CAT scan results not good need info

CaliGal2012
CaliGal2012 Member Posts: 9
in Peritoneal Cancer #1
My husband had colon cancer that spread to his peritoneal
HIPEC survey in January 2012
today is our first time back to start chemo but they did scan prior to chemo which show microscopic cancer on outside of liver and lymph nodes
Very scared can he still beat this?
He has always responded to chemo very well and they want to give him 3 then scan again
I hope there are others who have had hipec and then liver rumors who are still alive
Please

Comments

  • PatsieD
    PatsieD Member Posts: 99
    #2
    metastatis
    Hi there...
    Welcome to this board. I have microscopic cancer which is in the lung and on the outside of the liver. I had 6 rounds of carboplatin last year and am well though uncomfortable at the moment. I was in a very dark place last year, but I'm much better than I could have ever have hoped. If you look on the web, the prognosis is not good for peritoneal cancer but there are people on here who have had the disease for quite a number of years. So there is hope. It all depends on the type of cell the cancer is and how it responds to treatment. I couldn't have HIPEC because I have too much scar tissue in the abdomen. I didn't need debulking surgery becauses I'd already had so many organs removed but I still have the omentum. A lot more research needs to be done on peritoneal cancer and its subtypes. You'll find general statistics which are not relevant to your husband's condition. Everyone is different. Don't lose hope. I know it's frightening because I've been there myself. The people here are very supportive and I couldn't have got through without them.
  • CaliGal2012
    CaliGal2012 Member Posts: 9
    #3
    PatsieD said:

    metastatis
    Hi there...
    Welcome to this board. I have microscopic cancer which is in the lung and on the outside of the liver. I had 6 rounds of carboplatin last year and am well though uncomfortable at the moment. I was in a very dark place last year, but I'm much better than I could have ever have hoped. If you look on the web, the prognosis is not good for peritoneal cancer but there are people on here who have had the disease for quite a number of years. So there is hope. It all depends on the type of cell the cancer is and how it responds to treatment. I couldn't have HIPEC because I have too much scar tissue in the abdomen. I didn't need debulking surgery becauses I'd already had so many organs removed but I still have the omentum. A lot more research needs to be done on peritoneal cancer and its subtypes. You'll find general statistics which are not relevant to your husband's condition. Everyone is different. Don't lose hope. I know it's frightening because I've been there myself. The people here are very supportive and I couldn't have got through without them.

    Thank you so much for the
    Thank you so much for the response. This chemo round hit him hard. In bed 3 days sick which wasn't like the 1st rounds so I pray this chemo is working. I know the liver is a tough organ and can have part of it removed. He will have 2 more chemo sessions then CAT scan again on Sept 13th. I think their goal is to see if tumor is smaller then go it and take it off liver. Again just so unclear of all this. We are up one day then down another. Reading all these post from friends and family makes me see how strong people are going throught this themself or a loved one going through it with them. I don't know how so many people get through this. I just try to keep busy and work as much as possible and just enjoy life. We decided this past weekend to plan a trip to Italy. He has always wanted to go so I'm already on board looking into info to make the trip.

    Thank you again for the kind words and advice. I hope you are feeling better each and every day.
  • PatsieD
    PatsieD Member Posts: 99
    #4
    CaliGal2012 said:

    Thank you so much for the
    Thank you so much for the response. This chemo round hit him hard. In bed 3 days sick which wasn't like the 1st rounds so I pray this chemo is working. I know the liver is a tough organ and can have part of it removed. He will have 2 more chemo sessions then CAT scan again on Sept 13th. I think their goal is to see if tumor is smaller then go it and take it off liver. Again just so unclear of all this. We are up one day then down another. Reading all these post from friends and family makes me see how strong people are going throught this themself or a loved one going through it with them. I don't know how so many people get through this. I just try to keep busy and work as much as possible and just enjoy life. We decided this past weekend to plan a trip to Italy. He has always wanted to go so I'm already on board looking into info to make the trip.

    Thank you again for the kind words and advice. I hope you are feeling better each and every day.

    Chemo
    My oncologist told me that it's hard to say how effective the treatment is by how a patient responds. Sometimes, a patient finds it all plain sailing but it works nevertheless. A friend of mine had chemo to reduce the size of a growth on his liver and then had surgery to remove it. My own disease is microscopic but shows up on the surface of the liver. The liver is quite a robust organ and some can be removed and it regenerates itself. It's amazing really what the body can do. It's hard for you too isn't it. The Italian trip sounds lovely and it's something to look forward to. :)
  • Carolyn68
    Carolyn68 Member Posts: 39
    #5
    PatsieD said:

    Chemo
    My oncologist told me that it's hard to say how effective the treatment is by how a patient responds. Sometimes, a patient finds it all plain sailing but it works nevertheless. A friend of mine had chemo to reduce the size of a growth on his liver and then had surgery to remove it. My own disease is microscopic but shows up on the surface of the liver. The liver is quite a robust organ and some can be removed and it regenerates itself. It's amazing really what the body can do. It's hard for you too isn't it. The Italian trip sounds lovely and it's something to look forward to. :)

    Do PET/CT
    I also have PPC....I am on my 1 st reocc. I had two good years....however, my doctor always relied on CT...until recently. We did CT.....showed only one tumor by my spleen, they I requested PET scan to make sure.....sure enough there was microcopic masses by colon and pelvic......I will never do a CT scan again....why? when PET scan is the ultimate filming. And, for me PET scan was 3000$ cheaper than CT. Yes, I have ins.
    Good luck!!!
  • PatsieD
    PatsieD Member Posts: 99
    #6
    Carolyn68 said:

    Do PET/CT
    I also have PPC....I am on my 1 st reocc. I had two good years....however, my doctor always relied on CT...until recently. We did CT.....showed only one tumor by my spleen, they I requested PET scan to make sure.....sure enough there was microcopic masses by colon and pelvic......I will never do a CT scan again....why? when PET scan is the ultimate filming. And, for me PET scan was 3000$ cheaper than CT. Yes, I have ins.
    Good luck!!!

    Pet scan v CT
    Hi Carolyn
    I am really sorry that you had a recurrence but two years for this disease is a good time as far as I know. It also means that you're likely to respond well to the first drug you were given. It's interesting about the PET alternative. I've only ever had CTs and my disease doesn't really show up well. I had to drink the fluid as normal but I wasn't allowed the contrast through the IV in my arm as I had a slight reaction to the fluid and my palms went warm and eventually blistered and peeled. Whether I'll get the fluid contrast next time is anyone's guess. I was thinking of asking for a PET scan myself. Do you know why a CT would be done when a PET scan may be better to see where my microscopic illness is at? What type of PPC do you have Carolyn?
  • Carolyn68
    Carolyn68 Member Posts: 39
    #7
    PatsieD said:

    Pet scan v CT
    Hi Carolyn
    I am really sorry that you had a recurrence but two years for this disease is a good time as far as I know. It also means that you're likely to respond well to the first drug you were given. It's interesting about the PET alternative. I've only ever had CTs and my disease doesn't really show up well. I had to drink the fluid as normal but I wasn't allowed the contrast through the IV in my arm as I had a slight reaction to the fluid and my palms went warm and eventually blistered and peeled. Whether I'll get the fluid contrast next time is anyone's guess. I was thinking of asking for a PET scan myself. Do you know why a CT would be done when a PET scan may be better to see where my microscopic illness is at? What type of PPC do you have Carolyn?

    PPC
    PPC....what type? you mean high grade? I have stage 3C. I have had 8 CT scans in 26 months. 6 of them were clear. My first one was the one they diagnosed and now this one.
    I asked my onc that very same question and really didn't get a definitive answer. I also am allergic to the dye. Therefore, before each CT, night before, day of CT I would have to pre-med with steroids to avoid reaction....and I have been fine. You may want to ask. Especially that you are not able to have dye, I would think for sure they would do PET. A PET is much easier, don't have to drink anything...I usually get diaherra and it is a day plus process. With PET you just fast 4 hours before.. restircted diet day before...high protein, very low carbs, sugar. It is manageable. Then at PET they inject you with solution, you sit quietly for 30 min. then they take and x-ray you. It is bigger than a CT scanner, but smaller than MRI scanner. That takes about 30-45 min....and you are done.
    I usually just go by what my ONC says, reading internet makes our disease very glummie! I am told I have a chronic disease, that is manageable and that I will be in and out of chemo, and have "vacations". Right now my chemo is every 21 days. I was layed up for about a week after chemo. Today I drove to grocery store, and feel pretty good. Have my CA125 on Thursday. Mine was 371 before. Before when I was diangosed, I was on a clinical trial and had chemo every 7 days....for 6 months I didn't drive or hardly have any quality of life. We live day to day. You need to ask questions....my onc is very proactive! Blessings....

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