Robotic surgery for one lymph node?

I would go for the surgery option. I could probably dig out many pros and cons of both options, but my reasoning is exactly the same as yours: get the damn thing out. Robotic or manual, laprascopic or laparotomy probably depends on the node location and what your surgeon is better trained in.

Many hugs,

Alexandra

it covers both bases...and less chemo, to me, is a better option.

Most of the issues I deal with on a daily basis are chemo related (I'm in my first recurrence and on Gemzar/carbo/avastin). I still have neuropathy from the last time that is on-going and a beautiful ginormous hernia that has started to hurt every day that cant be repaired cuz I'm in chemo.

I am enjoying all the side effects of chemo...fatigue, nausea, high blood pressure from Avastin to name a few, and I would like all that way better if it were not 6 times but 3. After my first chemo I had to have 2 units of blood and at my second, I had an allergic reaction to the gemzar and ended up in the hospital for 4 days. In my book, If I had the sugical option I'd be right on it. That is, if the recovery from the surgery isnt too bad. Do you know what the surgery entails?

I hope you'll let us know how this develops. I haven't heard of second sugery in the more recent past.

Wishing you a quick road to NED!

Susan xoxox

poopergirl14052 said:

Wow

if surgery can get you back to remission that would be awesome! I was never offered this..only daily targeted radiation last year. What ever you decide ...we are here. Keep walking my friend..REMISSION IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER!    Val

Dear Jo,

I'm a sister of 14 years survivor with 9 debulking major surgeries living in Turkey. 6 last of them performed by Dr. E succesfully at USA CA. My sister had benefit of surgery. If you feel you can you would benefit it.

I wish you best recovery and good luck. Be posivite and decide what you feel confortable.

never give-up

Yesim

JoWin615 said:

Thanks!

I truly appreciate everyone's comments and suggestions. I did have the surgery a week ago today, and I have a follow-up appointment Monday to find out where we go from here. I do know that he got the pesky node. 

The procedure itself was quite an experience (!). The "outpatient" part turned out not to be the case. I woke up from the anesthesia in such pain, that the thought of hopping up and skipping out of there to go home made me cringe. Pain meds in my IV helped that, but then they said I had to pee before I could leave. (Yeah, right!).  So I was admitted. That night they had me up every half-hour. "Drink water!  You must pee!  Walk around!  Drink more water!  You must pee!"  I could produce nothing but a few dribbles. Misery. At 4 a.m., they had to cathetarize me.  I was nauseated, and finally heaved the gallons of water I'd been drinking. Ouch. They let me sleep for an hour. When I woke up at 7 a.m. - AT LAST! - my final perch on that grossly uncomfortable toilet seat yielded 200 mls of gorgeous pee! I was home in two hours. Glad that's over.

 

I am so hapPEE that surgery went well. Good luck on Monday Jo. Nip that recurrence in the bud asap.

Hugs,

Alexandra

JoWin615 said:

Thanks!

I truly appreciate everyone's comments and suggestions. I did have the surgery a week ago today, and I have a follow-up appointment Monday to find out where we go from here. I do know that he got the pesky node. 

The procedure itself was quite an experience (!). The "outpatient" part turned out not to be the case. I woke up from the anesthesia in such pain, that the thought of hopping up and skipping out of there to go home made me cringe. Pain meds in my IV helped that, but then they said I had to pee before I could leave. (Yeah, right!).  So I was admitted. That night they had me up every half-hour. "Drink water!  You must pee!  Walk around!  Drink more water!  You must pee!"  I could produce nothing but a few dribbles. Misery. At 4 a.m., they had to cathetarize me.  I was nauseated, and finally heaved the gallons of water I'd been drinking. Ouch. They let me sleep for an hour. When I woke up at 7 a.m. - AT LAST! - my final perch on that grossly uncomfortable toilet seat yielded 200 mls of gorgeous pee! I was home in two hours. Glad that's over.

 

Like Alexandra, I am so hapPEE!  I had chemo today, so in honor of you and the now-missing node, I think I will go pee!

JoWin615 said:

Update

First of all, happy Memorial Day. I walked in a 5K event this morning - the perk was a free apple pie at the end!  I did pretty well, considering I just had the surgery a little over 2 weeks ago. 

So. I start Doxil/Carbo tomorrow. The requisite six cycles. I'm crossing my fingers that I'll be one of those who has little or no side effects. 

Keep on keepin' on!

Jo

5K - wow Jo, you are a superwoman. I am in awe! I walk to and from the car and would rather circle the parking lot 12 times looking for a closer spot than move my lazy stubby legs for an extra 20 yards.

Good luck tomorrow! No nasty side effects, just a magical happy cancer-killing potion (sorry, I just made myself nauseous). But you know what I mean. We are all 100% behind you.

(((HUGS)))

Uncool kid