recurring ???

gophergenius
gophergenius Member Posts: 33
in Colorectal Cancer #1

I was stage 3c in January 09 did surgeries and chemo and have been NED.  About a year and a half ago(2 1/2 years NED at the time) they found a small spot on my liver during a CT scan.  They have been watching it ever since.  It seems to be growing slowly, but this last time they wanted an MRI instead of a CT scan.  I go back in four months and they are talking about a biopsy.  How can you tell if it is cancer?  Symptom? Can something be growing and not be cancer?  Do benign tumors continue to grow?  Is it normal to have this kind of growth/tumor after this length of time off chemo?  Any comments/information is appreciated.

Comments

  • janderson1964
    janderson1964 Member Posts: 2,215 Member
    #2
    I have had it in my liver 3

    I have had it in my liver 3 times and never had any symtoms. The way I understand it is if it is growing it is likely to be malignant. An MRI is usually ordered to confirm wether a spot is cancer after it appears on a CT scan. Ironically i am getting results tomorrow from an MRI after having a CT done.

    I dont mean to be blunt but I dont know what they are waiting for. They did surgery on me all 3 times it was in my liver without waiting. I understand if it was tiny and take the wait and see approach but said it is growing after multiple tests.

  • Chelsea71
    Chelsea71 Member Posts: 1,169 Member
    #3
    What is your CEA?  If it's

    What is your CEA?  If it's elevated they should take action.  To me, if it is growing, it is likely a met.  Push for surgery ASAP.  Don't mean to scare you but the liver can spiral out of control quickly.  Eliminate it while it's small and I'll bet you go on to be just fine.  You should not be comforted by the fact that you feel fine.  Liver metastasis often give no signs/symptoms.  If this spot was on your doctors liver, it would be gone.  Don't wait.  This is the time to be aggressive.

  • gophergenius
    gophergenius Member Posts: 33
    #4
    Chelsea71 said:

    What is your CEA?  If it's

    What is your CEA?  If it's elevated they should take action.  To me, if it is growing, it is likely a met.  Push for surgery ASAP.  Don't mean to scare you but the liver can spiral out of control quickly.  Eliminate it while it's small and I'll bet you go on to be just fine.  You should not be comforted by the fact that you feel fine.  Liver metastasis often give no signs/symptoms.  If this spot was on your doctors liver, it would be gone.  Don't wait.  This is the time to be aggressive.

    CEA is...

    0.9, but it's never been high...even after surgery, but before I started chemo.  I looked on all my records and the highest it has ever been is "<1.0"  The same holds true for my white blood count, before chemo the highest it ever was is 14.6 K/UL, anything 11 or under is normal...currently it is 8.9.  I never really had "high" counts on much of anything and I was diagnosed 3C.  What do you think of something called "polychromasia".  My last set of tests showed this "high" and I've never had that before, ever.   Please let me know what you, or any other stage 4 people think about this...I appreciate it.

  • Chelsea71
    Chelsea71 Member Posts: 1,169 Member
    #5
    gophergenius said:

    CEA is...

    0.9, but it's never been high...even after surgery, but before I started chemo.  I looked on all my records and the highest it has ever been is "<1.0"  The same holds true for my white blood count, before chemo the highest it ever was is 14.6 K/UL, anything 11 or under is normal...currently it is 8.9.  I never really had "high" counts on much of anything and I was diagnosed 3C.  What do you think of something called "polychromasia".  My last set of tests showed this "high" and I've never had that before, ever.   Please let me know what you, or any other stage 4 people think about this...I appreciate it.

    Polychromasia could indicated

    Polychromasia could indicated metastasis.  Could be other issues, as well.  The fact this level is elevated combined with a liver spot that has grown is cause for investigation.  It would definetely not be crazy to request a biopsy.  Take comfort in the fact that whatever it is, it is small and can be easily removed.  I think waiting four months is risky.  A lot canchange in four months.

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