First they see it, then they don't - back again!!!

vchildbeloved

Hello everyone. Been a while. Become a work-a-holic. An update, stage 3 colon cancer, 1 node positive. Well, remember in March I wrote that a scan was done that showed a 1.5mm spot on liver: well they did a pet scan afterwards, and they saw nothing. I had another scan on yesterday that showed the spot was there and had grown to 1.6mm. How can they one minute see something on one test and then another nothing! On top of that, while I was on the phone with oncologist; the radiology department called with results of mammmogram I took a week ago. Well, they want me to come in on Monday to retest the right side, which is the one that was bothering me. I am concerned about the liver as well because I told them that I have constant pain on that right side. From some of the posts I've read, pain on that side is a great indicator of bad news. On Monday I will again be tested for liver spot: another scan they said that will focus directly on liver and then another mammogram. Husband is out of town and needed someone to talk to.

Thanks for listening!

Valerie

Sundanceh

Hi Valerie
Well, as you know, medicine is an imperfect science and sometimes they make mistakes - I've had situations where CT showed mass, PET showed activity and the biopsy revealed the opposite.

And I've had biopsies say nothing there and then had my tumor in liver grow to 9cm.

I'm glad you are getting all of this looked at again - pain on the right side might mean something, but the spot on your liver is still relatively small at 1.6mm.

Generally speaking, by the time that the liver begans to hurt, the condition can be bad. It's one of those organs that generally does not show symptoms until after things have progressed.

I remember before my liver surgery, I had pains in the right side as well - but the tumor was 9cm as I mentioned above - about the size of a small orange.

I hope that these test for both areas will reveal if anything is wrong - but also hoping that there is not.

I read your post and just wanted to touch base with you - know you are highly concerned especially with your husband out of town.

Not being a doctor, I can't really judge or even guess as to what's happening - will be very interested to hear what you find out. Again, hoping that's it's not serious.

I'm sure that they will be keeping a close eye on the liver spot and monitoring its growth. Having gone from 1.5 to 1.6 mm in three months indicated that the growth rate is slow.

It could be calcification or some scarring - that does happen and they don't grow to be too big. As you know, cancer grows at a much quicker clip.

Wish I could shed some more light here, but will wait to hear back from you.

Try and have a good w/end and do post back - nice to see you again.

-Craig

Erinb

I hope it is nothing. My
I hope it is nothing. My husband's PET revealed no activity, but the CT scan suggested it MAY be growing in the liver as his increased in size. Did you get a CEA to go along with the scans. Like Craig said, it is slow growing if it is anything at all. Couldn't there be a margin of error in the CT depending on your position and the cut of the scan? Well hopefully it's nothing. Try to enjoy the weekend.
Erin

vchildbeloved

Erinb said:

I hope it is nothing. My
I hope it is nothing. My husband's PET revealed no activity, but the CT scan suggested it MAY be growing in the liver as his increased in size. Did you get a CEA to go along with the scans. Like Craig said, it is slow growing if it is anything at all. Couldn't there be a margin of error in the CT depending on your position and the cut of the scan? Well hopefully it's nothing. Try to enjoy the weekend.
Erin

No Cea this time. Are you
No Cea this time. Are you speaking of the marker for colon cancer, because I don't know of another. I got one in March that was below 1.0 or something. My enzymes had been up but last checked they were at a normal. I pray that there is an error. The fact that it has ANY growth at all is what's bothersome.

Thank you and Craig for your responses. Well let you know Tuesday what new scan results are.
You have a great weekend as well.

Valerie

AnneCan

Hi Valerie,
I am sorry you
Hi Valerie,

I am sorry you have had all this to deal with, especially with your husband out of town. I am thinking of you and hoping the testing will give you good results. Take good care!

tootsie1

hi
Hi, Valerie.

I was glad to see your name pop up on the board again, because we haven't heard from you in awhile. I'm just so sorry to hear your news, though. I do hope that all of this will be taken care of quickly, and you can get back to real life.

*hugs*
Gail

vchildbeloved

Sundanceh said:

Hi Valerie
Well, as you know, medicine is an imperfect science and sometimes they make mistakes - I've had situations where CT showed mass, PET showed activity and the biopsy revealed the opposite.

And I've had biopsies say nothing there and then had my tumor in liver grow to 9cm.

I'm glad you are getting all of this looked at again - pain on the right side might mean something, but the spot on your liver is still relatively small at 1.6mm.

Generally speaking, by the time that the liver begans to hurt, the condition can be bad. It's one of those organs that generally does not show symptoms until after things have progressed.

I remember before my liver surgery, I had pains in the right side as well - but the tumor was 9cm as I mentioned above - about the size of a small orange.

I hope that these test for both areas will reveal if anything is wrong - but also hoping that there is not.

I read your post and just wanted to touch base with you - know you are highly concerned especially with your husband out of town.

Not being a doctor, I can't really judge or even guess as to what's happening - will be very interested to hear what you find out. Again, hoping that's it's not serious.

I'm sure that they will be keeping a close eye on the liver spot and monitoring its growth. Having gone from 1.5 to 1.6 mm in three months indicated that the growth rate is slow.

It could be calcification or some scarring - that does happen and they don't grow to be too big. As you know, cancer grows at a much quicker clip.

Wish I could shed some more light here, but will wait to hear back from you.

Try and have a good w/end and do post back - nice to see you again.

-Craig

Thanks Craig, I will let you
Thanks Craig, I will let you know what the fndings are. I'm scheduled for the new testings on tomorrow. My concern is that I'm hurting so badly on this right side and knowing that it's got to be a reason for it.

lesvanb

Hi Valerie
I can relate to your concern about growth with spots being watched. As my doc explained it to me, the PET/CT takes slices of the organs at a few cm intervals so a small growth like 1.5 to 1.6 can be explained by just the taking of the test itself. The nodule will appear slightly different on each scan but relatively the same. Continued growth would be more of an issue. It's awesome that your CEA is within normal ranges, and around 1 is very good, and if your doc thinks it's a good measure to follow with you to indicate disease. My dropping CEA despite a growth in lung nodules makes my PET/CT inconclusive but with concern. I also hope that there is nothing going on with the mammogram.

all the best, Leslie