Not good news

MichaelaMarie

Hello All,

Well, true to my guess, the Alimta didn't work. Plus, the doctor said the tumor on my neck (size of an egg) could be Lymphoma. Very depressing news. I've known that one can get another type of cancer from all of the chemo and cat scans, but have never really read that this has happened to anyone on the board. Sure would appreciate any information.

I hope that everyone is doing well, especially Bonnie and Saundra!!!!! Luv and prayers, MM

minky1225

Wish I could help with more info...
I don't know much about chemo induced lymphoma but I am most certainly going to pray that all works out okay.

Hugs,
Minky
Allison

Hissy_Fitz

Has your doctor given you
Has your doctor given you any indication of how to treat it? Will he biopsy it to be sure it's Lymphoma?

Please keep us posted and we, in turn, will keep you in our prayers.

Carlene

msfanciful

Hello,
Please, you sound so
Hello,

Please, you sound so disheartened however; make sure they do a biopsy before assuming you automatically have lymphoma.

Did they do blood-work to diagnos this?

Please let us know the results if and when you have that growth biopsied. I know many people who have huge growths on their neck, throat, etc., and it turned out the tumor was benign.

So don't add insult to injury by worrying yourself sick. Wait on actual facts and then go from there okay?

Praying for you,

Sharon

cancer survivor x 4

Tumor
MichaelaMarie,
My girlfriend was DX a Stage 3C last April. She made it 1 year this month. She had a CT Scan that showed a big tumor on her bladder. Her CA-125 has been stuck at 25, yes I said 25, for 6 monthes. They did a biopsy and don't you know that tumor was benign. So, anything is possible. Please try and stay positive and I should take my own advise more often. Thank-You, Paula

MichaelaMarie

cancer survivor x 4 said:

Tumor
MichaelaMarie,
My girlfriend was DX a Stage 3C last April. She made it 1 year this month. She had a CT Scan that showed a big tumor on her bladder. Her CA-125 has been stuck at 25, yes I said 25, for 6 monthes. They did a biopsy and don't you know that tumor was benign. So, anything is possible. Please try and stay positive and I should take my own advise more often. Thank-You, Paula

You've all helped
You've all helped so much with information on others and your encouragement. I must admit that I have been very much down in the dumps. My doctor has always been a little on the negative side with me, even asking me last week if I wanted to "keep trying." He did mention that they might biospy the tumor. It has been sitting there for a few years, but started growing rapidly in the last two months....now the size of an egg and very hard. The sudden growth is what has scared me, especially with my marker up so high. I found out yesterday that my doctor has decided on oral Etoposide for me instead of going back to Taxol. Have any of you been on Etoposide? Has anyone been helped by it? It seems to me that some have posted about it, but that there wasn't success with it. I'm suppose to pick up my chemo later today, and will see the doctor tomorrow. I will let you all know what he has to say. I like the idea of oral chemo, so that I don't have to go to the cancer center. And, added to my stress level is my parents. They are in their eighties and depend on me for all of their doctor appointments, etc. My Mother was just in the hospital a little over a week ago, and Saturday my Dad was "talking crazy" as my Mother described it. By the time I got there (20 miles), he was coming around and refused to go to the ER. He had a major seizure last September, and the doctors seem to think it was perhaps a mini-stroke, which is probably what is happening now. Thanks again to all of you, it really helps more than you know. Love, prayer and hugs, MM

Hissy_Fitz

MichaelaMarie said:

You've all helped
You've all helped so much with information on others and your encouragement. I must admit that I have been very much down in the dumps. My doctor has always been a little on the negative side with me, even asking me last week if I wanted to "keep trying." He did mention that they might biospy the tumor. It has been sitting there for a few years, but started growing rapidly in the last two months....now the size of an egg and very hard. The sudden growth is what has scared me, especially with my marker up so high. I found out yesterday that my doctor has decided on oral Etoposide for me instead of going back to Taxol. Have any of you been on Etoposide? Has anyone been helped by it? It seems to me that some have posted about it, but that there wasn't success with it. I'm suppose to pick up my chemo later today, and will see the doctor tomorrow. I will let you all know what he has to say. I like the idea of oral chemo, so that I don't have to go to the cancer center. And, added to my stress level is my parents. They are in their eighties and depend on me for all of their doctor appointments, etc. My Mother was just in the hospital a little over a week ago, and Saturday my Dad was "talking crazy" as my Mother described it. By the time I got there (20 miles), he was coming around and refused to go to the ER. He had a major seizure last September, and the doctors seem to think it was perhaps a mini-stroke, which is probably what is happening now. Thanks again to all of you, it really helps more than you know. Love, prayer and hugs, MM

Tell your doctor, "Hell
Tell your doctor, "Hell YES!" the next time he asks if you want to "keep trying".

What an **** hat.

Sorry for my potty mouth......going to gargle with Listerine now.

Carlene

leesag

MichaelaMarie said:

You've all helped
You've all helped so much with information on others and your encouragement. I must admit that I have been very much down in the dumps. My doctor has always been a little on the negative side with me, even asking me last week if I wanted to "keep trying." He did mention that they might biospy the tumor. It has been sitting there for a few years, but started growing rapidly in the last two months....now the size of an egg and very hard. The sudden growth is what has scared me, especially with my marker up so high. I found out yesterday that my doctor has decided on oral Etoposide for me instead of going back to Taxol. Have any of you been on Etoposide? Has anyone been helped by it? It seems to me that some have posted about it, but that there wasn't success with it. I'm suppose to pick up my chemo later today, and will see the doctor tomorrow. I will let you all know what he has to say. I like the idea of oral chemo, so that I don't have to go to the cancer center. And, added to my stress level is my parents. They are in their eighties and depend on me for all of their doctor appointments, etc. My Mother was just in the hospital a little over a week ago, and Saturday my Dad was "talking crazy" as my Mother described it. By the time I got there (20 miles), he was coming around and refused to go to the ER. He had a major seizure last September, and the doctors seem to think it was perhaps a mini-stroke, which is probably what is happening now. Thanks again to all of you, it really helps more than you know. Love, prayer and hugs, MM

I'm with Carlene. Perhaps
I'm with Carlene. Perhaps it's time for a second opinion? You and your family are in my prayers.

HUGS

Leesa

MichaelaMarie

leesag said:

I'm with Carlene. Perhaps
I'm with Carlene. Perhaps it's time for a second opinion? You and your family are in my prayers.

HUGS

Leesa

Not to get you more upset, Carlene,
but four years ago, after the Gemzar had failed, he gave me the "I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry" speech. I just stared at him. Because of this forum, I KNEW that there were many other chemotherapies to try........especially since Bonnie had already been on many others. Thank goodness for this wonderful forum and the exchange of important life-saving information! It would be very difficult to change doctors at this point because this is a small area with just the one cancer center, and all of the doctors are partners. However, I have asked him to run my case by the others on a couple of occasions, thus getting their expertise too. It makes me feel so much better to know that you all care about me, just as I care so much about all of you too!! Love y'all, MM

MK_4Dani

MichaelaMarie said:

Not to get you more upset, Carlene,
but four years ago, after the Gemzar had failed, he gave me the "I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry" speech. I just stared at him. Because of this forum, I KNEW that there were many other chemotherapies to try........especially since Bonnie had already been on many others. Thank goodness for this wonderful forum and the exchange of important life-saving information! It would be very difficult to change doctors at this point because this is a small area with just the one cancer center, and all of the doctors are partners. However, I have asked him to run my case by the others on a couple of occasions, thus getting their expertise too. It makes me feel so much better to know that you all care about me, just as I care so much about all of you too!! Love y'all, MM

I am praying for you MM.
I am praying for you MM. GOD is in control. Sometimes I pray for the good lord to give our doctor's wisdom. Keep fighting!
Mary

Hissy_Fitz

MichaelaMarie said:

Not to get you more upset, Carlene,
but four years ago, after the Gemzar had failed, he gave me the "I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry" speech. I just stared at him. Because of this forum, I KNEW that there were many other chemotherapies to try........especially since Bonnie had already been on many others. Thank goodness for this wonderful forum and the exchange of important life-saving information! It would be very difficult to change doctors at this point because this is a small area with just the one cancer center, and all of the doctors are partners. However, I have asked him to run my case by the others on a couple of occasions, thus getting their expertise too. It makes me feel so much better to know that you all care about me, just as I care so much about all of you too!! Love y'all, MM

Is there any possibility you
Is there any possibility you could at least get a second opinion, even if you have to travel a little to do it? Is your guy a Gyn/Oncologist?

You are so much nicer than I am. I would have given him a piece of my mind by now. Seriously....he needs some sensitivity training.

Carlene

Susan523

Hissy_Fitz said:

Tell your doctor, "Hell
Tell your doctor, "Hell YES!" the next time he asks if you want to "keep trying".

What an **** hat.

Sorry for my potty mouth......going to gargle with Listerine now.

Carlene

that happened to me, too, Carlene...
When I was hospitalized last September, they asked "do you want to continue treatment?"

Boy was I taken back. I asked "why wouldn't I?"

the PAC replied: "We just have to ask that".

Don't let anyone take your hope away! Here I am 7 months later, and in remission!
How dare they ask that!! grrrrrrrrrrr........

Mwee

MichaelaMarie said:

You've all helped
You've all helped so much with information on others and your encouragement. I must admit that I have been very much down in the dumps. My doctor has always been a little on the negative side with me, even asking me last week if I wanted to "keep trying." He did mention that they might biospy the tumor. It has been sitting there for a few years, but started growing rapidly in the last two months....now the size of an egg and very hard. The sudden growth is what has scared me, especially with my marker up so high. I found out yesterday that my doctor has decided on oral Etoposide for me instead of going back to Taxol. Have any of you been on Etoposide? Has anyone been helped by it? It seems to me that some have posted about it, but that there wasn't success with it. I'm suppose to pick up my chemo later today, and will see the doctor tomorrow. I will let you all know what he has to say. I like the idea of oral chemo, so that I don't have to go to the cancer center. And, added to my stress level is my parents. They are in their eighties and depend on me for all of their doctor appointments, etc. My Mother was just in the hospital a little over a week ago, and Saturday my Dad was "talking crazy" as my Mother described it. By the time I got there (20 miles), he was coming around and refused to go to the ER. He had a major seizure last September, and the doctors seem to think it was perhaps a mini-stroke, which is probably what is happening now. Thanks again to all of you, it really helps more than you know. Love, prayer and hugs, MM

Isn't this board the best!
I've also had those negative talks from my doctor and if I didn't have all the info that I've gotten from the wonderful posters on this board, I might answer differently to that
"keep trying" question. I'm with Carlene.....Hell Yes. I haven't tried Etoposide, but so far the carbo/taxol that I've been on for my remission isn't working, so I'll probably have to move on to new chemo meds. Thanks to all here, I know there are many options and I'm ready to try any or all of them. I hope your Dad is doing better.
(((HUGS))) Maria