PET scan results. Wish I had better news.

jamiegww
jamiegww Member Posts: 384
edited June 2012 in Breast Cancer #1
I'm still trying to digest everything but apparently I have more going on than just a lung nodule. There is something on T3 & L3 & my sternum. Also two issues in my upper right chest above the mastectomy site maybe both above and below the chest wall? The PET mentions two foci in the right lung (I don't know if that means the one nodule is now two?) There is also uptake within a lymph node anterior to the superior vena cava. I just had to type that part because for some reason it makes me laugh. There are various maximum SUV's with the lowest being 3.6 and the highest being 6.8. I don't know what any of this means but I intend to research. I will be getting a biopsy of the lung nodule and possibly the lump on my chest wall. My onc wants me to get another port and the chest biopsy at the same time but I really want to wait for the results of the lung biopsy before getting a port. I asked her what would happen if I don't do anything and she said I might have six months. I'm sorry but I just can't believe that because I feel fine. I'm not looking forward to explaining all this to my husband. I wish I could have divorced him and disappeared before this happened because I just don't want to do this to him.

HUGS!!!
Jamie
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Comments

  • LoveBabyJesus
    LoveBabyJesus Member Posts: 1,679 Member
    oh sweet Jamie...
    I was just dropped reading your post. Wish your results were different. I'm very sorry. Too many bad news lately and it's too sad. Wish no one was going through this. Wish cancer didn't exist!!! UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Ok. We just have to put those pink gloves back on, right? I know this is a roller coaster which seems to never stop. But I am praying that this is just another rock in your way that you'd be able to get out of the way. You know we'll be here holding you and praying for you. We are not you - and we know this is hard. But you did it once. We'll do this!

    About your husband, I know it's hard for you to communicate to your love ones such bad news. I think we worry about them more than we worry about ourselves. I don't know your relationship situation, but I hope it's strong. And that he will be there to support you. We will be here for you too.

    Prayers, prayers, and more prayers for you.

    Sending you a huge hug.
  • MAJW
    MAJW Member Posts: 2,510 Member

    oh sweet Jamie...
    I was just dropped reading your post. Wish your results were different. I'm very sorry. Too many bad news lately and it's too sad. Wish no one was going through this. Wish cancer didn't exist!!! UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Ok. We just have to put those pink gloves back on, right? I know this is a roller coaster which seems to never stop. But I am praying that this is just another rock in your way that you'd be able to get out of the way. You know we'll be here holding you and praying for you. We are not you - and we know this is hard. But you did it once. We'll do this!

    About your husband, I know it's hard for you to communicate to your love ones such bad news. I think we worry about them more than we worry about ourselves. I don't know your relationship situation, but I hope it's strong. And that he will be there to support you. We will be here for you too.

    Prayers, prayers, and more prayers for you.

    Sending you a huge hug.

    This sucks!
    Jamie...
    We all understand bad news...and I hate this for you...did you oncologist explain all this to you? It's a lot to digest and we really can't Inderstand all the medical lingo from reading the report...if it were me, I wouldn't do a lot of online research...it can scare the crap out of you...your onc must believe you'll need chemo thus wanting you to have a port...personally, if that's the plan, it probably isn't a bad idea to have the biopsy and port done at the same time...probably under conscious sedation...good stuff! That's what I had done...and a port is a blessing!

    Please know Jamie that I will keep you in my prayers...
    Keep us posted, we care
    Hugs Nancy
  • Gabe N Abby Mom
    Gabe N Abby Mom Member Posts: 2,413
    Oh Jamie, I'm so sorry about
    Oh Jamie, I'm so sorry about your news. Please know that we'll be with you and do everything we can to help.

    I'm not sure this will be good advice but in my case, I give my hubby a broad overview and then I let the onc explain the details. That way when my hubby has a question he is getting a direct answer, not my interpretation of the answer. It also helps me because he often has questions I hadn't thought of.

    Not to be cheeky, but what is an SUV? All I can think of are vehicles...

    Remember, we're always here for you.

    Hugs,

    Linda
  • jamiegww
    jamiegww Member Posts: 384
    MAJW said:

    This sucks!
    Jamie...
    We all understand bad news...and I hate this for you...did you oncologist explain all this to you? It's a lot to digest and we really can't Inderstand all the medical lingo from reading the report...if it were me, I wouldn't do a lot of online research...it can scare the crap out of you...your onc must believe you'll need chemo thus wanting you to have a port...personally, if that's the plan, it probably isn't a bad idea to have the biopsy and port done at the same time...probably under conscious sedation...good stuff! That's what I had done...and a port is a blessing!

    Please know Jamie that I will keep you in my prayers...
    Keep us posted, we care
    Hugs Nancy

    Thanks Nancy
    I researched most of the report now so I understand what SUV means. It doesn't look good but hopefully we will see it go down as treatment progresses. The lung biopsy will be done by a radiologist so it will be separate from the other biopsy. My onc is concerned that the chest biopsy will be tainted by the previous radiation and therefore not as reliable as the lung biopsy which is why she suggested combining that bio with getting a port. I really don't want a port because I absolutely hated my previous port which did not work for blooddraws and usually had to be hooked up to a pump to work for chemo. It was uncomfortable when I slept. I asked the chemo nurse who she would recommend to put my port in this time since I am supposed to keep it the rest of my life. Hopefully I can go to that person. I asked my onc if I could get a PICC line but she said they are only for short-term use. Naturally the biopsy will tell them if this cancer is from my original cancer which was triple negative. My onc must have thought I was crazy when I asked if there was any chance my original pathology was wrong. That's something we always wonder, isn't it? I'm rambling now so I better shut up.

    HUGS!!!
    Jamie
  • jamiegww
    jamiegww Member Posts: 384

    Oh Jamie, I'm so sorry about
    Oh Jamie, I'm so sorry about your news. Please know that we'll be with you and do everything we can to help.

    I'm not sure this will be good advice but in my case, I give my hubby a broad overview and then I let the onc explain the details. That way when my hubby has a question he is getting a direct answer, not my interpretation of the answer. It also helps me because he often has questions I hadn't thought of.

    Not to be cheeky, but what is an SUV? All I can think of are vehicles...

    Remember, we're always here for you.

    Hugs,

    Linda

    Thanks for making me laugh, Linda
    I wish it did mean sports utility vehicle. I've been wanting one so when I read SUV I thought....that's not what I had in mind. Unfortunately it stands for Standard Uptake Volume. Cancer cells multiply faster than normal cells. An SUV of 1 is normal activity and 2.5 or higher means possible metastatic cancer activity. Other factors such as an infection can also cause a higher reading.

    I don't really see my husband going to the doctor's office with me. He never has so far. He needs to go to work and not give his boss any reason to let him go. I relied on my daughter the first time around because she had female bosses and they were extremely sympathetic but she just started a new job after being unemployed for several months so I don't even want to tell her what is going on until I absolutely have to. The best thing for me is for my husband and my daughter to both go to work and let me deal with this mess instead of worrying about them.

    I'll be okay as long as I have you all with me!

    HUGS!!!
    Jamie
  • MsGebby
    MsGebby Member Posts: 659
    Hi Jamie
    Boy oh Boyv... this makes me not want to go to my thoracic surgeon tomorrow. My heart weeps reading this report. The SUV is the amount of glucose uptake the nasty little C cells enjoy. My understanding is anything over 2.0 is of concern. Either way, any uptake will usually indicate cancer.

    My hopes and prayers are with you as you navigate this journey. Your attitude is very upbeat and positive and that goes a long way in coping.

    I know what you mean when you say you feel OK. I feel pretty good too but have over 10 lung nodules that are not behaving well! Hence, the thoracic surgeon tomorrow. I've pretty much prepared myself for the worse, but always hoping for the best.

    Keep us posted. We care

    Mary
  • MAJW
    MAJW Member Posts: 2,510 Member

    Oh Jamie, I'm so sorry about
    Oh Jamie, I'm so sorry about your news. Please know that we'll be with you and do everything we can to help.

    I'm not sure this will be good advice but in my case, I give my hubby a broad overview and then I let the onc explain the details. That way when my hubby has a question he is getting a direct answer, not my interpretation of the answer. It also helps me because he often has questions I hadn't thought of.

    Not to be cheeky, but what is an SUV? All I can think of are vehicles...

    Remember, we're always here for you.

    Hugs,

    Linda

    Me again!
    Jamie, I don't let them do blood draws from my port....I have it taken from my "good arm" ....plus the lab tech told me they have to take more blood from a port... I had a go round with a male, older man lab tech 2 weeks ago...he wouldn't take it from my arm..did a finger prick...because "in case" my port didn't work...I was pissed....had him again Tuesday...my first words to him were "I'm not going to tolerate you just doing a finger stick"...and I held out my arm...we have to stand up for ourselves...

    You can count on us!

    Again, you are in my prayers...
    Hugs, Nancy
  • jamiegww
    jamiegww Member Posts: 384
    MsGebby said:

    Hi Jamie
    Boy oh Boyv... this makes me not want to go to my thoracic surgeon tomorrow. My heart weeps reading this report. The SUV is the amount of glucose uptake the nasty little C cells enjoy. My understanding is anything over 2.0 is of concern. Either way, any uptake will usually indicate cancer.

    My hopes and prayers are with you as you navigate this journey. Your attitude is very upbeat and positive and that goes a long way in coping.

    I know what you mean when you say you feel OK. I feel pretty good too but have over 10 lung nodules that are not behaving well! Hence, the thoracic surgeon tomorrow. I've pretty much prepared myself for the worse, but always hoping for the best.

    Keep us posted. We care

    Mary

    Mary
    I hope you get some encouraging news tomorrow. I thought you were going to Sloan Kettering tomorrow? Please keep us posted also. Thanks for caring.

    HUGS!!!
    Jamie
  • jamiegww
    jamiegww Member Posts: 384
    MAJW said:

    Me again!
    Jamie, I don't let them do blood draws from my port....I have it taken from my "good arm" ....plus the lab tech told me they have to take more blood from a port... I had a go round with a male, older man lab tech 2 weeks ago...he wouldn't take it from my arm..did a finger prick...because "in case" my port didn't work...I was pissed....had him again Tuesday...my first words to him were "I'm not going to tolerate you just doing a finger stick"...and I held out my arm...we have to stand up for ourselves...

    You can count on us!

    Again, you are in my prayers...
    Hugs, Nancy

    Thanks again Nancy!
    I'm still excited about your fantastic news and I hope it continues to improve. I'm getting tickled thinking about you refusing the finger stick and holding out your arm. You go girl!

    HUGS right back at ya!
    Jamie
  • aisling8
    aisling8 Member Posts: 1,627 Member
    jamiegww said:

    Mary
    I hope you get some encouraging news tomorrow. I thought you were going to Sloan Kettering tomorrow? Please keep us posted also. Thanks for caring.

    HUGS!!!
    Jamie

    Big hug headed your way
    I'm sorry your news wasn't better. Sending you positive thoughts and energy.

    xoxo
    Victoria
  • epark
    epark Member Posts: 339
    aisling8 said:

    Big hug headed your way
    I'm sorry your news wasn't better. Sending you positive thoughts and energy.

    xoxo
    Victoria

    Ugh so sorry to hear this
    Ugh so sorry to hear this awful news...I will have you n my prayers....

    God bless
    Eva
  • CypressCynthia
    CypressCynthia Member Posts: 4,014 Member
    Jamie, I am so, so sorry to
    Jamie, I am so, so sorry to hear of this. Please know that I am sending prayers and hugs. Also, if your husband had cancer and the tables were reversed, I bet you wouldn't want to leave him. I know I have put my husband through a lot too and he is my rock, so I understand how you feel. But I also know that I would take care of him no matter what. (((Hugs)))
  • Double Whammy
    Double Whammy Member Posts: 2,832 Member

    Jamie, I am so, so sorry to
    Jamie, I am so, so sorry to hear of this. Please know that I am sending prayers and hugs. Also, if your husband had cancer and the tables were reversed, I bet you wouldn't want to leave him. I know I have put my husband through a lot too and he is my rock, so I understand how you feel. But I also know that I would take care of him no matter what. (((Hugs)))

    Oh no!
    This news must be very difficult to digest. I'm so sorry. I hope you can find a balance between trying to be strong for your family and letting them be there for you. Have you asked your husband how involved he'd like to be or told him what you would like from him? Someone said to me the other day that she was so busy trying to take care of her family and be strong for them when she was in treatment, that she neglected herself and had no one to support her. Please don't do that. And please know that this family is here for you and you don't need to protect us from anything.

    Sending you lots of hugs and prayers.

    Suzanne
  • Megan M
    Megan M Member Posts: 3,000
    MAJW said:

    This sucks!
    Jamie...
    We all understand bad news...and I hate this for you...did you oncologist explain all this to you? It's a lot to digest and we really can't Inderstand all the medical lingo from reading the report...if it were me, I wouldn't do a lot of online research...it can scare the crap out of you...your onc must believe you'll need chemo thus wanting you to have a port...personally, if that's the plan, it probably isn't a bad idea to have the biopsy and port done at the same time...probably under conscious sedation...good stuff! That's what I had done...and a port is a blessing!

    Please know Jamie that I will keep you in my prayers...
    Keep us posted, we care
    Hugs Nancy

    I'm so sorry Jamie. I will
    I'm so sorry Jamie. I will be praying for you with the other pink sisters.


    Hugs, Megan
  • New Flower
    New Flower Member Posts: 4,294

    Oh no!
    This news must be very difficult to digest. I'm so sorry. I hope you can find a balance between trying to be strong for your family and letting them be there for you. Have you asked your husband how involved he'd like to be or told him what you would like from him? Someone said to me the other day that she was so busy trying to take care of her family and be strong for them when she was in treatment, that she neglected herself and had no one to support her. Please don't do that. And please know that this family is here for you and you don't need to protect us from anything.

    Sending you lots of hugs and prayers.

    Suzanne

    Jamie I am very sorry
    Hi Jamie,
    I am very sorry. If you saw my post I was diagnosed last Thursday with stage IV too. I went to my doctor with my husband, and it did help a lot. Three of us decided to fight, we do not want to think about giving up, there we did not ask if we do nothing.
    I agree with you that overall we feel pretty normal and could not guess what has been going-on with us.
    Please think about what your can do for your husband and family if you continue being here with them.
    My big hug to you. Please believe in yourself.
    I think it is a good idea to wait until all results are in and make decision based it.
    Next time I will make you laugh too,
    New Flower
  • Kylez
    Kylez Member Posts: 3,761 Member
    aisling8 said:

    Big hug headed your way
    I'm sorry your news wasn't better. Sending you positive thoughts and energy.

    xoxo
    Victoria

    I wish you had better news
    I wish you had better news too, but, you've got all of the pink sisters still praying for you!

    Lots of positive thoughts, hugs and anything else you need!


    Hugs, Kylez
  • Noel
    Noel Member Posts: 3,095 Member

    Jamie I am very sorry
    Hi Jamie,
    I am very sorry. If you saw my post I was diagnosed last Thursday with stage IV too. I went to my doctor with my husband, and it did help a lot. Three of us decided to fight, we do not want to think about giving up, there we did not ask if we do nothing.
    I agree with you that overall we feel pretty normal and could not guess what has been going-on with us.
    Please think about what your can do for your husband and family if you continue being here with them.
    My big hug to you. Please believe in yourself.
    I think it is a good idea to wait until all results are in and make decision based it.
    Next time I will make you laugh too,
    New Flower

    I'm so sorry Jamie about
    I'm so sorry Jamie about your news. You will be in my thoughts and prayers.


    Hugs, Noel
  • Noel
    Noel Member Posts: 3,095 Member

    Jamie I am very sorry
    Hi Jamie,
    I am very sorry. If you saw my post I was diagnosed last Thursday with stage IV too. I went to my doctor with my husband, and it did help a lot. Three of us decided to fight, we do not want to think about giving up, there we did not ask if we do nothing.
    I agree with you that overall we feel pretty normal and could not guess what has been going-on with us.
    Please think about what your can do for your husband and family if you continue being here with them.
    My big hug to you. Please believe in yourself.
    I think it is a good idea to wait until all results are in and make decision based it.
    Next time I will make you laugh too,
    New Flower

    I'm so sorry Jamie about
    I'm so sorry Jamie about your news. You will be in my thoughts and prayers.


    Hugs, Noel
  • jamiegww
    jamiegww Member Posts: 384
    Weird calm
    I feel very calm today. It's almost as if I have been carrying a boulder on my shoulders for two years waiting for the cancer to return and now that it has, I no longer have that boulder. The song that has been going through my head today is, of course, "Live Like You Were Dying" but I don't plan on going skydiving. I did tell my husband I would like to go to a Fireworks display on the 4th. We haven't been to one in many many years because we avoid crowds.

    My lung biopsy is scheduled for next Thursday morning. If the PINK BUS is available I think I would really appreciate the company. I love you all!

    HUGS!!!
    Jamie
  • SIROD
    SIROD Member Posts: 2,194 Member
    So Very Sorry On The Result!
    Dear Jamie,

    I am sorry for your PET report. I do understand your hating ports. I disliked mine when I did chemo following my original diagnose almost 18 years ago now. I had it out the following month as I couldn't stand it. However, 2 for the price of one surgery should be a consideration. Since you were triple negative the first time, more than likely you will be again and the treatment will probably be chemotherapy. I know we who are hormonal positive can morphed to negative but, I don't believe it goes the other way unless it is a new cancer. Not being aware that the port is being put in might be a good incentive on having done at the same time as well as not going a 2nd time for a surgical procedure.

    It's a lot to deal with when even though we know on some level, hope that it isn't really. and then the reality. Mine was widespread in both lungs, lining along with an effusion. I felt as well as a person who didn't have cancer, working full time, leading a very busy life. Lung tumors don't hurt, mine don't even now where I do have more than I want. It is usually bone that is painful. Feeling great make it hard to believe it is there.

    I'm single so I always went alone for every tests, treatments, and appointments. Only when surgery is involved and I can't drive home do I have friends or my sons drive me. I am usually a strong advocate in regarding my health issues and besides cancer, I have many and it's always been solo. I understand how your feeling not wanting you family involved but they are. I don't tell my sons as much as I should, the rest of the family and friends, I do say it like it is. Since I function so well, most don't believe it anyway.

    Sorry for the news but like the rest of us Stage IV, you will march right on doing what needs to be done.

    My very best wishes to you,

    Doris