LYMPH NODE METS

lizzybirdy
lizzybirdy Member Posts: 13
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
DEAR ALL,
I AM STILL ON THE SIDE LINES WITH MY SISTER IN LAW WHO HAD HER ILEOSTOMY REVERESED & A HEPATIC PUMP PLACED. THEY DECIDED AGAINST RESECTION AT THAT TIME DUE TO LYMP INVOLVEMENT, REMOVED WHAT THEY SAW & SHE STARTED ON SYSTEMIC CHEMO AS WELL AS THE PUMP. THE LATEST GOOD NEWS IS THE LIVER TUMORS & CEA ARE SHRINKING. THE NOT SO GOOD NEWS IS THAT THERE HAS BEEN LYMPH SPREAD. ONC. WILL PROBABLY START AVASTIN NEXT TIME AS IT SEEMS THE CPT11 & ERBITUX ARE NOT WORKING. I WANTED TO KNOW IF ANYONE HAS BEEN THRU THIS SCENARIO? WHY WON'T THEY REMOVE THE INVOLVED NODES? I GUESS THEIR BIGGEST CONCERN IS HOW URGENT IS THIS. HAS ANYONE SEEN LYMPH INVOLVENT SHRINK OR DISAPPEAR WITH A CHANGE IN REGIMINE?
THANKS FOR ANY INPUT AGAIN.
A SPECIAL HELLO TO THOSE WHO i HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH & HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH MARIE & MY BROTHER.
I AM SENDING LOTS OF GOOD THOUGHTS TO YOU RODNEY FOR YOUR RECOVERY! PHIL, I REALLY HOPE IT'S COUNTDOWN FOR YOU ON YOUR CHEMO!
HUGS TO STACY, WHAT A CHEERING SECTION!
BLESSINGS TO YOU ALL,
LIZ

Comments

  • spongebob
    spongebob Member Posts: 2,565 Member
    #2
    Ahoy, Liz -

    Keeping you and your family in my prayers.

    - SpongeBob
  • jana11
    jana11 Member Posts: 705
    #3
    Hard one to explain. Lymph nodes are located throughout the entire body, truely everywhere. It is a path of fluid flow. When cancer gets in the lymph nodes, treatment/surgery depends on whether or not removal will make a difference. If it looks like not all can be removed - the risks of removing it may outweigh the benefits. I don't know her specifics, but all the surgeries are tough. In addition, even microscopic cancer is a big problem... that's what the chemo hopefully can combat.

    The goal of chemo is to shrink any tumors... but only time will tell. Have your sister talk to the docs - ask her if you can ask questions. BUT - make sure you want to have the answers before you ask.

    I hope this helps a little. Everyone's case is sooo different. Each person reacts differently to cancer and the treatments.

    Tell your sister to eat healthfully - it helps combat chemo side effects.

    Also, before my docs would operate on my lung mets - they wanted me to do chemo first to make sure the cancer would shrink with it. Otherwise, all the surgery and healing would be for nothing. Each person's circumstances can be so different.

    Hang in there. Just be caring and wonderful and appreciate every moment.

    jana
  • lizzybirdy
    lizzybirdy Member Posts: 13
    #4
    jana11 said:

    Hard one to explain. Lymph nodes are located throughout the entire body, truely everywhere. It is a path of fluid flow. When cancer gets in the lymph nodes, treatment/surgery depends on whether or not removal will make a difference. If it looks like not all can be removed - the risks of removing it may outweigh the benefits. I don't know her specifics, but all the surgeries are tough. In addition, even microscopic cancer is a big problem... that's what the chemo hopefully can combat.

    The goal of chemo is to shrink any tumors... but only time will tell. Have your sister talk to the docs - ask her if you can ask questions. BUT - make sure you want to have the answers before you ask.

    I hope this helps a little. Everyone's case is sooo different. Each person reacts differently to cancer and the treatments.

    Tell your sister to eat healthfully - it helps combat chemo side effects.

    Also, before my docs would operate on my lung mets - they wanted me to do chemo first to make sure the cancer would shrink with it. Otherwise, all the surgery and healing would be for nothing. Each person's circumstances can be so different.

    Hang in there. Just be caring and wonderful and appreciate every moment.

    jana

    THANKS FOR THE PRAYERS & INPUT. YUP, I THINK WE'RE WAITING TO SEE IF THE SYSTEMIC WILL BE EFFECTIVE ON THE NODES. BLAST THOSE LITTLE SUCKERS. IF IT WERE'NT FOR THEM SHE MIGHT HAVE A RESECTION. SO ,ON WE GO...
    BLESSINGS,
    LIZ

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