I need your prayers&encouragement

cheer3
cheer3 Member Posts: 105 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
I will give you a brief update on my history.I am grade IV metastized colon cancer to liver. I had colectomy, liver resection (60% removed) I was on two types of chemo for one year.I tested cancer free, and I have been checked every three months for 9 months.I had one of my routine DR visits, he does lab at that time also. My CMP was elevated, CEA was 3.9, and my WBC was 4. WBC has not been higher since I completed chemo. I also have a small amount of fluid in my rt lung.with these findings my ONC decided to move my PET, and CT up one month. I wanted to know if anyone has experienced the same. Can the labs be off for other reasons? I am having a very hard time staying calm until the first week of June.I would appreciate post from anyone who has the time.
Jean

Comments

  • RMGill
    RMGill Member Posts: 20
    #2
    Just diagnosed with stage IV myself, very similar diagnosis and just starting the fight. Can't advise on any of your questions (still learning what the acronyms mean), but can help with the prayers, you'll be in mine tonight. I look forward to hearing that you are cancer free. Honestly, this group and encourament from those that have beat this has kept me going and got me fighting instead of giving up. hang in there.

    Rick
  • jsabol
    jsabol Member Posts: 1,145 Member
    #3
    Hi Jean,
    I'm stilll in the middle of chemo, so I have yet to experience the waiting game of evaluative tests after treatment.
    If you've been reading this site, you've probably seen earlier posts that talk about the multiple reasons for variation in CEA. My tumor never put out markers (my CEA was < 0.5), so it will be a useless test for me.
    What else in the CMP (I presume it's a comprehensive metabolic panel) was elevated? Kris, our resident chemo/bloodwork expert, is currently abroad celebrating good health. I hope there are others here who know more. Have you tried calling the ACS hotline? I know others have gotten some good answers and leads from them.
    The waiting feels like torture once you worry that something is up. I find small doses of Ativan work to take that panic out of my throat! Hope this time can pass quickly and that the future holds good news for you.
    Regards, Judy
  • Kanort
    Kanort Member Posts: 1,272 Member
    #4
    I, too, can't offer any information, but I can offer support in the form of prayer. Please know that you are not alone and that many Semi-colons will keep you in their hearts and prayers. Please let us know of your results.

    Hugs,

    Kay
  • KrisS
    KrisS Member Posts: 229
    #5
    Jean- I am sorry to hear that your oncologist is worried about your blood tests. If the CMP is a comprehensive metabolic panel, then it is group of tests that evaluate a variety of organs and other parameters such as liver, kidney, and electrolytes (like sodium, potassium etc.) You need to know what tests in that panel are elevated to know more. Bloodwork including liver tests can become abnormal for a variety of reasons, not just due to tumor. They are simply an indication for further investigation.

    My CEA has remained normal even with development of metastatic disease, so I can's say much about this, but I think the PET and CT scan are going to help a great deal to sort things out.

    I know how hard it is to wait for test results, but worrying is not going to change the results, so try to take a deep breath, a walk outside (at least if it is not pouring down rain as it has been where I live the last few days), and not let it completely ruin your day.

    I am hoping and praying that the abnormalities have simple explanation.

    Best wishes,

    Kris
  • cheer3
    cheer3 Member Posts: 105 Member
    #6
    RMGill said:

    Just diagnosed with stage IV myself, very similar diagnosis and just starting the fight. Can't advise on any of your questions (still learning what the acronyms mean), but can help with the prayers, you'll be in mine tonight. I look forward to hearing that you are cancer free. Honestly, this group and encourament from those that have beat this has kept me going and got me fighting instead of giving up. hang in there.

    Rick

    Hi Rick, Thanks for the reply to my post.I appreciate your prayers for me.
    I hope things are going well for you.
    Jean
  • cheer3
    cheer3 Member Posts: 105 Member
    #7
    jsabol said:

    Hi Jean,
    I'm stilll in the middle of chemo, so I have yet to experience the waiting game of evaluative tests after treatment.
    If you've been reading this site, you've probably seen earlier posts that talk about the multiple reasons for variation in CEA. My tumor never put out markers (my CEA was < 0.5), so it will be a useless test for me.
    What else in the CMP (I presume it's a comprehensive metabolic panel) was elevated? Kris, our resident chemo/bloodwork expert, is currently abroad celebrating good health. I hope there are others here who know more. Have you tried calling the ACS hotline? I know others have gotten some good answers and leads from them.
    The waiting feels like torture once you worry that something is up. I find small doses of Ativan work to take that panic out of my throat! Hope this time can pass quickly and that the future holds good news for you.
    Regards, Judy

    Hello Judy, Thanks for your reply to my post.It is the comprehensive Metabolic panel. My oncologist did not give me the values.He stated that the liver enzymes were high again, he said don't worry, I am going to check you early and repeat all of your labs.Not having the results make me wonder even more.I also have no idea what the fluid in my lungs is about.
    I read your post all the time.Take care, I will let you know when I have my results.
    Thanks,
    Jean
  • cheer3
    cheer3 Member Posts: 105 Member
    #8
    Kanort said:

    I, too, can't offer any information, but I can offer support in the form of prayer. Please know that you are not alone and that many Semi-colons will keep you in their hearts and prayers. Please let us know of your results.

    Hugs,

    Kay

    Thank you for the reply. I need all the prayers.I will post results.
    Jean
  • cheer3
    cheer3 Member Posts: 105 Member
    #9
    KrisS said:

    Jean- I am sorry to hear that your oncologist is worried about your blood tests. If the CMP is a comprehensive metabolic panel, then it is group of tests that evaluate a variety of organs and other parameters such as liver, kidney, and electrolytes (like sodium, potassium etc.) You need to know what tests in that panel are elevated to know more. Bloodwork including liver tests can become abnormal for a variety of reasons, not just due to tumor. They are simply an indication for further investigation.

    My CEA has remained normal even with development of metastatic disease, so I can's say much about this, but I think the PET and CT scan are going to help a great deal to sort things out.

    I know how hard it is to wait for test results, but worrying is not going to change the results, so try to take a deep breath, a walk outside (at least if it is not pouring down rain as it has been where I live the last few days), and not let it completely ruin your day.

    I am hoping and praying that the abnormalities have simple explanation.

    Best wishes,

    Kris

    Hi Kris, I am following your advice. I am taking lots of walks outside, and even finished one in the rain. I am unable to do anything since I do not have the values to the liver panel.I now know I want a copy of the labs, no matter what the results are.Lesson learned. Its just that the labs are off, I have the fluid in lungs, and I donot feel well. I have no way of knowing how I should be feeling. Fatigue is so bad, I have to force myself to do everything. I expected to feel great at this time. Thanks for the reply.
    Jean

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