when you want the real scoop re: what's going on with you, ask your charge nurse!! (needle biopsy v

maggie_wilson

sisters,

i went to the oncology center this afternoon to have my port flushed and ran into the charge nurse we'd befriended during my chemo--last one over 7 months ago. it was great to see her, and i thought to ask her re: having my slightly enlarged periaortic node biopsied. since my chart was right there, she took a look and said "absolutely not." she went on to say that it was just a little node with nothing around it, but if there were lots of suspicious cells floating around it, then maybe. she told me it's likely scar tissue, and not to worry about it, so i'm basically not going to worry anymore--to the extent i can help it.

charge nurse nancy also said that if it were cancer, then the very large needle it would take to reach the node would undoubtedly bring out some cells with it when it was removed, and if my immune system wasn't able to dispose of these cells, then new cancer sites would begin. so, LEAVE IT ALONE, at least for now.

so, sisters, did my two doctors just not think we'd be interested in hearing this ? do we have to anticipate all the questions, all the time to get some straight answers?? i guess so, unless you have a charge nurse like mine-- who then flushed my port, not something she usually does, and talked poker with us for the next 1/2 hour. love that woman!!!!!! i swear i'm never going to make another treatment decision without consulting her as well.

best to everyone,

sisterhood,
maggie

upsofloating

Maggie, I think there are so
Maggie, I think there are so many pros and cons for every possible avenue that it is extremely hard, either to think of every question to ask, or to be able to present every potential scenario that could occur. But asking more people will provide the opportunity to hear multiple viewpoints. And that is what you did! Armed with more information you could better consider your options. You go girl!!! Annie

maggie_wilson

upsofloating said:

Maggie, I think there are so
Maggie, I think there are so many pros and cons for every possible avenue that it is extremely hard, either to think of every question to ask, or to be able to present every potential scenario that could occur. But asking more people will provide the opportunity to hear multiple viewpoints. And that is what you did! Armed with more information you could better consider your options. You go girl!!! Annie

annie

i'm sure you're right, but sure would like to hear more from my doctors without having to anticipate as many possible scenarios as i can think of. sure did help to have nancy look at my chart; just fortuitious that she was there, that i thought to ask, and that she had the time. can't always count on that.
thanx for your comments.
sisterhood,
maggier

kkstef

maggie_wilson said:

annie

i'm sure you're right, but sure would like to hear more from my doctors without having to anticipate as many possible scenarios as i can think of. sure did help to have nancy look at my chart; just fortuitious that she was there, that i thought to ask, and that she had the time. can't always count on that.
thanx for your comments.
sisterhood,
maggier

Yeah for Nancy!
Maggie....how fortunate you were to run into someone who you have established a trusting relationship with. Am thinking that Nancy was where she was at the particular moment you were....Seems like an angel just waiting for you!!

Glad to know you are back from Vegas....and that you are chugging along...Keep asking those questions!!

Karen

maggie_wilson

kkstef said:

Yeah for Nancy!
Maggie....how fortunate you were to run into someone who you have established a trusting relationship with. Am thinking that Nancy was where she was at the particular moment you were....Seems like an angel just waiting for you!!

Glad to know you are back from Vegas....and that you are chugging along...Keep asking those questions!!

Karen

hi karen

yep, back from vegas, poorer and wiser! it was so much fun, however, and now catching up on sleep. yes, nancy is an angel, nice thought that she was there just waiting for me. .....made a big difference talking with her, that's for sure. always chugging along at this point, even in vegas, brought out my shaker of tumeric and pepper, and was known at the poker tables as the lady always drinking green tea and lemon! and having a massage at the poker table! what luxury.

hope all is well with you, karen. always appreciate hearing from you.

sisterhood,
maggie