Today's scare

Sal0101
Sal0101 Member Posts: 136 Member
in Lymphoma (Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin) #1

i had my appointment today with labs and results from my CT last week.  LDH and all labs look good.  The CT results were questionable.  There was a blip/lesion between 2 of my ribs.  The radiologist said in the report that it could be repeated in 2-3 months.   Oncologist said PET in 2 weeks.  OK, I agree with my Oncologist.  PET scheduled.  I am worried! 

 

 

Comments

  • lindary
    lindary Member Posts: 711 Member
    #2
    scare

    I pray the PET scan shows it is nothing to worry about. 

  • Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3
    Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3 Member Posts: 3,819 Member
    #3
    "Spot"

    Sal,

    I was having my lungs checked two years ago by a pulmonologist, due to shortness of breath that had persisted for several years. My heart had been checked ok previously, so the lungs were the next obvious location for testing.

    He found minor fibrosis at the base of each, either from Bleomycin treatment or breathing so much toxic gas from lifelong acid reflux (his guess is the reflux, not the Bleomycin).  The CT spotted a small spot on one lung, and "protocol" requires that it be followed by schedulded CTs for two years. Well, Tuesday was my (hopefully) final CT.  The spot has not increased any in 18 months, and he said last visit that it is very likely benign.  I see him in a few weeks for the final resolution.

    My point for sharing this here is that he also added that virtually all middle-aged people have these things show up in normal aging. It is just that since most people are not commonly getting CTs, they are unaware of them.  If eveyone were receiving hugely expensive scans the way cancer patients are, probing every cell in their body, EVERYONE would be afraid that they "had cancer." They don't.  Just as no one's skin is flawless everywhere, with no moles or defects, so too our interior.  I have a stabbing pain in my lower right abdomen, which has been checked for everything imaginable, including with a CT. There is absolutely nothing there. Hence, when it hurts, I now ignore it. (My theory is that it is scar tissue, since I have had two or more surgical incisions there.) Ignoring it is the only healthy thing left to do.  Our bodies have defects and inexplicable problems.

    It is necessary that cancer patients be scanned and watch for problems, and seeing something is a reasonable cause for follow-up.   But eveyone on earth, if run through a CT, would show questionable spots somewhere.  I hope your inter-rib spot is "nothng."

    max

     

  • Sal0101
    Sal0101 Member Posts: 136 Member
    #4
    Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3 said:

    "Spot"

    Sal,

    I was having my lungs checked two years ago by a pulmonologist, due to shortness of breath that had persisted for several years. My heart had been checked ok previously, so the lungs were the next obvious location for testing.

    He found minor fibrosis at the base of each, either from Bleomycin treatment or breathing so much toxic gas from lifelong acid reflux (his guess is the reflux, not the Bleomycin).  The CT spotted a small spot on one lung, and "protocol" requires that it be followed by schedulded CTs for two years. Well, Tuesday was my (hopefully) final CT.  The spot has not increased any in 18 months, and he said last visit that it is very likely benign.  I see him in a few weeks for the final resolution.

    My point for sharing this here is that he also added that virtually all middle-aged people have these things show up in normal aging. It is just that since most people are not commonly getting CTs, they are unaware of them.  If eveyone were receiving hugely expensive scans the way cancer patients are, probing every cell in their body, EVERYONE would be afraid that they "had cancer." They don't.  Just as no one's skin is flawless everywhere, with no moles or defects, so too our interior.  I have a stabbing pain in my lower right abdomen, which has been checked for everything imaginable, including with a CT. There is absolutely nothing there. Hence, when it hurts, I now ignore it. (My theory is that it is scar tissue, since I have had two or more surgical incisions there.) Ignoring it is the only healthy thing left to do.  Our bodies have defects and inexplicable problems.

    It is necessary that cancer patients be scanned and watch for problems, and seeing something is a reasonable cause for follow-up.   But eveyone on earth, if run through a CT, would show questionable spots somewhere.  I hope your inter-rib spot is "nothng."

    max

     

    Trying to keep my mind at ease

    Thanks Max,

    I'm trying real hard to blame it on the chest cold I got over about 10 days before the CT.  I did some ptretty hard coughing and was actually sore from it.  This is the first time anything showed up in that area on a CT.  Breast, liver, etc. were spotless although we all know lymphoma is sneaky! I'm going with the cold until I have more info. ALso taking a nice long walk with a friend of mine tonight...

    lindary, yep I'm still walking! Thanks for the encouragement 

     

    Sharon

     

  • paella
    paella Member Posts: 81
    edited June 2016 #5
    Max - you pain in lower right abdomen

    Just a thought - after his robotic prostatectomy my husband was great for 2 or 3 months.  Then a stabbing and continuous pain in lower right abdomen took us back to our cancer center.  They don't have an emergency room but they do have a critical triage area for exisiting patients.  Nothing showed up until they inserted a needle into the area and withdrew fluid.  They admitted him and after several days of culture growing, his Urological Surgeon came into his room and said it was a MRSA and it was entirely related to the surgery.  He had virtually no fever at the time we went in to have it checked.

    Paella

  • Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3
    Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3 Member Posts: 3,819 Member
    #6
    Will ask

    Thanks for hte lead, Paella.

    I also had robotic (DaVinci) removal of the prostate.  Another incision close to that was cut for my gall bladder removal, also via laproscopic technique (DaVinci is a form of lapro).  I sat down with my wife last month, and we tried to count my surgical incisions. Many are small, as short as 1".  My laproscopic gall bladder removal, for instance, required 5 cuts.   I currently count between 21 and 27 incisions, but we have to keep recounting; it is not certain yet.

    I will ask my urologist about it !

     

    max

  • Sal0101
    Sal0101 Member Posts: 136 Member
    #7
    Pet scan result

    Well the PET results weren't good. The area lit up and the nodule had actually grown.  Biopsy will be scheduled for next week.  Damn, that was a short remission!

    Sharon

  • OO7
    OO7 Member Posts: 281
    edited June 2016 #8
    So sorry

    Argh, short indeed.  Glad you got the PET, so give it hell!

    You are in my thoughts and prayers!

  • GSP2
    GSP2 Member Posts: 103 Member
    #9
    Sad to see any news like this

    Stay strong

     

    Steve

  • Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3
    Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3 Member Posts: 3,819 Member
    #10
    Sal0101 said:

    Pet scan result

    Well the PET results weren't good. The area lit up and the nodule had actually grown.  Biopsy will be scheduled for next week.  Damn, that was a short remission!

    Sharon

    Judgement

    Pulling for you in this, Sharon. You used the right judgement in choosing to go with the PET whenyou did.  Part of what saves us is being smart and making informed decisions. I pray the biopsy shows somethng non-aggressive that is easily beaten.

    max

  • illead
    illead Member Posts: 884 Member
    edited June 2016 #11
    Thinking of you too

    and hoping for the best'

    Becky

  • Rocquie
    Rocquie Member Posts: 869 Member
    #12
    Sal0101 said:

    Pet scan result

    Well the PET results weren't good. The area lit up and the nodule had actually grown.  Biopsy will be scheduled for next week.  Damn, that was a short remission!

    Sharon

    Sharon

    I am so sorry to hear this news and can relate to your feelings.  I got the same news 2 months ago. Frown  I don't know what your diagnosis was but I hope the biopsy goes well and your team can get you back into remission quickly and without too many side effects. Thankfully for us, lymphoma can be managed as a chronic illness. 

    Prayers, hugs, and blessings,

    Rocquie

     

  • lindary
    lindary Member Posts: 711 Member
    #13
    Sal0101 said:

    Pet scan result

    Well the PET results weren't good. The area lit up and the nodule had actually grown.  Biopsy will be scheduled for next week.  Damn, that was a short remission!

    Sharon

    Biopsy

    I hope all goes well. 

Discussion Boards