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Think I just need a hug
JDuke
CSN Member Posts: 438
I will be honest, I am feeling blue. I know I can come here and get my spirits lifted back up. So I am.
I went today for my surgical consult regarding a liver resection for my anal cancer metastases. I was anxious to meet the surgeon, Dr. Malafa, Head of Tumor Surgery, Moffitt/Tampa. I really liked him. I will give you a little review...PET 10/09 showed liver met. Sought second opinion at Moffitt. Decided to have treatment there. Repeat PET and 3-level CT 12/09. Tumor a little smaller than first thought 1.6 cm. Scans showed nothing else of any concern. Resection scheduled for 2/5 if appointment with surgeon results in my being deemed a candidate. I went to the appt. today full of anticipation that I would be a candidate and that I would have the surgery and move on. Well...Dr. Malafa told me that the scans indicate that the tumor is in the "worst possible place". It is located BEHIND the main vein in the middle of my liver. He said it will be a very serious and delicate surgery. They want to rule out the possibility that the tumor has attached itself to the vein. He has ordered another CT with a special contrast and an MRI. I am still "penciled in" for the surgery on 2/5.
I felt like I had been socked in the gut. I don't really have an explanation for it. Nothing has really changed from yesterday...when I was feeling great, eager to get this show on the road and moving on with my life. However, what keeps repeating itself in my mind is:
1. rare cancer
2. even rarer for the rare cancer to metastasize
3. rare metastases of the rare cancer in the worst possible place
UUUGGGHHH!!!!Thanks for being here to let me vent. I know tomorrow will be brighter.
Blessings to you all,
Joanne
I went today for my surgical consult regarding a liver resection for my anal cancer metastases. I was anxious to meet the surgeon, Dr. Malafa, Head of Tumor Surgery, Moffitt/Tampa. I really liked him. I will give you a little review...PET 10/09 showed liver met. Sought second opinion at Moffitt. Decided to have treatment there. Repeat PET and 3-level CT 12/09. Tumor a little smaller than first thought 1.6 cm. Scans showed nothing else of any concern. Resection scheduled for 2/5 if appointment with surgeon results in my being deemed a candidate. I went to the appt. today full of anticipation that I would be a candidate and that I would have the surgery and move on. Well...Dr. Malafa told me that the scans indicate that the tumor is in the "worst possible place". It is located BEHIND the main vein in the middle of my liver. He said it will be a very serious and delicate surgery. They want to rule out the possibility that the tumor has attached itself to the vein. He has ordered another CT with a special contrast and an MRI. I am still "penciled in" for the surgery on 2/5.
I felt like I had been socked in the gut. I don't really have an explanation for it. Nothing has really changed from yesterday...when I was feeling great, eager to get this show on the road and moving on with my life. However, what keeps repeating itself in my mind is:
1. rare cancer
2. even rarer for the rare cancer to metastasize
3. rare metastases of the rare cancer in the worst possible place
UUUGGGHHH!!!!Thanks for being here to let me vent. I know tomorrow will be brighter.
Blessings to you all,
Joanne
Comments
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Joanne, here's that hug
Joanne, here's that hug {{{Joanne}}} and since I know you're a Christian, a verse.
)
Matthew 19:26 And looking at them Jesus said to them, "With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
Jeremiah 32:17 'Ah Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You,
Now let's pray the tumor is not in attached to that vein! -
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embolization
I had a met in the same place. I had a bland embolization and it's been gone for 6 months. Bland embolization is the same as chemo embolization but with out the chemo. Look into it. I had 2 liver resection and was cancer free for less than 2 months both times. in my book, I wish I would would have had embo first and avoided the 2 resections -
A man that I worked with ....
had a rare type of blood cancer that only 500 cases were reported . He is past the 5 year free mark now and is doing fine so rare doesn't mean incurable....It simply means rare...metastasis means simply another place for the rare cancer to be...and you don't know if its in the worst possible place yet or not.
Rare , if you think of it like this , seems to me is a new type that may have just emerged as a mutant cell, as a new, rare specimen it may be that smaller amounts of treatment will kick its butt...completely....so you have that on your side. Also the tumor is already smaller just by changing Drs. Thats always a plus...and if there is anyway that you are operable it feels to me that this new Dr is certainly on the starting block ready for a green light. It sounds as though things will gear up very soon for you..Smile young lady, you wear it so well.......Love and Hope to you also......Buzz
O and {{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{hugs to ya}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}} -
Scans
Joanne -
As happy as I am to hear you got a second opinion, don't stop
there if things get "sticky". Get a third and even a fourth opinion,
and get them from other areas whenever possible.
The scans can indicate different size "spots", even when taken
on the same machine. When the machine scans, it takes the scan
on a specific angle. A lot depends on the accuracy in the way the
machine's calibrated, and a ton on the ability of the technician.
The bare facts are, that machines aren't aligned exactly the same.
So, an awful lot depends on the ability of the doctor reading the
scans, and the doctors ability to discern real or memorex....
There have been scans that have indicated multiple "spots", that
managed to totally disappear in subsequent scans. It -is not- a perfect
technology, and if the results are about to be acted upon without
further "exploration" and investigation, it may be worthwhile to
seek other opinions first (well, it always is anyway).
Remember..... an "opinion" is just that: an opinion. Doctors are
only human.
Good thoughts and better health! -
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Hugs and More
Joanne, sorry for this bump in the road for you, but keep the faith. It is always difficult to have geared ourselves up for the next step and then have new news which puts it all in question again. Unfortunately, some of us become experts at picking ourselves up, dusting ourselves off, and starting the positive mental process again.
It is fortunate that your doc found things he questions before surgery, and wants more confirmation before going ahead. This gives him time to do his homework, get other input from specialists and work up a plan....better than making hard choices on the fly.
Hugs in bunches for you...prayers too.
Marie -
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hugsgeotina said:{{{{Hugs}}}}
Here is a big hug for the big scan. Scary stuff to be sure, but at least you are still penciled in for surgery. Hopefully, the surgeon will be able to come up with some answers for you if surgery is not one of them, at this time. Take care - Tina
Diane had good scriptures read them over and over nothing is imposible we are praying that you get the word that it is not attached to that mian vain and everything will be fine.
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