Thanks for the Welcome

Betsydoglover · July 2005

Hi all -

Betsy here. I am new (posted a few days ago). Thanks so much to all who provided me such a warm welcome. I can tell you are a great bunch - you all made me feel better and much less alone.

Gotta question. Wonder if anyone has had results like these........

I am stage IV. Prior to my colon surgery in early June I had a CT scan which showed a tiny (1 cm) spot on my liver. Possible it was a cyst, but during my surgery it was biopsied and it is definitely cancer. Three weeks post surgery I had another CT and a PET. Spot show on the CT, but the PET is negative! (And PET - although totally different - is supposed to be more sensitive, as I understand it.) My oncologist (and apparently also the radiologist) are somewhat stumped. Clearly this spot is cancer and treatment (oxaliplatin, Xeloda and Avastin) begins next week. But - I wondered if anyone else ever had such odd results. (This scan was done at one of the top places in Washington DC area so I don't think its a matter of a faulty scan.)

Thanks all.

mikew42 · July 2005

Betsy,

I had the same results last year, although mine came after 2 rounds of chemo. The CT and PET prior to treatment confirmed a 2 cm liver spot. After 2 rounds the CT showed a 1 cm spot, nothing on the PET. Two months later I had the same result. My onc. called it metabollic remission. He thought the cancer may be dead or dormat. I later had it ablated anyway. Hope this helps. BTW, I have been in remission from Stage 4 for 6 months now.Mike

alihamilton · July 2005

Hi Betsy....very strange and rather scary. My husband had two spots on liver that showed up on a post treatmentCT scan but the PET showed no malignancy. A CT scan 6 months later showed the same spots...no larger....so no more was done. It is a bit worrying for me to hear your news!

I am glad your treatment is starting soon so that you will be well on your way to recovery. The chemo they are planning to give you will knock out that spot for sure!

Good luck!

Ali

taraHK · July 2005

I wonder if it could be related to the small size of the spot? As I recall, PET is not good at picking up anything smaller than 1cm (you might want to check with your doctors on this). Also, PET is very accurate but not 100% accurate. I believe the biopsy is the most accurate. However, as others have said, the chemo shd wipe it out. Good luck with the chemo starting next week. I'm on oxalitplatin and 5FU.
Tara

rthornton · July 2005

Betsy,

I am also stage IV. When I had my CT scan back in May, it appeared that there was a lesion on my left lung and five in my liver. The PET scan showed only cancer in my liver (and my colon, but I had the entire thing removed). Still, not so sure about that lung.

Anyway, I liked Mike's story. It's always good to hear about a stage IV being in remission!

Did you ever tell us what kind of dog(s) you have? Mine's a beagle.

Rodney

BusterBrown · July 2005

Betsy,
I was dx in Dec 04 with colon cancer and liver mets. I had 3 lesions on my liver 1cm each, two on one lobe and one on the other lobe. A liver resection was out of the question. I also had a 2.5 cm tumor in my colon. Upon diagnosis I had a biopsy done on my liver and they determined it was colon cancer.
A lot has happened since then, I underwent 8 rounds of folfox w/ oxaliplatin and just recently had a colon resection. After 3 rounds of chemo the three lesions on my liver were gone and my colon tumor shrunk to 2.3cm. Five doses later, still no signs of liver lesions and tumor shrunk to 1.8 cm. When I underwent resection surgery the surgeon told me that my liver look "pristine". He said that there was absolutely no residual (scars, tumors, lesions) on my liver.Just goes to show that you never know? Strange things do happen...
Tomorrow I start radiation and I return for my 10th dose of chemo, although this time around my chemo cocktail will be a little different, no oxaliplatin...
Anyways, there's hope, hang in there and think positive...
Buster

jana11 · July 2005

Hey Betsy, little medical info for you - BUT CHECK EVERYTHING WITH YOUR OWN DOC. The PET scan is NOT more sensitive. PET scans are designed to pick up areas that have greater sugar metabolism, inclusive of cancer or any general infection. The do not pick up lesions less than 1 cm. It is not surprising your results are what was found. Also, the CT report is only as good as the radiologist reading it, and they can vary.

I had a lung met found by CT; then scanned again 3 months later showing it grew to 6mm. PET scan was completely negative, but the nodule was resected and was shown to be cancer.

You have to have trust and faith in the doctors and medical center. Each scan/study provides different pieces of information that are used to give more accurate ideas. Good luck!!! hope this helps. jana

Betsydoglover · July 2005

rthornton said:
Betsy,

I am also stage IV. When I had my CT scan back in May, it appeared that there was a lesion on my left lung and five in my liver. The PET scan showed only cancer in my liver (and my colon, but I had the entire thing removed). Still, not so sure about that lung.

Anyway, I liked Mike's story. It's always good to hear about a stage IV being in remission!

Did you ever tell us what kind of dog(s) you have? Mine's a beagle.

Rodney

all - I'm a major "dog lover". I have a 10 year old black lab (Byron) and two 6 year old German Shep mixes - Shelly and Casey. Good thing my husband (Joel) saves me from myself - else I might have 10 or 15 dogs!

Betsydoglover · July 2005

Thanks all for insight into the world of CT and PET. Lots to learn and I am trying to take this one step at a time and not go too crazy.

Next week (start of chemo) scares me but at the same time I can't wait - time to get this show on the road!

rthornton · July 2005

Betsydoglover said:
Thanks all for insight into the world of CT and PET. Lots to learn and I am trying to take this one step at a time and not go too crazy.

Next week (start of chemo) scares me but at the same time I can't wait - time to get this show on the road!

Betsy,

Good luck with the start of chemo! I very recently started chemo (I've only had two sessions) and felt the same way you did going into it. I was just ready to start treatment and kill some cancer cells. Good luck and keep us informed.

Rodney

ccartwri · July 2005

Betsydoglover said:
Thanks all for insight into the world of CT and PET. Lots to learn and I am trying to take this one step at a time and not go too crazy.

Next week (start of chemo) scares me but at the same time I can't wait - time to get this show on the road!

Betsy
Good luck with start of chemo. you are in DC area? me too. i am being treated at a clinical trial at NIH. I am a dog lover too. I have three, two whippets and a rescued greyhound. I am also a veterinarian and love many other kinds of animals and would like to get a horse of my own. I recently got accepted into foreign service and was to serve in the Caribbean for four years to cover 10 islands for animal health issues. But no go because of my rectal cancer diagnosed May 27. So I am new to this too. Gotta run. It is beginning to storm and my greyhound is storm anxious. Time for some sedatives and loving for her.
Claudia

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