Nervous - review scheduled

Joe_fh

As some you recall, after my surgery I felt my Path report was pretty good all things considering, large tumor and all.

I was given my classification via phone as
T3a N0 Mx - clear cell - grade 3 - negative margins - 12 cm extraction size

Well I finally got a hard copy of my pathology report via postal service, and it seems a few things were left out of that voice discussion.

First is Node involvement. I was told n0, but on the path report is says:

REGIONAL LYMPH NODES (pN):
- pNX: REGIONAL LYMPH NODES CANNOT BE ASSESSED

Correct me if I am wrong, but that does not make it n0 - that makes it nx does it not?

Another passage on the path that I find disturbing, and was also left out of the phone call was this:

PRIMARY TUMOR (pT):
- pT3a: TUMOR GROSSLY EXTENDS INTO THE RENAL VEIN BUT NOT BEYOND GEROTA'S FASCIA

The T3a I understood on the phone - but that extension into the renal vein can not bode well, nor would I think it to be a trivial matter worthy of being omitted in conversation. But again, I am no expert.

Then almost on Cue, The VA calls the next day and wants to schedule an appointment to discuss the Pathology report with Oncology. The follow phrases it as "To make sure you understand the implications of the report".

I'm thinking we could have phrased that message a little better. Geez I am already nervous in light of the full pathology details. That message came across as a little impending.

I try to push this stuff out of my mind and get some work done, but it just keeps invading my thoughts on a daily basis. Am I babbling and unduly nervous? Most likely both, but I just felt the need to vent somewhere.

Texas_wedge

Nervous
"I try to push this stuff out of my mind and get some work done, but it just keeps invading my thoughts on a daily basis. Am I babbling and unduly nervous? Most likely both, but I just felt the need to vent somewhere."

That is what these forums are for Joe but may I ask why you started yet another new thread, rather than posting on an existing one?

You're right: Nx and you're right to be a little anxious about your prognosis. That said, there are plenty of folks here and all over the world with worse size, stage and grade than yours who are getting on with their lives. We've had patients here with tumours around 10 times the size of yours and many of us have both worse stage and grade than you. I'm sure you're tough and will square up to what needs to be done. Good luck with it and lean on members here for help whenever you want to.

adman

Texas_wedge said:

Nervous
"I try to push this stuff out of my mind and get some work done, but it just keeps invading my thoughts on a daily basis. Am I babbling and unduly nervous? Most likely both, but I just felt the need to vent somewhere."

That is what these forums are for Joe but may I ask why you started yet another new thread, rather than posting on an existing one?

You're right: Nx and you're right to be a little anxious about your prognosis. That said, there are plenty of folks here and all over the world with worse size, stage and grade than yours who are getting on with their lives. We've had patients here with tumours around 10 times the size of yours and many of us have both worse stage and grade than you. I'm sure you're tough and will square up to what needs to be done. Good luck with it and lean on members here for help whenever you want to.

Wedge....

Are you more concerned with the NX or the 'renal' invasion?

adman

adman said:

Wedge....

Are you more concerned with the NX or the 'renal' invasion?

Came across this link....

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12050492

Joe_fh

adman said:

Came across this link....

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12050492

Thanks
Thanks for the link adman - It was helpful

Joe_fh

Texas_wedge said:

Nervous
"I try to push this stuff out of my mind and get some work done, but it just keeps invading my thoughts on a daily basis. Am I babbling and unduly nervous? Most likely both, but I just felt the need to vent somewhere."

That is what these forums are for Joe but may I ask why you started yet another new thread, rather than posting on an existing one?

You're right: Nx and you're right to be a little anxious about your prognosis. That said, there are plenty of folks here and all over the world with worse size, stage and grade than yours who are getting on with their lives. We've had patients here with tumours around 10 times the size of yours and many of us have both worse stage and grade than you. I'm sure you're tough and will square up to what needs to be done. Good luck with it and lean on members here for help whenever you want to.

I see
Wedge: Messages understood. My bad, guess I wasn't thinking.

adman

Joe_fh said:

I see
Wedge: Messages understood. My bad, guess I wasn't thinking.

I would still appreciate....

Mr. Wedge's perspective, if possible. Always helpful.