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Jul 15, 2010 - 11:22 pm
sisters, just wondering if anyone has ever had or has now a slightly enlarged node/s that turned out not to be cancer? i've certainly heard 3rd hand of a number of nodes that were enlarged for a variety of reasons other than cancer, but just wondering if there are any first -hand accounts here. thanx, sisterhood |
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Joined: Nov 2009
connie, thank you for your response
i agree with you, that radiation may well not be the most effective therapy for a positive lymph node; in fact, i was told that if the node is positive, then there are cells there that cannot be seen, and radiation wouldn't necessarily get all of them, and that chemo was the best choice. you may already know that my charge nurse after looking at my ct scan thinks my slightly enlarged para aortic node is scar tissue. i agree with you too that you may well not have a recurrence.
i am hoping that your laparoscopy next friday goes well, and would appreciate hearing the results for a number of reasons, mainly that you're doing well. i imagine your doctor said pet positive because it lit up in a pet scan? or is s/he just guessing? even if mine is positive, i'm hoping and trying to keep it contained by diet, exercise, tumeric, etc. i believe that's what claudia has been doing for a couple of years successfully.
you're right re: cancer being a full time job, no matter what. i am trying to cut back now to part time--and there actually are times i'm not thinking about it. usually there's some scare, like back ache (fine), worry, then relief for awhile until the next anomaly. and after such a big surgery as we've had, and chemo for some (i didn't do radiation), there are always strange pains, nerve endings recharging, adhesions, etc. my chemo doctor has said she is "unimpressed" with my various pains, so so shall i be as well. maybe you too?
sisterhood,
maggie
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Yes, Large Nodes in the Obturator Fossa
Hi, Maggie:
The operative report prepared by my gyn-onc states that "there were also palpably enlarged lymph nodes in the obturator fossa on the left side, and large, but not overly large nodes on the right side." All of the nodes removed were negative for tumor.
Wishing you all the best,
Maureen
Joined: Jul 2009
My last Ct showed increase in size and number of lymph nodes.
This is in the mesentery, but they said they were not pathological. My Doc was going to repeat CT in 6 mos, but I was worried, so now am having PET in 3 months. As others have, my 25 removed during surgery were negative. A Doc I work with said I may end up with more questions than answers with the PET scan; with possibly needing a biopsy.
Thank you all for your posts.
Best,
Kathy
Joined: Nov 2009
kathy and maureen
thanx for your posts. good to know first hand that some enlarged lymph nodes are not pathological. am interested, maureen, in why your doctor thought you might end up with more questions than answers with a pet scan. makes one wonder whether to even have them, if that's the case! could mean things show up that look suspicious, then one has a biopsy, and then, maybe nothing, hopefully nothing. but you've been put through more worry and more procedures.....
sisterhood,
maggie
Joined: Nov 2009
oops, meant kathy and more questions than answeres
sorry, meant to say kathy, not maureen, for questions re: doctor's comments.
m
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Hello
He was an Oncologist that works in my clinic. Sometimes things show up on a PET scan that aren't really significant, but because they have to comment on them, your Doc usually follows up with a biopsy. Mine weren't very large and he was just going to watch them for 6 months, but then I started asking him all kinds of questions; so he said let's try to get more info with a PET/CT. Sooo in Sept I will know more.
Thanks, Connie and Maggie!
Kathy
Joined: Nov 2009
kathy
yes, next step seems to be a ct/pet for me as well, but there' no hurry. my chemo doc said i could have one in august, or wait another 3 months to make it 6 month, which i may well do. so we'll see. please let us know results of your pet/ct. doctors have pretty much ruled out needle biopsy at this point, and surgical removal would be a very big deal, and no one thinks worth it now. so, we're waiting and seeing. meanwhile, i'm feeling very good, and can't see disturbing a good thing.
sisterhood,
maggie
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connie
hi, it wasn't clear to me if you were having a laparoscopy to check on the periaortic node as well, or just the status of the health of your abdomen. is there a specific reason you're wanting to check on your abdomen, since you don't have symptoms?? sorry to ask all these questions, but do want to be clear what you're saying.
hope all goes well with your procedure, and yes, will appreciate hearing the results, and hoping for the best.
sisterhood,
maggie
Joined: Jul 2009
Connie
Will be thinking of you on Fri and hoping for a good outcome. Keep the positive thoughts and I will keep the prayers coming!
Best,
kathy
Joined: Jan 2009
Connie praying for good results on Friday
Hoping your laparoscopy goes well on Friday, and you get some positive answers. You are so right that cancer is so sneaky. In peace and caring.
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Joined: Nov 2009
thanx connie
best of luck to you re: your procedure. hope nothing even remotely suspicious shows up.
i sure know what you mean about sick of cancer, doctors. tests....i feel like i've taken a break these 3 months, and it's almost been like normal. i don't think of cancer the first thing when i wake up in the morning nor the last thing at night anymore--what a blessing that is. the longer i can prolong this state, the happier i'll be. if there's something i need to face at some point, i'll do it; but right now it feels like a vacation.
again, connie, thinking of you, and wishing the very best for you. we'll wait to hear from you.
sisterhood,
maggie
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connie
is that really true re: ny times article; they weren't spoofing docspeak?? too much! yes, i do know it's true, maybe especially with breast cancer, that way too many biopsies are done and other intrusive procedures, like surgery, that aren't necessary.
talk to you again when you're back on line. take care.
,
maggie
Joined: Jul 2009
Connie and Maggie
Take good care, both of you! I totally agree with all your comments.
Kathy
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Joined: Nov 2009
connie
do need to post, now that it's monday. did spend sunday with partner, kids and grandkids. yea! for the negative pet scan shadow, and yes, will definitely want to hear what treatment options you have for the para aortic node, and which you choose. so glad the surgery was a breeze, every little blessing counts. hope all your path reports return negative. is there a possibility, if the node is small and contained, that you do nothing, but, say, natural healing methods, or is that not a possibility?
sisterhood,
maggie
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connie
yes, of course you can contact me personally. i just learned it can be done on this site--private messages, but i don't know how to initiate one yet, only respond. yes, am in northern california--berkeley, but am treated in walnut creek. my ca 125 has always been on the high normal side, at least as of june. right now i don't recall what mm my para aortic lymph node is, but i do know it's very small. the charge nurse at the hospital took a look at my ct scan results and said she didn't think it was cancer because it didn't have any debris, or any suspicious looking cells around it. she believes it's scar tissue. i frankly do not know, but am leaving it alone for the time being. i never had a washing, i know that's done for ovarian cancer more. maybe you can say more at some point about what the washing does and doesn't do. in the meantime. i'm thinking of you, and hoping for the best.
sisterhood,
maggie
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i have to post, connie
connie,
i couldn't be happier for you. i'll await further word from you.
sisterhood,
maggie
Joined: Jul 2009
VERY HAPPY FOR YOU, CONNIE!
WHAT GREAT NEWS. TODAY I AM PLEASED TO SAY THAT I BELIEVE AGAIN THAT PRAYERS DO WORK. HAVE MY DOUBTS AT TIMES. GOOD LUCK AT DANA-FARBER. WE LIVED IN NH AND MY HUSBAND WORKED IN BOSTON FOR 10 YEARS...EXCELLENT PLACE TO GET ADVICE.
WILL CONTINUE SENDING THE PRAYERS AND GIVE GRATITUDE FOR YOUR GOOD NEWS.
MY APPOINTMENT FOR PET/CT IS MID SEPT. AM TRYING NOT TO EVEN THINK ANY THOUGHTS ABOUT RESULTS. BUT YOU GIVE ME HOPE IT COULD BE GOOD NEWS.
HUGS,
KATHY