NOT QUITE THERE YET. NOW WHAT--SURGERY?

seatown
seatown Member Posts: 261 Member
in Peritoneal Cancer #1

Happy New Year, everyone!

Yesterday I got the results of last week's PET scan.  I was hoping for the status of N.E.D.—no evidence of disease. Not so fast. There was no uptake of the scan’s radioactive dye, meaning there’s no metabolic activity in the tumor, which of course is good news. There would be no value in further chemotherapy now—in part because what showed up as a tumor may be only scar tissue. There are probably two options—“watchful waiting,” with regular blood tests and scans, or surgery. Surgery is apparently the likelier option. Surgery would provide the opportunity to excise whatever is left in my abdomen and also to look around for what else might be there. 

The good news is that my CA 125 number is down again, to 44 from 53 earlier in Dec.  What I'm wondering is whether surgery is the choice I should make, if I'm given that option, or should I just be content with "watchful waiting"?

For details if you're interested, check out www.CaringBridge.org/visit/CaroleSeaton

 

Comments

  • PatsieD
    PatsieD Member Posts: 99
    #2
    Waiting

    I too am being carefully watched. By that I mean I have to watch and wait myself and if any symptoms show up, I have to make a phone call and be triaged. When I asked about symptoms, I was told to watch out for not feeling well in general, an increased abdomen together with more pain. Well, sometimes I feel generally out of sorts (more so than I feel anyway), my abdomen does bloat generally and I do have pain more on some days rather than others. I feel that my recurrances won't be picked up until I'm in a bad state. Scary to me is the watch and wait thing because the only person actually watching is me.

     

  • riverbend05
    riverbend05 Member Posts: 2
    #3
    surgergy after chemo

    I had non-invasive surgery...there was evidence of diease that was only detected through a pathology report. I had my omentum removed..this is where the diease can fester best to have the surgery to make sure.  you will only have a one night stay in the hospital.

  • Nflinchum
    Nflinchum Member Posts: 75
    #4
    PatsieD said:

    Waiting

    I too am being carefully watched. By that I mean I have to watch and wait myself and if any symptoms show up, I have to make a phone call and be triaged. When I asked about symptoms, I was told to watch out for not feeling well in general, an increased abdomen together with more pain. Well, sometimes I feel generally out of sorts (more so than I feel anyway), my abdomen does bloat generally and I do have pain more on some days rather than others. I feel that my recurrances won't be picked up until I'm in a bad state. Scary to me is the watch and wait thing because the only person actually watching is me.

     

    Ladies I am also being

    Ladies I am also being watched. I have had two clear scans in the past six months. The lowest my CA125 have been is 47. They went up too 68 the first of dec. I had them done again in jan. they were up to 116. I had another scan today and see the dr Wednesday for results. I have been having a lot of bloating, indigestion and short of breath. I have also gained 13 pounds since aug. trying to be positive but prepared for the worst.

  • seatown
    seatown Member Posts: 261 Member
    #5
    riverbend05 said:

    surgergy after chemo

    I had non-invasive surgery...there was evidence of diease that was only detected through a pathology report. I had my omentum removed..this is where the diease can fester best to have the surgery to make sure.  you will only have a one night stay in the hospital.

    Going ahead with surgery

    Ladies, thank you for your comments. Nadine, thank you especially for your kind words on my blog. I hope you get good news today on the results of your latest scan and that your symptoms are dealt with. Those of you who have read my blog on Caring Bridge know that I am going ahead with surgery later this month. They plan to do it laparoscopically if possible. As far as I can tell I'm symptom-free right now -- no bloating, swollen abdomen or digestive problems.  Hoping for the best!

  • Nflinchum
    Nflinchum Member Posts: 75
    #6
    seatown said:

    Going ahead with surgery

    Ladies, thank you for your comments. Nadine, thank you especially for your kind words on my blog. I hope you get good news today on the results of your latest scan and that your symptoms are dealt with. Those of you who have read my blog on Caring Bridge know that I am going ahead with surgery later this month. They plan to do it laparoscopically if possible. As far as I can tell I'm symptom-free right now -- no bloating, swollen abdomen or digestive problems.  Hoping for the best!

    Clear scan

    Carole my scan showed no recurring cancer. He is not sure whmayhem ca markers are up. Did another ca test today. As for my GI problems he thinks there could be something going on with my stomach, etc. I have an app. With the GI dr tomorrow. I too have a tumor that wasn't removed because it was to large plus it was on my sacrum. They are telling me also that it is scar tissue. Makes me wonder for I was told at one time I might have to have another surgery tot remove it. Also from my 38 staple surgery I have developed a hernia Which I am going to have to surgery on. This is because the incision didn't heal properly. It happens a lot in major surgery.did you have any problems like this? I am thankful for my good report but think something is going on with me. 6 months since chemo and still so tired and having so many issues. Also Carole do you know anything about tamoxifen. My dr has me on 20 mg of this daily for prevention. Thanks and keep me posted.

  • Nflinchum
    Nflinchum Member Posts: 75
    #7
    seatown said:

    Going ahead with surgery

    Ladies, thank you for your comments. Nadine, thank you especially for your kind words on my blog. I hope you get good news today on the results of your latest scan and that your symptoms are dealt with. Those of you who have read my blog on Caring Bridge know that I am going ahead with surgery later this month. They plan to do it laparoscopically if possible. As far as I can tell I'm symptom-free right now -- no bloating, swollen abdomen or digestive problems.  Hoping for the best!

    Clear scan

    Carole my scan showed no recurring cancer. He is not sure whmayhem ca markers are up. Did another ca test today. As for my GI problems he thinks there could be something going on with my stomach, etc. I have an app. With the GI dr tomorrow. I too have a tumor that wasn't removed because it was to large plus it was on my sacrum. They are telling me also that it is scar tissue. Makes me wonder for I was told at one time I might have to have another surgery tot remove it. Also from my 38 staple surgery I have developed a hernia Which I am going to have to surgery on. This is because the incision didn't heal properly. It happens a lot in major surgery.did you have any problems like this? I am thankful for my good report but think something is going on with me. 6 months since chemo and still so tired and having so many issues. Also Carole do you know anything about tamoxifen. My dr has me on 20 mg of this daily for prevention. Thanks and keep me posted.

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