are gone, but he was not certain of that.   What has your husband had done to take care of those nodes and has he had any other issues since?

Also, wondering if anyone has any thoughts on a bone issue he's had.    On the original pet scan there were some areas on the bones they were concerned about.  The radiologist did a bone biopsy and it came back negative.   When they did the 2nd pet scan in November and met with the surgeon about a week later and he said it all looked great - rectal tumor is shrinking and the lymph nodes are no longer lit up.   We just saw the onc this week and she is concerned about more areas in the bones and is thinking of another bone biopsy.  She was going to talk to the radiologist to see what he thinks, but she said there are areas that look like there are holes in the bones.  His CEA is 2.0 as of this week.  It was 9.4 I believe in Sept.

Comments

  • Chelsea71
    Chelsea71 Member Posts: 1,169 Member
    Sorry that you have a new
    Sorry that you have a new issue to worry about. You think you know what's going on and then you get new info. that knocks the wind out of you. It's a vulnerable position that we are all in.

    I have no info on this other than it would be quite unusual for him to have bone mets. I responded to keep this thread going. I'm curious about Kathleens response.

    Does anyone know if chemo alone can kill a lymph node? When a specific node lights up on one scan but not the next, does that mean it's permanently killed off? Likely, after a chemo break it would strengthen and eventually reappear on a scan, right? (I'm really hoping to hear that chemo alone does indeed kill lymph nodes. LOL).

    Chelsea
  • abackhou
    abackhou Member Posts: 77 Member
    Bone Mets

    I have just recovered from bone mets to my left clavicle and now have a new small bone one on the right clavicle.  Had numerous scans which failed to discover the bone met before the fracture.   These bone mets are hard to locate via x-rays and other normal scans. My bone tumor (22mm) was discovered was via a CT scan which highlighted the collarbone fracture.  My Medical ONC was not too perturbed about the bone mets, more concered with my liver/lung organ mets.  Having bone mets is extremely painful if you have not had breackthrough pain control they do cause you a lot of grief.  My bone tumor was eliminated via 5 strong radioation treatments and now the left one is all good albeit still tender.  The whole bone met pain, treatment and recovery took almost 16 weeks to this date.  My CEA had increased to 685 and now down to 547.

  • Kathleen808
    Kathleen808 Member Posts: 2,342 Member
    lymph nodes

    Hi Jen,

     

    **** had surgery in May 2010 that removed the cancerous lymph nodes.  He had follow-up chemo.  He was off chemo from October 2010 until January 2011 when a scan showed the cancer had spread to his lungs.  The lung mets have been stable, then disappeared, then popped back up and increased a bit in size.  No other lymph nodes have shown up.  His chemo was switched about 3 months ago and he will have a scan next week.  I'll let you know how it goes.

    Best to you.

    Aloha,

    Kathleen

  • jen2012
    jen2012 Member Posts: 1,607 Member
    Chelsea71 said:

    Sorry that you have a new
    Sorry that you have a new issue to worry about. You think you know what's going on and then you get new info. that knocks the wind out of you. It's a vulnerable position that we are all in.

    I have no info on this other than it would be quite unusual for him to have bone mets. I responded to keep this thread going. I'm curious about Kathleens response.

    Does anyone know if chemo alone can kill a lymph node? When a specific node lights up on one scan but not the next, does that mean it's permanently killed off? Likely, after a chemo break it would strengthen and eventually reappear on a scan, right? (I'm really hoping to hear that chemo alone does indeed kill lymph nodes. LOL).

    Chelsea

    Thanks Chelsea - it seems it

    Thanks Chelsea - it seems it is always something - waiting to hear from the onc to see what the radiologist suggests.    Thanks for bumping this up for me!

  • jen2012
    jen2012 Member Posts: 1,607 Member
    abackhou said:

    Bone Mets

    I have just recovered from bone mets to my left clavicle and now have a new small bone one on the right clavicle.  Had numerous scans which failed to discover the bone met before the fracture.   These bone mets are hard to locate via x-rays and other normal scans. My bone tumor (22mm) was discovered was via a CT scan which highlighted the collarbone fracture.  My Medical ONC was not too perturbed about the bone mets, more concered with my liver/lung organ mets.  Having bone mets is extremely painful if you have not had breackthrough pain control they do cause you a lot of grief.  My bone tumor was eliminated via 5 strong radioation treatments and now the left one is all good albeit still tender.  The whole bone met pain, treatment and recovery took almost 16 weeks to this date.  My CEA had increased to 685 and now down to 547.

    Thanks for posting - sorry

    Thanks for posting - sorry you have had to deal with this and the pain that goes with it.  My husband has not had any bone pain at all.   

  • jen2012
    jen2012 Member Posts: 1,607 Member

    lymph nodes

    Hi Jen,

     

    **** had surgery in May 2010 that removed the cancerous lymph nodes.  He had follow-up chemo.  He was off chemo from October 2010 until January 2011 when a scan showed the cancer had spread to his lungs.  The lung mets have been stable, then disappeared, then popped back up and increased a bit in size.  No other lymph nodes have shown up.  His chemo was switched about 3 months ago and he will have a scan next week.  I'll let you know how it goes.

    Best to you.

    Aloha,

    Kathleen

    Thanks Kathleen - I would

    Thanks Kathleen - I would have liked to have heard they pulled the nodes out and he had been fine since.  I'm sure you would have preferred that too.   Sorry he had to go back on chemo. I hope you get great results on the next scan.  Thanks for taking the time to answer.

  • Kathryn_in_MN
    Kathryn_in_MN Member Posts: 1,252 Member
    My experience

    I don't post here much anymore, but check in now and then. 

    I have never had any organ involvement.  I had distant lymph nodes only.  I have had multiple nodes involved, including para aortic (which no one would touch because they were behind my heart and against my spine).  Chemo knocks some out for good, but others come back any time chemo is stopped.  I finally did radiation to get rid of my 2 stubborn original nodes from my upper abdomen (and 3 more present at that time).  That bought me a chemo break.  During my break I had progression to more nodes and to bones.  I had tumors in my shoulder, collarbone and in my spine at T1, T2, T5 and T6.  I do wonder if those para aortic nodes against the spine had something to do with this spread to the spine?  T5 and 1/2 of T6 already had maximum lifetime radiation due to being in the field of radiation from my earlier treatments.

     

    I had Tomotherapy to go after all of those bone mets, except for T5 and 1/2 of T6.  I get monthly Xgeva shots to help strenthen my bones.  I did 5 tx of Irinotecan and Zaltrap, with amazing response.  My CEA was back to normal withint 3 tx.  A scan after 4tx showed all the nodes but one were shrunk back to normal.  Since it was CT and not PET, we don't know if that one was even active.  Unfortunately I got some very bad side effects that would have eventually killed me, so I had to quit the chemo.  My CEA was the lowest it has ever been, at 2.0 after my 5th tx.  I just had STAR ablation RFA for spinal mets, and it went quite well.  I have a little pain still, but nothing compared to what I had before.  I am off all pain meds! 

     

    My experience with bone mets is that you KNOW when you have them.  They are very painful.  I complained about my shoulder for months, and my collarbone and back, before we finally figured out that it was cancer.  My onc didn't think it could be.  The other odd thing in my case is that while CEA is a great indicator for me, and very responsive to lymph node met loads, my bone tumors do not seem to affect it.  Strange.  I've had PET and MRI to check on bone mets.  CT is not a good scan for those.  The same goes with node mets.  CT really isn't very good for those - PET is best.  I'd love to tell you that once they remove node mets that no more will pop up, but the majority of people I know have had more show up later.  I only know of two that have not (one is ****, Kathleen's husband who had spread to lungs, but not more nodes).  The other is a friend here in MN who had just one lone node met one year after being NED.  He had it removed and 12 tx FOLFIRI and has remained NED for 2 years now.  There is a small group of us on Colon Club that call ourselves the "Olymphians" who have been playing the "whack-a-mole" game with lymph node mets long-term.  But of our group, I think I am the only one with spread to bones so far.  (I could be wrong.)  Colon doesn't seem to go to bones as often as rectal.  I do know a few with rectal who have had mets to the sacrum.

  • jen2012
    jen2012 Member Posts: 1,607 Member

    My experience

    I don't post here much anymore, but check in now and then. 

    I have never had any organ involvement.  I had distant lymph nodes only.  I have had multiple nodes involved, including para aortic (which no one would touch because they were behind my heart and against my spine).  Chemo knocks some out for good, but others come back any time chemo is stopped.  I finally did radiation to get rid of my 2 stubborn original nodes from my upper abdomen (and 3 more present at that time).  That bought me a chemo break.  During my break I had progression to more nodes and to bones.  I had tumors in my shoulder, collarbone and in my spine at T1, T2, T5 and T6.  I do wonder if those para aortic nodes against the spine had something to do with this spread to the spine?  T5 and 1/2 of T6 already had maximum lifetime radiation due to being in the field of radiation from my earlier treatments.

     

    I had Tomotherapy to go after all of those bone mets, except for T5 and 1/2 of T6.  I get monthly Xgeva shots to help strenthen my bones.  I did 5 tx of Irinotecan and Zaltrap, with amazing response.  My CEA was back to normal withint 3 tx.  A scan after 4tx showed all the nodes but one were shrunk back to normal.  Since it was CT and not PET, we don't know if that one was even active.  Unfortunately I got some very bad side effects that would have eventually killed me, so I had to quit the chemo.  My CEA was the lowest it has ever been, at 2.0 after my 5th tx.  I just had STAR ablation RFA for spinal mets, and it went quite well.  I have a little pain still, but nothing compared to what I had before.  I am off all pain meds! 

     

    My experience with bone mets is that you KNOW when you have them.  They are very painful.  I complained about my shoulder for months, and my collarbone and back, before we finally figured out that it was cancer.  My onc didn't think it could be.  The other odd thing in my case is that while CEA is a great indicator for me, and very responsive to lymph node met loads, my bone tumors do not seem to affect it.  Strange.  I've had PET and MRI to check on bone mets.  CT is not a good scan for those.  The same goes with node mets.  CT really isn't very good for those - PET is best.  I'd love to tell you that once they remove node mets that no more will pop up, but the majority of people I know have had more show up later.  I only know of two that have not (one is ****, Kathleen's husband who had spread to lungs, but not more nodes).  The other is a friend here in MN who had just one lone node met one year after being NED.  He had it removed and 12 tx FOLFIRI and has remained NED for 2 years now.  There is a small group of us on Colon Club that call ourselves the "Olymphians" who have been playing the "whack-a-mole" game with lymph node mets long-term.  But of our group, I think I am the only one with spread to bones so far.  (I could be wrong.)  Colon doesn't seem to go to bones as often as rectal.  I do know a few with rectal who have had mets to the sacrum.

    Thanks for the info Kathryn. 

    Thanks for the info Kathryn.  I wonder if it was the radiation that caused the bone mets?   I have been reading some posts on CC - will look for the Olymphians posts.  Thanks for posting!

  • 21440826
    21440826 Member Posts: 1

    My experience

    I don't post here much anymore, but check in now and then. 

    I have never had any organ involvement.  I had distant lymph nodes only.  I have had multiple nodes involved, including para aortic (which no one would touch because they were behind my heart and against my spine).  Chemo knocks some out for good, but others come back any time chemo is stopped.  I finally did radiation to get rid of my 2 stubborn original nodes from my upper abdomen (and 3 more present at that time).  That bought me a chemo break.  During my break I had progression to more nodes and to bones.  I had tumors in my shoulder, collarbone and in my spine at T1, T2, T5 and T6.  I do wonder if those para aortic nodes against the spine had something to do with this spread to the spine?  T5 and 1/2 of T6 already had maximum lifetime radiation due to being in the field of radiation from my earlier treatments.

     

    I had Tomotherapy to go after all of those bone mets, except for T5 and 1/2 of T6.  I get monthly Xgeva shots to help strenthen my bones.  I did 5 tx of Irinotecan and Zaltrap, with amazing response.  My CEA was back to normal withint 3 tx.  A scan after 4tx showed all the nodes but one were shrunk back to normal.  Since it was CT and not PET, we don't know if that one was even active.  Unfortunately I got some very bad side effects that would have eventually killed me, so I had to quit the chemo.  My CEA was the lowest it has ever been, at 2.0 after my 5th tx.  I just had STAR ablation RFA for spinal mets, and it went quite well.  I have a little pain still, but nothing compared to what I had before.  I am off all pain meds! 

     

    My experience with bone mets is that you KNOW when you have them.  They are very painful.  I complained about my shoulder for months, and my collarbone and back, before we finally figured out that it was cancer.  My onc didn't think it could be.  The other odd thing in my case is that while CEA is a great indicator for me, and very responsive to lymph node met loads, my bone tumors do not seem to affect it.  Strange.  I've had PET and MRI to check on bone mets.  CT is not a good scan for those.  The same goes with node mets.  CT really isn't very good for those - PET is best.  I'd love to tell you that once they remove node mets that no more will pop up, but the majority of people I know have had more show up later.  I only know of two that have not (one is ****, Kathleen's husband who had spread to lungs, but not more nodes).  The other is a friend here in MN who had just one lone node met one year after being NED.  He had it removed and 12 tx FOLFIRI and has remained NED for 2 years now.  There is a small group of us on Colon Club that call ourselves the "Olymphians" who have been playing the "whack-a-mole" game with lymph node mets long-term.  But of our group, I think I am the only one with spread to bones so far.  (I could be wrong.)  Colon doesn't seem to go to bones as often as rectal.  I do know a few with rectal who have had mets to the sacrum.

    Hello

    My uncle, 45, has a similar situation.  He is stage IV colon, with lymph nodes which lit up along the para-aortic lymph area as well as his clavical.  His first round of chemo was successful in shrinking his tumor enough for a resection, and then they did radiation to kill of remaining lymph.  It worked.  Although I wish his doctor would've considered advising him to do the HIPEC during the resection when he had the chance because at the time the cancer was localized in the abdominal cavity.  After being NED post raidiaiton for two months, he has had a recurrance and is back  on the chemo.  Like you Kathryn, he has never had anything light up on his organs.  I'm so sorry this has reached he bone, and pray this is only another speed bump in your road to recovery.  For now, I am researching all the available trials which are testing new vaccines and gene-therapu- the more cutting edge stuff- to see if he may qualify for any and to present to his doctor.  Although I have faith in his doctors.  I'm a control freak and don't feel comfortable leaving his life in he hands of few people who may not have all the time in the world to research the up and coming treatment options.

  • jen2012
    jen2012 Member Posts: 1,607 Member
    21440826 said:

    Hello

    My uncle, 45, has a similar situation.  He is stage IV colon, with lymph nodes which lit up along the para-aortic lymph area as well as his clavical.  His first round of chemo was successful in shrinking his tumor enough for a resection, and then they did radiation to kill of remaining lymph.  It worked.  Although I wish his doctor would've considered advising him to do the HIPEC during the resection when he had the chance because at the time the cancer was localized in the abdominal cavity.  After being NED post raidiaiton for two months, he has had a recurrance and is back  on the chemo.  Like you Kathryn, he has never had anything light up on his organs.  I'm so sorry this has reached he bone, and pray this is only another speed bump in your road to recovery.  For now, I am researching all the available trials which are testing new vaccines and gene-therapu- the more cutting edge stuff- to see if he may qualify for any and to present to his doctor.  Although I have faith in his doctors.  I'm a control freak and don't feel comfortable leaving his life in he hands of few people who may not have all the time in the world to research the up and coming treatment options.

    Thanks for sharing about your
    Thanks for sharing about your uncle. Im sorry he has had a reoccurrance.