Liver Lesions

CindyGSD

I try not to worry about things that I have no control over, but I’m freaking out a little bit. When I had my first CT scan, the day of my diagnosis back in July, I was told by the radiologist that I had two lesions on my liver. My doctor never mentioned them. The radiologist made it clear that it was she, my doctor, who did not think they were cancerous which might imply that maybe he did.

Now I just read in my MMMT Group that someone was told that she had a lesion on her liver and had to have either radiation or surgery. Do cancerous lesions show up different on a CAT scan? I assumed that to determine if it was cancer a biopsy had to be done.

I have an appointment with my radiologist on Wednesday to be tattooed before my first radiation treatment. I am also getting a CAT scan. Is it normal to have a CAT scan before radiation treatment? I'm beginning to think that maybe he has some concerns about those lesions.

TIA
Cindy

Gracegoi

Hi Cindy
IT may depend on how big they are. I had the same thing only they were to small to specify. My oncologist said that lesions are not always cancerous. If they are too small to determine they watch to see if they grow.

I can't answer about a ct prior to radiation and 4 months after the first. How about giving your doc a call?

As a friend told me last night on the phone. "Don't assume, ask." He Teed me off but he was right.

Grace

daisy366

Gracegoi said:

Hi Cindy
IT may depend on how big they are. I had the same thing only they were to small to specify. My oncologist said that lesions are not always cancerous. If they are too small to determine they watch to see if they grow.

I can't answer about a ct prior to radiation and 4 months after the first. How about giving your doc a call?

As a friend told me last night on the phone. "Don't assume, ask." He Teed me off but he was right.

Grace

CT before radiation
When I had tomo radiation they gave a CT scan first to help determine the proper location of the beam.

snowbird_11

I had radiation for a
I had radiation for a recurrence this summer and a CT was part of the marking, set up process and was used to guide beams during treatments - Image Guided Radiotherapy.

CindyGSD

snowbird_11 said:

I had radiation for a
I had radiation for a recurrence this summer and a CT was part of the marking, set up process and was used to guide beams during treatments - Image Guided Radiotherapy.

Thanks all...
I feel a little better regarding the CT scan. Sounds like it's standard protocol.

Cindy

jazzy1

Cindy
I think I'm the girl on your MMMMT on-line group...named Jan? Right? I responded to your question on liver lesion and asked you to explain further. I had something similar and for life of me can't find my documentation from the CT 2 years ago. Mine wasn't cancer and in fact, might not have been called a lesion, but it was an abnormal growth. Doc wasn't worried, but just wants to watch to see if it ever changes size, etc.

Just wanted to post so you're not freaking out that it might be cancer. We might have different type abnormal showings on the scans.... Giving you hope that it might not be a thing wrong. Sorry think you misunderstood what I was posting on other group.

Best to you
Jan

CindyGSD

jazzy1 said:

Cindy
I think I'm the girl on your MMMMT on-line group...named Jan? Right? I responded to your question on liver lesion and asked you to explain further. I had something similar and for life of me can't find my documentation from the CT 2 years ago. Mine wasn't cancer and in fact, might not have been called a lesion, but it was an abnormal growth. Doc wasn't worried, but just wants to watch to see if it ever changes size, etc.

Just wanted to post so you're not freaking out that it might be cancer. We might have different type abnormal showings on the scans.... Giving you hope that it might not be a thing wrong. Sorry think you misunderstood what I was posting on other group.

Best to you
Jan

Thanks
It was Joyce that I was referring to but yes I emailed you as well. I'm almost positive they referred to mine as lesions which is what they are calling hers. Anytime you hear anything about something on the liver (often referred to as spots) it's cause for concern. I thought it was odd that my oncologist didn't mention it at all.

Joyce responded to the email and it looks like the only reason they think it might be cancerous is because it did show up on her CAT scan which suggests to me that it wasn't on her initial scan. Looks like she is going to see a liver specialist first which makes sense rather than just jump right into surgery. (don't they usually biopsy those things first).

Anyway I get a CAT scan tomorrow so if those lesions have changed I assume that will be a bad thing.

Cindy

daisy366

CindyGSD said:

Thanks
It was Joyce that I was referring to but yes I emailed you as well. I'm almost positive they referred to mine as lesions which is what they are calling hers. Anytime you hear anything about something on the liver (often referred to as spots) it's cause for concern. I thought it was odd that my oncologist didn't mention it at all.

Joyce responded to the email and it looks like the only reason they think it might be cancerous is because it did show up on her CAT scan which suggests to me that it wasn't on her initial scan. Looks like she is going to see a liver specialist first which makes sense rather than just jump right into surgery. (don't they usually biopsy those things first).

Anyway I get a CAT scan tomorrow so if those lesions have changed I assume that will be a bad thing.

Cindy

Cindy
Sending my best wishes that all goes well for you tomorrow. Keep us posted.

Mary Ann