got scan report today

lisa42
lisa42 Member Posts: 3,625 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
I went to the records room and got my PET/CT scan report today. As I had mentioned as an update on my other post, I left the scan yesterday with a CD in hand, and I did look at it last night. The same old lit up spots were still visible on my lungs, liver. I couldn't tell about the rectal tumor (which showed as a recurrence in Feb.)

Anyhow, today the written report is basically calling everything stable. "Compared to most recent exam dated 2/10/10, there has been little interval change." It goes on to give details. Basically, there is no change in size at all in any of the "innumerable pulmonary nodules or hepatic nodules". Uptake slightly decreased in the lungs and slightly increased in the liver. Weird thing was that the report didn't even mention my rectal tumor. I'm assuming it must be stable too, as the last sentence in the findings part of the report states "Remainder of examination is stable." I was actually a bit disappointed last night, but I know stable is good, and I probably need to give the chemo more time to work. My onc had said before that he'll consider adding the Avastin back in, so maybe that will happen now. I'm also going to discuss w/ him switching from the 5FU pump to Xeloda. I was originally going to take the Xeloda, but took the 5FU pump just to get insurance to cover part of the cost. Since they ended up covering it after all, I don't see why I can't switch to Xeloda now. I'm a little nervous about the Avastin- nose bleeds and blood pressure issues again, which is why my onc didn't already put me back on it, but maybe it's something I should do again.

Anyhow- I'm doing well emotionally today- I am so grateful that in the almost 3 yrs since dx, God has kept me so strong physically, emotionally, and spiritually, and that I've really never had any complications or pain from the cancer. So, I will have a good mother's day weekend. I wish the same to all of you mothers out there!

Love ya,
Lisa
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Comments

  • Jaylo969
    Jaylo969 Member Posts: 824 Member
    Stable is good
    Lisa...I have been thinking about you and wanted to tell you that I'm happy you got a stable report.Maybe the next scan will show improvement. Like you said, you were off chemo for a time fighting to get insurance to cover your meds so hopefully by the time you have another scan some of the spots will have disappeared.

    Have a wonderful Mother's Day Lisa.

    -Pat
  • C Dixon
    C Dixon Member Posts: 201
    I have been thinking of you too...
    and watching the board for your update. Stable is good...not perfect but good. I am happy for you tonight and pleased you will have a good Mother's Day.

    Blessings,

    Catherine
  • dmdwins
    dmdwins Member Posts: 454 Member
    C Dixon said:

    I have been thinking of you too...
    and watching the board for your update. Stable is good...not perfect but good. I am happy for you tonight and pleased you will have a good Mother's Day.

    Blessings,

    Catherine

    Not exactly
    Lisa,

    Not exactly what we had hoped and prayed for but all in all not too bad. Your fighting spirit will keep you going. I celebrate each additional Mother's Day i'm given...you do the same and have a wonderful day with your kids.

    Smiles,
    Dawn
  • chicoturner
    chicoturner Member Posts: 282
    Scans
    Lisa, I know you were disappointed to be "stable", but remember, you have been busy fighting the injustice of the insurance world, not just.....this blasted cancer. So, you won that crazy battle and now you can rest a little and put your energy into fighting for you! You are one tough lady and I appreciate your sharing! I admire your courage and hope that I can fight as hard as you!! Keep it up. Jean
  • robinvan
    robinvan Member Posts: 1,012
    Hi Lisa
    Thanks for posting. You have been in my thoughts. Stable is good. It's not all we hope for but there is no disease progression and that is a good thing and usually a basis by which to continue treatment.

    Have a good Mother's Day weekend!

    Rob; in Vancouver
  • LOUSWIFT
    LOUSWIFT Member Posts: 371 Member
    Xeloda
    Sorry about your report being not as good as you hoped but stable isn't terible either. I took 15 weeks of Xeloda and don't let the pills fool you, it is strong meds with some bad side effects. If you get on the pills just some ideas. If you get the hand and foot syndrome. keep your feet and hands heavily lubed up (bag balm for city folk but farmers know it as utter cream). You need socks all the time and I wore light cloth gloves 24-7. I had seven pair so the bag balm could stay on all the time. I also understand that if you take vitamain B6 and B12 before you start Xeloda it may help but I read about this and did not take the vitamins. The pills when you take them by week six I was having trouble just shallowing them from the smell of the pills. Nuts I know but I was careful to have something more pleasant like a candle at dose time. It helped to get the pills down. If you hands get touch sensitive due to pain and you want to type on a keyboard I let my nails grow out (hidden by the gloves anyway) and I used the nails not the fingertips to type. It worked well. Happy Mother's Day it looks like you have a great family from the picture. Lou
  • tootsie1
    tootsie1 Member Posts: 5,044 Member
    Pretty good!
    That all sounds pretty good to me! Stable is WAY better than a big step backward. I'll be praying for even better results the next time.

    *hugs*
    Gail
  • Brenda3.16
    Brenda3.16 Member Posts: 209
    tootsie1 said:

    Pretty good!
    That all sounds pretty good to me! Stable is WAY better than a big step backward. I'll be praying for even better results the next time.

    *hugs*
    Gail

    Lisa
    Thanks for posting ! I

    Lisa

    Thanks for posting ! I look for you posts. They offer me so much information.

    I agree that stable is good and I am praying for even better results the next time.

    Happy Mother's Day

    Brenda
  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    Stable
    Yes, stable is good and I'm glad for that. Maybe you do need to give the chemo a little more time to work and shrink those lesions. Adding the Avastin back might be a good thing for you as this could be a good addition to what you are taking. Glad you are doing well emotionally and spiritually, because attitude is a big part of healing and you have done a great job in that respect.

    Happy Mothers day to you.

    Hugs!

    Kim
  • luv3jay
    luv3jay Member Posts: 533 Member
    I definitely like hearing
    I definitely like hearing the word stable better than increased activity!! You are such a fighter and an inspiration to me!! Happy mothers day, dear friend. You deserve a blessed one!!

    -Sheri
  • Kathleen808
    Kathleen808 Member Posts: 2,342 Member
    Lisa
    Lisa,
    I think stable is good. You have been on my mind and in my prayers so much. I hope you have a good So Cal weekend.

    Aloha,
    Kathleen
  • lisa42
    lisa42 Member Posts: 3,625 Member
    Thank you
    Thank you for the comments, everyone. Every one of you who posted- it means so much to me! You are all on my heart and mind often, too. :)
    Have a blessed weekend, everyone!

    Lisa
  • taraHK
    taraHK Member Posts: 1,952 Member
    lisa42 said:

    Thank you
    Thank you for the comments, everyone. Every one of you who posted- it means so much to me! You are all on my heart and mind often, too. :)
    Have a blessed weekend, everyone!

    Lisa

    Good
    Hi Lisa -- my fellow scan-tube mate!

    OK - it's not the Fantasy results I was hoping for! But, I am happy for you that no increases, and that things are stable. That is good.

    I got my results today - not good - but could be worse..... I will post separately....still processing the news!

    So, not our Fantasy results. But, as you say - -we are alive! YEARS have gone by....As my oncologist said to me today "you are a survivor" - not just a label/hope, but it is true -- we are still alive and we still have treatment options....

    It's gonna be a sweet Mother's Day! For us all....

    Love,
    Tara
  • linandtom
    linandtom Member Posts: 67
    Stable is good!
    So happy to see your news posted! Stable is still very good Lisa. Tom had the same trouble with the Avastin but it did work well for him as part of his first round of treatments. BP did increase but was controlled with BP medication and nose bleeds were on and off. I know we have to think about all the other possibilities when on Avastin but we have to do the same with any of the chemo drugs. Happy Mother's Day - do something special with your husband and children - have a wonderful weekend. Celebrate!!!
  • Sundanceh
    Sundanceh Member Posts: 4,392 Member
    Happy Mama's Day
    Enjoy your Sunday - it's a special one:)

    -Craig
  • lcarper2
    lcarper2 Member Posts: 635 Member
    Sundanceh said:

    Happy Mama's Day
    Enjoy your Sunday - it's a special one:)

    -Craig

    Lisa
    Stable is a step forward in as much as it has not grown and staying the same is wonderful when we are talking about cancer. I was on Xeloda for 7 months and mine spread so I don't recomend it to anyone. If that is the only thing you can do well it is better than nothing but I was very disapointed that mine spread while I was on it. any way I am proud of you and you stay tuff in this battle and next scan will show them going away...
  • PhillieG
    PhillieG Member Posts: 4,866 Member
    You Can't Spell Stable
    without able Lisa. Stable is a good thing. You're able to be with your family and to live life!
    Happy Mothers Day
    -p
  • Fight for my love
    Fight for my love Member Posts: 1,522 Member
    Dear Lisa,you always have a
    Dear Lisa,you always have a plan and you always fulfill your plan.I am glad to know it is stable.Happy Mother's day.
  • maglets
    maglets Member Posts: 2,576 Member

    Dear Lisa,you always have a
    Dear Lisa,you always have a plan and you always fulfill your plan.I am glad to know it is stable.Happy Mother's day.

    Lisa
    Lisa...you are such a fighter and such a planner. Happy Mother's day to you Lisa....thinking of you often

    mags
  • HollyID
    HollyID Member Posts: 946 Member
    maglets said:

    Lisa
    Lisa...you are such a fighter and such a planner. Happy Mother's day to you Lisa....thinking of you often

    mags

    Lisa, I'm also one of those
    Lisa, I'm also one of those that look up to you. You're just an amazing woman. Stable is good and I think you're on the right path! Happy Mother's day to you!!