Another Crossroads & Hard Decision

hopefulone
hopefulone Member Posts: 1,043 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Guys, If I wasn't living through this I wouldn't believe it myself. Won't go into the whole story, but those of you who know will know what I'm talking about. After an ultrasound yesterday, it's been decided they cannot do a biopsy yet on the liver spot for my husband. It's too small at this point and not safe to do. Pet is supposedly inconclusive and we can't seem to get an opinion one way or another. Surgeon says it's our decision , whether to go for another liver resection or wait a "while" and see what shows on the next ct etc. He's willing to do whatever we decide. Consensus is still 50/50 as to whether it's a reoccurance, or "something" else benign. It's pretty inconclusive so we are being told. Those of you who have had it, know liver surgery is major and not without risk . Yet , I am worried if it is something we don't want to wait too long . We are supposed to make a decision by the 19th (our next appt) but I do not feel we can make a choice based on what we know now (which isn't much). My husband does not want to go through another surgery if it isn't necessary. He's been through three in the last year and a half so I understand his attitude. We will go to the 19th appt , but we have lots of questions before we can make this type of decision. Your thoughts , prayers , support and advice mean a lot/ As always, keep the faith .

God BLess
Diane

Comments

  • pink05
    pink05 Member Posts: 550
    #2
    Diane,

    Wow, this is a difficult decision for you and your husband to make. My first thought as I was reading your post is to take the wait and see approach. Like you said, liver surgery is major and has risks. Could your husband possibly have another scan in a month or two to see what the status of this suspicious spot is? I would think that if you waited a couple months the spot wouldn't grow that much. Have you talked to the surgeon about how much this spot could grow? Whatever you decide, please know that you are in my prayers. God bless you during this difficult decision.

    -Lee-
  • tootsie1
    tootsie1 Member Posts: 5,044 Member
    #3
    Diane,
    I'll be praying for guidance for you and your husband with this difficult decision. I think I would probably wait and see about a scan in a couple of months, but I certainly understand your worry about that, too. Let us know what y'all decide.
    *hugs*
    Gail
  • Moesimo
    Moesimo Member Posts: 1,072 Member
    #4
    This is a tough one. Is he being treated at a major cancer center. If not, I would get a second opinion at a major cancer center.

    Maureen
  • Monicaemilia
    Monicaemilia Member Posts: 455 Member
    #5
    Diane: I was told by my oncologist that the spots in the lungs are probably not cancer, and I said to him, if it walks like a duck and it quacks like a duck, then it is probably a duck. And guess what, it was a duck. You know my story and know how aggressively I have been fighting this disease, so it will be no surprise when I tell you that my advice would be to get rid of the sucker. Maybe an option to look at is RFA. I can´t remember, is he doing any chemo right now? Monica
  • kristasplace
    kristasplace Member Posts: 957 Member
    #6
    I'm tending to agree with Monica. If it were my decision, i would take the 'less' risky road, and have the suspicious spot removed. My breast cancer survivor girlfriend is going to have her "healthy" breast removed just as a precaution, and i'm getting a hysterectomy in October just as a precaution. If your husband is healthy enough to do it, i say don't give this spot a chance to prove it's cancer, and spread. That's just my two cents. I know it's a choice between two evils, and you have to decide which is more evil.

    Many hugs, and good wishes,
    Krista
  • Limey
    Limey Member Posts: 446 Member
    #7
    Diane, it seems your panel is divided. I had a liver met sometime in 2007. since i was on chemo, i decided to wait for my next scan to see what happens since my onc told me that liver mets generallly will not multiply rapidly unless the liver is in trouble.

    I have gone NED a few times since then and currently you know am fighting the beast with no otherr chemo options. I may have cancer in my colon, in my gut and back, but my liver is still clear. I support the wait and see theory.

    WOW what a decision. I do believe though that through what ever method you and your husband use. be it prayer, meditation, what ever, the answer will come to you and it will be clear. and never forget. when you make a decision, it is the right decision for you. you have to believe that always.
    best of luck in your decision. keep us posted.
    Mark.
  • Faith4Cure
    Faith4Cure Member Posts: 405 Member
    #8
    Hi Diane
    Tough decision. On the positive side, the spot is very small. I wish I could give you the answers. I don't blame your husband for not wanting to go through another surgery. We have not been through a liver resection, so I can't weigh those risks and the discomfort of recovery with being on the safe side and getting rid of this "something". If we only knew what it was, we would have all of the answers. Whatever decision you can both decide on, I hope you can never look back with regret. Your doctor says he is willing to do whatever you decide, but does he have an opinion on which would be best? I know you love your doctors, but is there someone else that could give you another opinion? I'm still hanging on to that 50% chance that it is nothing---but I'm not sure I would want to risk so much on that.

    My thoughts and prayers are with you! Keep praying for direction. Take Care!

    Faith
  • eweb
    eweb Member Posts: 14
    #9
    Diane,
    That's a huge decision. I just wanted to share my own experience with something similar, though I was dx'd with stage 2, so the chance of recurrance is very remote. However, at year 3 a spot was picked up on my liver measuring about .8cm and was inconclusive as well ( harmless hemangioma or met?). A follow-up MRI, US and PET also showed both hemangomia and met characteristics. Since the spot didn't grow over the months my doctor has continued to follow-up with MRI's and after 1 year it shrank a bit. A radiologist told me that after you have chemo, your liver becomes more hetrogeneous and consequently "spots" appear. 18 months later and the "spot" is still being followed.
    You might want to ask the doctor if waiting a couple of months and getting another scan will significantly affect possible treatment or outcomes.
    My best,

    Ellen
  • Madre
    Madre Member Posts: 123
    #10
    I don't know how they tell the difference but I showed through a ct and mri to have 2 spots on my liver they tell me are not cancerous and that are cyst. They will do yearly ultrasounds to make sure they don't grow. If it's too small to biopsy can't they just scrap it off without major surgery? I really don't know what I would do in your place but I'll be praying for an answer to come to you. Good luck.
  • sladich
    sladich Member Posts: 429 Member
    #11
    Diane,

    I'm with the other's, since it is so small wait and see. No sense having an operations if it isn't cancer. Best of luck in your decision.

    Debbie
  • JMARIE66
    JMARIE66 Member Posts: 55
    #12
    Diane~
    This is a hard one and I see both side of the coin here. My Mom recently had a chest ct and a tumor/lesion showed up on her pancreas. The doctor told her over the phone, "we think it's cancer." Needless to say all I learned about cancer these past 6 mths with my husband we acted immediately to have it removed. She had the tumor (which was quite large 6.8x6.3), 1/2 her pancreas and her spleen removed. It was a cyst!! No cancer. Then, about 4 weeks ago-5 lesions were found on her thyroid. We had a needle biopsy-again, no cancer!! My Mom never had surgery till this year-she is 66-and 2 areas of major concern were fine. This supports the "wait and see". But, my husband has CC and the chance it is anywhere in his body I want it out immediately. Being as you do not have any assurances as what this is, I would watch it dilligently~get a second opion, third. Follow up with another CT scan or Pet. I know my husbands doctor once commented on one of the techs that did a ct report was not as "regarded" as others. Scary, isn't it. We saw 3 oncologist with my husband~luckily the treatment was the same with each doctor~so we were able to pick an oncoligist we felt comfortable with and who we felt was aggressive in treatment and knowledge. I highly advise a second opinion!
  • hopefulone
    hopefulone Member Posts: 1,043 Member
    #13
    Thanks everyone sincerely for your support, prayers, thoughts and insight. We have put a call into oncologist to get her thoughts (waiting for call back on Monday) and we will meet with surgeon on 19th as we have more questions we want answered before making this decision. It was much easier when we made the decision before to have the first resection because we believed it was the right choice then. We aren't convinced at this point that it's right again right now based on what we know and what we don't know.

    I will let you know what we decide. Just want you all to know as far as I'm concerned, I don't think there is a better support group anywhere than you guys! Hugs and keep the faith
    Always in my prayers,
    Diane
  • jams67
    jams67 Member Posts: 925 Member
    #14
    My thought is that you need more information before deciding on surgery. Even a biopsy of the liver is very painful and not without risk. Take the time you need and get another opinion. Don't let them rush you.
    I'll keep you in my prayers.
    Jo Ann

Discussion Boards