A little help please?

Adam26
Adam26 Member Posts: 125
in Anal Cancer #1

Hi guys,

I need a little help with something please....

We went to see the onc today and he's scheduled in my mum's next MRI which will be approx 6 months after the first one, which showed NED.

The problem: Back last year when mum was first having her exploratory investigations (and was subsequently diagnosed with T1NOMO) the surgeon, who wasn't the most amenable of people, described it as a "thickening in the lining". So, of course today when the oncologist does a physical examination (with his finger), he says that there is a thickening and most likely it is scar tissue, or words to that effect. She's only 6 months post treatment and he says this is normal and the scans are just for reassurance and that he doesn't think she still has cancer. Of course, hearing the word "thickening", she now thinks she has cancer again.

My questions 1) Is thickening normal and related to scar tissue 2) If she has scar tissue or thickening, how on the MRI, were they able to differentiate that from the lesion/tumour she initially had? Now it feels like she'so been re-diagnosed, even though scar tissue is completely normal. She thinks the thickening is cancer instead. Help!

If it's any help, he said the scar tissue or thickening felt "soft and normal"......

Comments

  • Phoebesnow
    Phoebesnow Member Posts: 600 Member
    #2
    Thickening

    I have had thickening of the uterous.  Two pelvic ultrasounds later and pets scan.  No cancer has been found in the past four years since I started having Pet scan.

     

    Thickening in the sinus cavity found on MRIs and PETS. No cancer found past four years.

     

    It is important to be knowledgeable and to follow up on reports.  You can ask for copies so you can view them yourself.

     

    I hope this gives you some relief.

     

    Sometimes on the road to recovery it is hard to let go and let this pass.  We still want people to know that it was not easy to go thru this tx.  That the recovery is difficult, filled with ups and downs.    We might look good and maybe we feel like we r dying inside sometimes.   I definitely have Post traumatic stressdisorder.  I try to never think about those days and months even years post tx.  Everyday I get a little better, even now 4 1/2 years post.  I never expect to be me again but I am so happy to be alive!

     

    Has your mom considered a support group or therapist?  What about you Adam.  How are you doing?

  • Adam26
    Adam26 Member Posts: 125
    #3
    Phoebesnow said:

    Thickening

    I have had thickening of the uterous.  Two pelvic ultrasounds later and pets scan.  No cancer has been found in the past four years since I started having Pet scan.

     

    Thickening in the sinus cavity found on MRIs and PETS. No cancer found past four years.

     

    It is important to be knowledgeable and to follow up on reports.  You can ask for copies so you can view them yourself.

     

    I hope this gives you some relief.

     

    Sometimes on the road to recovery it is hard to let go and let this pass.  We still want people to know that it was not easy to go thru this tx.  That the recovery is difficult, filled with ups and downs.    We might look good and maybe we feel like we r dying inside sometimes.   I definitely have Post traumatic stressdisorder.  I try to never think about those days and months even years post tx.  Everyday I get a little better, even now 4 1/2 years post.  I never expect to be me again but I am so happy to be alive!

     

    Has your mom considered a support group or therapist?  What about you Adam.  How are you doing?

    Hi Phoebe, will start a new

    Hi Phoebe, will start a new thread because we have an update! 

    We are both mentally shot to pieces now because the nurse apparently used the word "reoccurrence" even though the onc himself mentioned nothing of it, he thinks it's just scar tissue and is completely normal! But she has to see her surgeon for pain management - this is why she's seeing him but it was misinterpreted by the nurse as "got to see the surgeon for sigmoidoscopy to see if there's been a reoccurrence" - as you can see, there's been a failure in communication and there's a bit difference between the two reasons! 

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