World is spinning out of control

emtwoods
emtwoods Member Posts: 37 Member
My husband was DX with Colon Cancer in May, he went for a colonoscopy, and a needle Liver biopsy. The liver biopsy came back negitive so he was sent for a colon resection. The colon resection showed he was stage 4 with mets to the liver. 10 lymph nodes all positive so T3 L2 M1 stage 4. He had a PE while in the hospital and that was treated, since then he has had 4 rounds of Folfox with the avastin held this last time because of high b/p, then he was diagnoised with Lupus as well, he already has MS. Wednesday we went to the doctor because of low iron, he has had 2 iron infusions and the doctor said his CEA is now up to 508. It started at 189, so he has a PET scan in the morning (the first one, not sure why)and we go back to discuss "options" isn't FolFox, the strongest thing he can be on??

Jessica

Comments

  • John23
    John23 Member Posts: 2,122 Member
    Jessica -

    He's just two months out of surgery, and they want to take a PET scan?

    A PET uses radioactive glucose with the assumption that it will
    indicate cancer clusters because cancer cells use more glucose
    than a normal cell.

    When a "normal cell" is in the process of healing, it can uptake as
    much glucose as a cancer cell; that equates to false positives.

    Before you travel too much further down the road, I would
    strongly suggest that you seek another opinion (or two) from
    a colorectal surgeon that is not of the same group or organization
    as the present surgeon. And yes, you should have an experienced
    colorectal surgeon, not a general surgeon.

    Don't allow any one physician's opinion alone, to steer you into
    any life-changing direction. There are many options at any/every
    stage of cancer; both mainstream and alternative options prevail.

    Get other opinions.

    Best of health to you both!

    John
  • emtwoods
    emtwoods Member Posts: 37 Member
    John23 said:

    Jessica -

    He's just two months out of surgery, and they want to take a PET scan?

    A PET uses radioactive glucose with the assumption that it will
    indicate cancer clusters because cancer cells use more glucose
    than a normal cell.

    When a "normal cell" is in the process of healing, it can uptake as
    much glucose as a cancer cell; that equates to false positives.

    Before you travel too much further down the road, I would
    strongly suggest that you seek another opinion (or two) from
    a colorectal surgeon that is not of the same group or organization
    as the present surgeon. And yes, you should have an experienced
    colorectal surgeon, not a general surgeon.

    Don't allow any one physician's opinion alone, to steer you into
    any life-changing direction. There are many options at any/every
    stage of cancer; both mainstream and alternative options prevail.

    Get other opinions.

    Best of health to you both!

    John

    Onocologist
    This is his onocologist who has ordered this because his CEA has gone from 189 at surgery to 508 after 4 treatments of FolFox. His surgery was May on 21st.
  • John23
    John23 Member Posts: 2,122 Member
    emtwoods said:

    Onocologist
    This is his onocologist who has ordered this because his CEA has gone from 189 at surgery to 508 after 4 treatments of FolFox. His surgery was May on 21st.

    Jessica -

    I have very little faith in oncologists to make decisions
    regarding cancer analysis; Colorectal surgeons seem to
    have more objectivity and experience, since they do
    not rely on equipment to provide the data that they instead
    gather from open surgery. That summation can be supported
    and corroborated easily with the diagnosis you've already
    had from both types of physicians.

    It is considered too soon after surgery for a PET scan to
    provide accurate data, regardless of the technician's ability.

    You really should have other professional opinions,
    preferably from other qualified colorectal surgeons.

    I personally wouldn't wait too long to do so.

    My best wishes to you both,

    John
  • buckeye2
    buckeye2 Member Posts: 428 Member
    John23 said:

    Jessica -

    I have very little faith in oncologists to make decisions
    regarding cancer analysis; Colorectal surgeons seem to
    have more objectivity and experience, since they do
    not rely on equipment to provide the data that they instead
    gather from open surgery. That summation can be supported
    and corroborated easily with the diagnosis you've already
    had from both types of physicians.

    It is considered too soon after surgery for a PET scan to
    provide accurate data, regardless of the technician's ability.

    You really should have other professional opinions,
    preferably from other qualified colorectal surgeons.

    I personally wouldn't wait too long to do so.

    My best wishes to you both,

    John

    I learn so much valuable
    I learn so much valuable information from you. Thank you so much for sharing with all of us. Lisa
  • John23
    John23 Member Posts: 2,122 Member
    buckeye2 said:

    I learn so much valuable
    I learn so much valuable information from you. Thank you so much for sharing with all of us. Lisa

    Lisa -

    Thanks, but please remember anything I type is only an opinion
    from a simple individual; I have -0- medical training.

    Always research anything and everything you read by anyone,
    and try to be as objective as possible; there's always two sides
    to every story!

    Thanks for the compliment, though!

    Best of health,

    John
  • John23
    John23 Member Posts: 2,122 Member
    emtwoods said:

    Onocologist
    This is his onocologist who has ordered this because his CEA has gone from 189 at surgery to 508 after 4 treatments of FolFox. His surgery was May on 21st.

    Jessica -

    For what it's worth....

    Re:
    "his onocologist who has ordered this because his CEA has gone
    from 189 at surgery to 508 after 4 treatments of FolFox"


    A Thread you should read:

    Tumors Die... CEA go up???...or Down?? What U Been Told?
    http://csn.cancer.org/node/201101

    But more specifically:

    Journal of Clinical Oncology, Vol 21, Issue 23 (CEA and Cancer cell death)
    http://jco.ascopubs.org/content/21/23/4466.full

    It may answer some questions regarding CEA readings
    and the misinterpretation of those readings.

    Best wishes,

    John