another scan today, results on Thu (UPDATE)

Phil64
Phil64 Member Posts: 838 Member
edited November 2012 in Colorectal Cancer #1
I have completed the 9th FolFox treatment. At treatment 8 I had a CT and PET scan completed. Those scans showed a small 3mm nodule in the lower lobe of the right lung (same location as a previous met that was resected on 6/1/12). Today, six weeks later, I just completed a follow-up chest CT. I'll receive the results on Thur, 11/15. Waiting...

If the nodule has grown another surgery will be scheduled. And the FolFox will be deemed as not working. I hate the idea that I may have received 9 FolFox treatments along with all the ugly side effects, without receiving benefit. Maybe the small nodule will turn out to be nothing by inflamation.

I try to keep a positive outlook but sometimes that is hard to do.

So I will wait until Thursday to hear results and see what the next steps will be...

God Bless!

Phil


UPDATE ON 11/15:

Good news and potentially bad news...

The good news is that the scan on 11/12 shows that the small nodule is almost not detectible. It has shrunk considerably and the onc thinks it is most likely inflamation. However, he will want to watch it closely.

The potentially bad news is that my CEA level is up to 13.3. On 10/18 (last chemo treatment) it was at 6.3. His concern is that being on a chemo break may have allowed tumor activity, resulting in a rising CEA level. The highest CEA I had (pre surgeries to remove colon tumor and lung met) was 19.7.

If I read correctly from you all and from other web sites, CEA levels can rise and fall due to other non-cancer-related things... So, I'm hoping that the increase is not cancer related. The doc also said that the recent scans show NO cancer in lungs, liver, pancreas, etc... He did say it is possible that a tumor in the abdomen may not have been detected but he also said that is a low probability...

What is the significance of the rising CEA? Should I be overly concerned about this???

Comments

  • jen2012
    jen2012 Member Posts: 1,607 Member
    #2
    Praying it's
    Praying it's inflammation...let us know please.
  • YoVita
    YoVita Member Posts: 590 Member
    #3
    Hey Phil
    Hoping you get good results. Will you and your doctors consider RFA instead of surgery for this potential nodule? Please keep us posted.
  • k44454445
    k44454445 Member Posts: 494
    #4
    praying
    praying that it is not cancer. hang in there. i know how hard it is to wait on results.
    hugs & prayers
    judy
  • Chelsea71
    Chelsea71 Member Posts: 1,169 Member
    #5
    Waiting is rough. Hopefully
    Waiting is rough. Hopefully it is inflammation. If not, surgery will take care of it. Hang in there. Wishing you all the best.

    Chelsea
  • rogina2336
    rogina2336 Member Posts: 188
    #6
    Best of luck for good
    Best of luck for good results!!! We scan tomorrow A.M., and will have results in the afternoon. Actually I am very excited as hubby has been feeling sooooo good on Vectibix!!
  • Phil64
    Phil64 Member Posts: 838 Member
    #7
    rogina2336 said:

    Best of luck for good
    Best of luck for good results!!! We scan tomorrow A.M., and will have results in the afternoon. Actually I am very excited as hubby has been feeling sooooo good on Vectibix!!

    Thank you
    Thank you for your encouragement and positive attitude. I appreciate the need to always keep a positive attitude.
  • Phil64
    Phil64 Member Posts: 838 Member
    #8
    Chelsea71 said:

    Waiting is rough. Hopefully
    Waiting is rough. Hopefully it is inflammation. If not, surgery will take care of it. Hang in there. Wishing you all the best.

    Chelsea

    Thank You Chelsea
    Yes, I will hang in there and I'm hoping to report good news on Thursday.
  • Phil64
    Phil64 Member Posts: 838 Member
    #9
    k44454445 said:

    praying
    praying that it is not cancer. hang in there. i know how hard it is to wait on results.
    hugs & prayers
    judy

    Thank you!!!
    Your prayer and encouragement is greatly appreciated! It is hard to wait for results and it is especially hard to deal with a reoccurance which I'm really hoping will not be the case here. Thursday is only a couple days away.
  • Phil64
    Phil64 Member Posts: 838 Member
    #10
    jen2012 said:

    Praying it's
    Praying it's inflammation...let us know please.

    Thank you Jen
    Thank you for your prayers! I will post an update on Thursday.
  • Phil64
    Phil64 Member Posts: 838 Member
    #11
    YoVita said:

    Hey Phil
    Hoping you get good results. Will you and your doctors consider RFA instead of surgery for this potential nodule? Please keep us posted.

    Thank you
    Thank you for the well wishes. I will ask the Onc about RFA instead of surgery, if I'm faced with surgery. I'm still hoping and praying that this will turn out to be inflamation.
  • Momof2plusteentwins
    Momof2plusteentwins Member Posts: 509 Member
    #12
    Phil
    Gosh I hope it is just inflammation. I hate that you have to wait until Thursday for results, you are much more patient than I am. I need to know same day. Please let us know the results, hoping for the best.
    Sandy :)
  • PhillieG
    PhillieG Member Posts: 4,866 Member
    #13
    Scans
    I hope it turns out to be nothing or at most, something easily taken care of.
    I have had five RFA's done on my lung(s) but it all depends on their location
    as to whether they can ablate it.
    -phil
  • pepebcn
    pepebcn Member Posts: 6,331 Member
    #14
    PhillieG said:

    Scans
    I hope it turns out to be nothing or at most, something easily taken care of.
    I have had five RFA's done on my lung(s) but it all depends on their location
    as to whether they can ablate it.
    -phil

    Good luck and prayer my friend!
    Wish you good results,hugs!
  • Luckygirl2
    Luckygirl2 Member Posts: 308
    #15
    praying
    you get good news! and you just have some inflamation!
  • Phil64
    Phil64 Member Posts: 838 Member
    #16
    UPDATE ON 11/15
    Good news and potentially bad news...

    The good news is that the scan on 11/12 shows that the small nodule is almost not detectible. It has shrunk considerably and the onc thinks it is most likely inflamation. However, he will want to watch it closely.

    The potentially bad news is that my CEA level is up to 13.3. On 10/18 (last chemo treatment) it was at 6.3. His concern is that being on a chemo break may have allowed tumor activity, resulting in a rising CEA level. The highest CEA I had (pre surgeries to remove colon tumor and lung met) was 19.7.

    If I read correctly from you all and from other web sites, CEA levels can rise and fall due to other non-cancer-related things... So, I'm hoping that the increase is not cancer related. The doc also said that the recent scans show NO cancer in lungs, liver, pancreas, etc... He did say it is possible that a tumor in the abdomen may not have been detected but he also said that is a low probability...

    What is the significance of the rising CEA? Should I be overly concerned about this???
  • k44454445
    k44454445 Member Posts: 494
    #17
    Phil64 said:

    UPDATE ON 11/15
    Good news and potentially bad news...

    The good news is that the scan on 11/12 shows that the small nodule is almost not detectible. It has shrunk considerably and the onc thinks it is most likely inflamation. However, he will want to watch it closely.

    The potentially bad news is that my CEA level is up to 13.3. On 10/18 (last chemo treatment) it was at 6.3. His concern is that being on a chemo break may have allowed tumor activity, resulting in a rising CEA level. The highest CEA I had (pre surgeries to remove colon tumor and lung met) was 19.7.

    If I read correctly from you all and from other web sites, CEA levels can rise and fall due to other non-cancer-related things... So, I'm hoping that the increase is not cancer related. The doc also said that the recent scans show NO cancer in lungs, liver, pancreas, etc... He did say it is possible that a tumor in the abdomen may not have been detected but he also said that is a low probability...

    What is the significance of the rising CEA? Should I be overly concerned about this???

    so glad
    you got some good news! about the cea: i have read, not just on here, that when cancer cells die that the cea can rise for some strange reasons. i hope that is the case for you. it can also rise because of unknown factors. i am still praying for you!
    hugs
    judy
  • Phil64
    Phil64 Member Posts: 838 Member
    #18
    k44454445 said:

    so glad
    you got some good news! about the cea: i have read, not just on here, that when cancer cells die that the cea can rise for some strange reasons. i hope that is the case for you. it can also rise because of unknown factors. i am still praying for you!
    hugs
    judy

    thanks for the info
    Judy,

    Thank you for your prayers and for the info. My gut tells me to not worry about the CEA. I only have two more treatments and then we will be in a monitoring mode. Treatment 12 is scheduled for 12/13.

    God Bless!!!

    Phil
  • Sundanceh
    Sundanceh Member Posts: 4,392 Member
    #19
    Phil64 said:

    thanks for the info
    Judy,

    Thank you for your prayers and for the info. My gut tells me to not worry about the CEA. I only have two more treatments and then we will be in a monitoring mode. Treatment 12 is scheduled for 12/13.

    God Bless!!!

    Phil

    Don't Pull the Rip Cord Just Yet...
    Phil,

    When cancer cells die, they emit a protein into the bloodstream that can temporarily elevate CEA levels...this could be a distinct possiblity.

    And there are other factors that can affect CEA...illness or infections etc.

    I wouldn't put too much prudence into the CEA just yet...you showed all clear in most of the spots, so that sounds good.

    Worry less about CEA and more about mass...congrats as you sprint towards the finish line:)
  • Phil64
    Phil64 Member Posts: 838 Member
    #20
    Sundanceh said:

    Don't Pull the Rip Cord Just Yet...
    Phil,

    When cancer cells die, they emit a protein into the bloodstream that can temporarily elevate CEA levels...this could be a distinct possiblity.

    And there are other factors that can affect CEA...illness or infections etc.

    I wouldn't put too much prudence into the CEA just yet...you showed all clear in most of the spots, so that sounds good.

    Worry less about CEA and more about mass...congrats as you sprint towards the finish line:)

    Thanks Craig
    One thing I try to do is remind myself that this fight is a marathon, not a sprint. Humm... someone shared this wisdom with me some time ago... could it be you who shared this. :-)

    And I will think positive and endure the last few treatments, and go from there...

    God Bless!

    Phil
  • Rubyrose
    Rubyrose Member Posts: 47
    #21
    CEA levels
    My husbands CEA levels are 2000 and were once over 3,000. They also got down to 7 when we were hoping for surgery last year. Was told is same type of measurement. Keep fighting.

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