Lymph node........or is it?

pializ
pializ Member Posts: 508 Member
in Anal Cancer #1

Had a meeting with my oncologist today following last fridays MRI scan. The original scan pre treatment showed primary tumour in upper end of anal canal, a lymph node in mesorectum & another further up in pelvis. 1st scan post treatment indicated that primary tumour and lymph node in mesorectum had shown a considerable response to treatment,  whereas the lymph node in the pelvis had not responded at all. It was unchanged. The most recent scan shows that both primary tumour and node in mesorectum have gone. The other lymph node that didn't respond is now thought to be......wait for it......my right ovary!!!!! So, a few more scans now to try to prove that. This could be good news! 

Comments

  • eihtak
    eihtak Member Posts: 1,473 Member
    #2
    Wow.....

    Fingers crossed and waiting for good news! Funny they could not tell from the start. Then again, I went for a 1yr follow-up and when reading the hard copy report at home saw that it said my gahlbladder was "surgically absent"..... of which to my knowledge it was not! After some joking about my surgeon selling it on the black market, they said it was collapsed on early scans and hard to read.

  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #3
    OMG!

    Yes, this could be fantastic news!  Fingers crossed that this is the explanation!  Congrats on the good response in the primary tumor site and the lymph node!

  • jcruz
    jcruz Member Posts: 379 Member
    #4
    good news!

    good news and a great story.  is it a lymph node or is it an ovary?  wow.

  • Marynb
    Marynb Member Posts: 1,118
    #5
    Liz
    I am hoping it is an ovary, but why would it light up on a scan? You know my story and it was a distant lymph node that lit up on a scan that led them to my second cancer. How will the they determine what is going on with your body? For me, they went in and did a needle biopsy of the distant node. It was an overnight in the hospital and then a wait for the labs. I am hoping and praying all is well with you and that the scan is a false positive!
  • pializ
    pializ Member Posts: 508 Member
    #6
    Marynb said:

    Liz
    I am hoping it is an ovary, but why would it light up on a scan? You know my story and it was a distant lymph node that lit up on a scan that led them to my second cancer. How will the they determine what is going on with your body? For me, they went in and did a needle biopsy of the distant node. It was an overnight in the hospital and then a wait for the labs. I am hoping and praying all is well with you and that the scan is a false positive!

    Marynb

    It didn't light up. I have only ever had CT & MRI scans, but it appeared as an enlarged lymph node of 1cm. It was suspected as being involved in SCCA  & treated as such. Because of its position, it cannot be needle biopsied.....too near major blood vessels. Even if I had open surgery,, without the aid of a scan they would have difficulty finding it if indeed it is a node. The other option would be to have surgery to remove the ovary, then scan me again to see if 'node' is still there. Given my potential to develop mofe adhesions post surgery, the pain that causes, plus the fact that my irradiated intestines would have to be juggled, i think that is a bit heavy handed. The ovary in post menopause is about the size of a peanut, about the size of the 'lymph node'. On the most recent scan they have seen what seems to be a capsule surrounding the 'node' and traced to & from uterus. Many years  ago my ovaries were stuck to my intestines & I had surgery to release them. I will now have another MRI scan lying on my side, plus a transvaginal scan. Time will tell, but at the moment it is looking optimistic. If still thought to be an ovary, or they cannot confirm, they will review. There were 3 separate radiologists who independantly thought it was an ovary. The ovary, if it's that, just looks like an ovary & not malignant. Thank you for your care & prayers. It means a lot

  • Marynb
    Marynb Member Posts: 1,118
    #7
    pializ said:

    Marynb

    It didn't light up. I have only ever had CT & MRI scans, but it appeared as an enlarged lymph node of 1cm. It was suspected as being involved in SCCA  & treated as such. Because of its position, it cannot be needle biopsied.....too near major blood vessels. Even if I had open surgery,, without the aid of a scan they would have difficulty finding it if indeed it is a node. The other option would be to have surgery to remove the ovary, then scan me again to see if 'node' is still there. Given my potential to develop mofe adhesions post surgery, the pain that causes, plus the fact that my irradiated intestines would have to be juggled, i think that is a bit heavy handed. The ovary in post menopause is about the size of a peanut, about the size of the 'lymph node'. On the most recent scan they have seen what seems to be a capsule surrounding the 'node' and traced to & from uterus. Many years  ago my ovaries were stuck to my intestines & I had surgery to release them. I will now have another MRI scan lying on my side, plus a transvaginal scan. Time will tell, but at the moment it is looking optimistic. If still thought to be an ovary, or they cannot confirm, they will review. There were 3 separate radiologists who independantly thought it was an ovary. The ovary, if it's that, just looks like an ovary & not malignant. Thank you for your care & prayers. It means a lot

    Liz
    Well, it sounds like they are on top of it, so that is good. I do hope it is that ovary!
  • Lorikat
    Lorikat Member Posts: 681 Member
    #8
    My right ovary gave a scare

    My right ovary gave a scare as well!  apparently when I had my hysterectomy the right ovary wasnt removed.  It had been a LONG time ago and the poor baby was quite shriveled!  Radiologist at hospital called it correctly.

  • pializ
    pializ Member Posts: 508 Member
    #9
    Lorikat said:

    My right ovary gave a scare

    My right ovary gave a scare as well!  apparently when I had my hysterectomy the right ovary wasnt removed.  It had been a LONG time ago and the poor baby was quite shriveled!  Radiologist at hospital called it correctly.

    still don't know

    I have had an MRI whilst on my side to 'free up' the ovary. Well, that didn't work because I have a history of pelvic adhesions & my ovaries were stuck to my intestines. So I  have had a TVS & abdominal ultrasound 2 weeks ago. I hope that is helpful in solving the mystery. Since treatment ended, I haven't had even a month of where I can think, or preferably, not think about tests & investigations. Would be nice to have a month off! It's all taking so long. I am not a patient patient! 

  • sandysp
    sandysp Member Posts: 868 Member
    #10
    pializ said:

    still don't know

    I have had an MRI whilst on my side to 'free up' the ovary. Well, that didn't work because I have a history of pelvic adhesions & my ovaries were stuck to my intestines. So I  have had a TVS & abdominal ultrasound 2 weeks ago. I hope that is helpful in solving the mystery. Since treatment ended, I haven't had even a month of where I can think, or preferably, not think about tests & investigations. Would be nice to have a month off! It's all taking so long. I am not a patient patient! 

    Understandable

    Boy do I get what you are saying here. How frustrating for you. We are alike. I do not like the unknown but unfortunately, my doctor said today there is much that is unknown and unpredictable in medicine. He actually laughed at me a lot today when I was going over my scans with him. Which somehow made me laugh also and I felt better.

    I hope this all resolves itself. The best thing is to keep an eye on it, which is what it looks like they are doing. The adhesions are worrisome too. All of this would make me nuts too.

    Patience is not something I was gifted with. My husband is totally sick of me right now and vice versa. I have certainly found out how obsessive I am from all this. It's something I will talk to my Psychologist about this week.

  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #11
    pializ said:

    still don't know

    I have had an MRI whilst on my side to 'free up' the ovary. Well, that didn't work because I have a history of pelvic adhesions & my ovaries were stuck to my intestines. So I  have had a TVS & abdominal ultrasound 2 weeks ago. I hope that is helpful in solving the mystery. Since treatment ended, I haven't had even a month of where I can think, or preferably, not think about tests & investigations. Would be nice to have a month off! It's all taking so long. I am not a patient patient! 

    pializ

    So sorry you still don't have any concrete answers about the ovary issues.  I am also sorry to hear that you have adhesions.  Apparently, I do too and just had an episode yesterday of severe abdominal pain.  I hate to hear that you also deal with this.  I'm not a patient patient either, so I feel your frustrations!  Hang in there!

  • jcruz
    jcruz Member Posts: 379 Member
    #12
    pializ said:

    still don't know

    I have had an MRI whilst on my side to 'free up' the ovary. Well, that didn't work because I have a history of pelvic adhesions & my ovaries were stuck to my intestines. So I  have had a TVS & abdominal ultrasound 2 weeks ago. I hope that is helpful in solving the mystery. Since treatment ended, I haven't had even a month of where I can think, or preferably, not think about tests & investigations. Would be nice to have a month off! It's all taking so long. I am not a patient patient! 

    wouldn't it be nice to have a little time off?

    I too am an impatient patient.  I want to be better and I want it to happen now. 

    I really hope that you get some answers soon.  You need a break from all of this!

    Best, Janet

     

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