Test Day

Bonngo
Bonngo Member Posts: 79
in Kidney Cancer #1

Today, starting this afternoon, will be my three month testing. Blood work, lung CT scan, brain MRI, chest/abdomen MRI and pelvis MRI. Not looking forward to being in the MRI machine for so long. 

I wanted to address the questions I have seen arise regarding MRI vs CT scan. Each patient has to be managed according to their specific needs even where age is also considered.  If Doctor deems that testing needs to be done every three months, like in my case, I don't believe CT scan is advisable that often. Then we come to the question of contrast or not. If patient has chronic kidney disease, again like me, the contrast used for the CT scan cannot be used. When I was first diagnosed four years ago and after my first surgery, my doctor then did CT scans every other year with no contrast. In the case of MRIs, contrast can be used as long as the patient's gfr is above 30. That is why I have MRIs both due to frequency and being able to have contrast. 

I have since moved and had to find a new oncologist. I feel if my doctor four years ago had used MRIs with contrast rather than the CT scan without, my 2nd recurrence would have been found sooner before it grew near the vascular space which consequently metastasized.  

Tomorrow I will get results of today's testing that will determine if I begin the Votrient blind study. 

Your prayers will be appreciated!

~Bonnie

 

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Comments

  • APny
    APny Member Posts: 1,995 Member
    #2
    My prayers and thoughts are

    My prayers and thoughts are with you. Wishing you the very best results, Bonnie! And your explanation of MRI vs CT is perfect and much appreciated.

  • Pandabear1011
    Pandabear1011 Member Posts: 123 Member
    #3
    Thinking of you...

    Prayers and Positive Thoughts coming your way, Bonnie!!! Hugs, Panda

  • angelsnls
    angelsnls Member Posts: 67
    #4
    Prayers

    Prayers and hugs coming your way lots of love 

    Angela x

  • hardo718
    hardo718 Member Posts: 853 Member
    #5
    I'll be praying Bonnie

    May God richly bless you and move things forward in a positive direction.  Thank you for the medical explaination.  It can definitely get very confusing.

    Keep us posted huh?

    Donna~

  • Srashedb
    Srashedb Member Posts: 482 Member
    #6
    Ct scans

    Bonnie:

    First of all, good luck on today's tests; please check in when you're done.

    Reading your post, when you were first dx, were you getting CT scans every other YEAR? If that was the case, it doesn't sound like the testing delayed the recurrences but rather, the infrequency of those tests.

    Very glad you have found a new oncologist; again, good luck today.

    Sarah

  • mrou50
    mrou50 Member Posts: 389 Member
    #7
    Contrast

    Bonngo first of all the best of all luck today, my thoughts and prayers are with you.  As for contrast I only have one kidney left and I still use the contrast but instead of injecting it I drink it, with a delicious lemonade mix, at least they tell me it's delicious I have yet to discover that, so far my Kidney has held up so I figure as long as it is working I will do it.  I am sure that is what they have in mind for you, but I could be wrong, regardless all the best today.

     

    Mark

  • Bonngo
    Bonngo Member Posts: 79
    #8
    Thanks

    Thank you all for your well wishes. Mark, even when I had 1 2/3 kidney I could not have CT contrast because my gfr was too low due to kidney disease. As long as my gfr stays above 30 I can have MRI contrast. Each case is different. 

    I did not even make it home and the oncologist called me because my labs were abnormal.  I need to go see him first thing tomorrow morning instead of late afternoon.  He did not have the CT scan and MRI results yet.  

    We are all fighting our own battles here, I encourage you all to stay positive and fight!  For me, my faith is what sustains me.

    ~Bonnie

     

  • foxhd
    foxhd Member Posts: 3,181 Member
    #9
    Bonngo said:

    Thanks

    Thank you all for your well wishes. Mark, even when I had 1 2/3 kidney I could not have CT contrast because my gfr was too low due to kidney disease. As long as my gfr stays above 30 I can have MRI contrast. Each case is different. 

    I did not even make it home and the oncologist called me because my labs were abnormal.  I need to go see him first thing tomorrow morning instead of late afternoon.  He did not have the CT scan and MRI results yet.  

    We are all fighting our own battles here, I encourage you all to stay positive and fight!  For me, my faith is what sustains me.

    ~Bonnie

     

    Do well Bonngo

    I am amazed that the sickest here get great numbers with their blood work, with the younger healthier not so much. My creatinine is .7 and gfr over 60. Like a healthy 20yo with 2 kidneys. Makes no sense. My latest blood work somehow demonstrates all numbers within acceptable range for all tests. My current supplemental drugs are only for bp and my thyroid. How different we all are.

  • Positive_Mental_Attitude
    Positive_Mental_Attitude Member Posts: 454
    #10
    Hope it goes well for you. 

    Hope it goes well for you.  Good luck.

  • Allochka
    Allochka Member Posts: 1,072 Member
    #11
    Positive_Mental_Attitude said:

    Hope it goes well for you. 

    Hope it goes well for you.  Good luck.

    Good luck, keeping fingers

    Good luck, keeping fingers crossed!

  • hardo718
    hardo718 Member Posts: 853 Member
    #12
    Allochka said:

    Good luck, keeping fingers

    Good luck, keeping fingers crossed!

    Best Wishes.....

    ......and lots of prayers too.

    Donna~

  • APny
    APny Member Posts: 1,995 Member
    #13
    hardo718 said:

    Best Wishes.....

    ......and lots of prayers too.

    Donna~

    Thinking of you this morning.

    Thinking of you this morning.

  • Bonngo
    Bonngo Member Posts: 79
    #14
    Happy Day!

    Wow!  Two very long days at the hospital, but what started out very scary ended up awesome! While riding home from the day's testing, I received a call from the doctor telling me my blood tests were abnormal (possibly indicating pancreatic cancer) and that I needed to be back up to the hospital the next morning. New blood tests the next day had the values back to normal (one was 500 x higher than norm and one was 200 x)!  They couldn't believe or understand it! Of course I told them I had lots of people praying for me.  Had to wait for all the MRIs and CT scan results which showed no cancer!  Pancreas looked great, lung CT unchanged, and no new liver tumors, woo hoo!  I will begin the Votrient blind study drug trial within the next week or so.

    Fox I'm so happy for you that you do not have the added issue of chronic kidney disease as well.  It does make treatment a little more complicated. I was happy my gfr went up from 43 to 47 (creatinine 1.2). You are doing a great job keeping us inspired!

    ~Bonnie

  • hardo718
    hardo718 Member Posts: 853 Member
    #15
    Bonngo said:

    Happy Day!

    Wow!  Two very long days at the hospital, but what started out very scary ended up awesome! While riding home from the day's testing, I received a call from the doctor telling me my blood tests were abnormal (possibly indicating pancreatic cancer) and that I needed to be back up to the hospital the next morning. New blood tests the next day had the values back to normal (one was 500 x higher than norm and one was 200 x)!  They couldn't believe or understand it! Of course I told them I had lots of people praying for me.  Had to wait for all the MRIs and CT scan results which showed no cancer!  Pancreas looked great, lung CT unchanged, and no new liver tumors, woo hoo!  I will begin the Votrient blind study drug trial within the next week or so.

    Fox I'm so happy for you that you do not have the added issue of chronic kidney disease as well.  It does make treatment a little more complicated. I was happy my gfr went up from 43 to 47 (creatinine 1.2). You are doing a great job keeping us inspired!

    ~Bonnie

    That's awesome news Bonnie!!

    I'm so happy for you that things are looking up.  Puts a smile on my face everytime I read the good news on this sight.

    We all have to keep in mind there are a lot of false positive's with lab work.  Lots of factors involved there, everything from tech errors to uncalibrated equipment and the list goes on.  Not discounting the prayer's though, I've personally been through things that even doctor's have actually stated they "couldn't explain and had to be divine intervention".

    Donna~

  • Shecka1121
    Shecka1121 Member Posts: 117 Member
    #16
    hardo718 said:

    That's awesome news Bonnie!!

    I'm so happy for you that things are looking up.  Puts a smile on my face everytime I read the good news on this sight.

    We all have to keep in mind there are a lot of false positive's with lab work.  Lots of factors involved there, everything from tech errors to uncalibrated equipment and the list goes on.  Not discounting the prayer's though, I've personally been through things that even doctor's have actually stated they "couldn't explain and had to be divine intervention".

    Donna~

    So happy to hear this and I

    So happy to hear this and I believe in the power of prayer.  May you continue to have great results.

  • APny
    APny Member Posts: 1,995 Member
    #17
    Shecka1121 said:

    So happy to hear this and I

    So happy to hear this and I believe in the power of prayer.  May you continue to have great results.

    Thrilled with your news. So

    Thrilled with your news. So very happy for you!

  • daisybud
    daisybud Member Posts: 541 Member
    #18
    APny said:

    Thrilled with your news. So

    Thrilled with your news. So very happy for you!

    So very happy for you! :)

    So very happy for you! :)

  • foxhd
    foxhd Member Posts: 3,181 Member
    #19
    daisybud said:

    So very happy for you! :)

    So very happy for you! :)

    Share the Karma Bonzo

    Everyones combined well wishes snowballed into a powerful energy of some kind. Now push it back into the karma pool. I've had good luck too and I'm loaded with positive vibes. Good things are happening to many of us. FLY.

  • nancybuck
    nancybuck Member Posts: 117
    #20
    Bonnie, you have my prayers,

    Bonnie, you have my prayers, today and always.

     

    Nancy

  • Positive_Mental_Attitude
    Positive_Mental_Attitude Member Posts: 454
    #21
    Bonngo said:

    Happy Day!

    Wow!  Two very long days at the hospital, but what started out very scary ended up awesome! While riding home from the day's testing, I received a call from the doctor telling me my blood tests were abnormal (possibly indicating pancreatic cancer) and that I needed to be back up to the hospital the next morning. New blood tests the next day had the values back to normal (one was 500 x higher than norm and one was 200 x)!  They couldn't believe or understand it! Of course I told them I had lots of people praying for me.  Had to wait for all the MRIs and CT scan results which showed no cancer!  Pancreas looked great, lung CT unchanged, and no new liver tumors, woo hoo!  I will begin the Votrient blind study drug trial within the next week or so.

    Fox I'm so happy for you that you do not have the added issue of chronic kidney disease as well.  It does make treatment a little more complicated. I was happy my gfr went up from 43 to 47 (creatinine 1.2). You are doing a great job keeping us inspired!

    ~Bonnie

    Great news for you. 

    Great news for you.  Congratulations.

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