Here I go again

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  • terato
    terato Member Posts: 375
    #22
    Davepet said:

    More good news, some bad news, more waiting
    Well the hCG marker went to zero, the AFP marker is "high normal". The recommendation is chemo, just because they assume there are a few cells out in the wild, even though the tests don't show any. So I get to wait again to see the oncologist to see what is in store next.

    Dave

    But, as we talked about...
    Dave,

    I can't speak for your specific situation or your oncologist, but my AFP has been consistently "high normal" for years and my oncologist never recommended resuming chemo, since Dr. Nicholas Vogelszang informed him of the fact that a number of patients have higher AFP markers with no evidence of exacerbation of cancer. As long as it is nowhere near "25.0", there should be no cancer.

    Here is Dr. Vogelszang's web info:

    http://www.usoncology.com/portal/page/portal/PubWeb/8NewsRoom/02NewsReleases/70F3609E00DD40C7E0440003BADBF04B

    Again, I wish you good luck and remain hopeful for your cancer-free outcome.

    Rick
  • Davepet
    Davepet Member Posts: 92
    #23
    terato said:

    But, as we talked about...
    Dave,

    I can't speak for your specific situation or your oncologist, but my AFP has been consistently "high normal" for years and my oncologist never recommended resuming chemo, since Dr. Nicholas Vogelszang informed him of the fact that a number of patients have higher AFP markers with no evidence of exacerbation of cancer. As long as it is nowhere near "25.0", there should be no cancer.

    Here is Dr. Vogelszang's web info:

    http://www.usoncology.com/portal/page/portal/PubWeb/8NewsRoom/02NewsReleases/70F3609E00DD40C7E0440003BADBF04B

    Again, I wish you good luck and remain hopeful for your cancer-free outcome.

    Rick

    It's not the AFP
    That is triggering the decision to go to chemo, it is in a normal range, just at the high end of normal. I hope the oncologist will be able to better fill in the blanks next MON.

    Dave
  • Davepet
    Davepet Member Posts: 92
    #24
    terato said:

    But, as we talked about...
    Dave,

    I can't speak for your specific situation or your oncologist, but my AFP has been consistently "high normal" for years and my oncologist never recommended resuming chemo, since Dr. Nicholas Vogelszang informed him of the fact that a number of patients have higher AFP markers with no evidence of exacerbation of cancer. As long as it is nowhere near "25.0", there should be no cancer.

    Here is Dr. Vogelszang's web info:

    http://www.usoncology.com/portal/page/portal/PubWeb/8NewsRoom/02NewsReleases/70F3609E00DD40C7E0440003BADBF04B

    Again, I wish you good luck and remain hopeful for your cancer-free outcome.

    Rick

    More info
    Well, finally saw the oncologist. He is running more tests before finalizing the stage. It seems my hCG marker has dropped to near zero, but the AFP has actually increased a bit, still normal, but barely. If it has gone up again in the most recent test it would be a bad sign.

    In any event the pathology report showed some evidence of the cells spreading into the lymph ducts, so looks like it'll be chemo for me. I'm going in for a PET scan on Fri, which he says will give a more accurate indication if there is any significant spread.

    Dave
  • terato
    terato Member Posts: 375
    #25
    Davepet said:

    More info
    Well, finally saw the oncologist. He is running more tests before finalizing the stage. It seems my hCG marker has dropped to near zero, but the AFP has actually increased a bit, still normal, but barely. If it has gone up again in the most recent test it would be a bad sign.

    In any event the pathology report showed some evidence of the cells spreading into the lymph ducts, so looks like it'll be chemo for me. I'm going in for a PET scan on Fri, which he says will give a more accurate indication if there is any significant spread.

    Dave

    The PET scan is really the most definitive test!
    Everyone I ever spoke with about a "gold standard" of diagnostic tests, without exception, has mentioned the PET scan, when CT and MRI scans have not provided definitive answers. If the PET scan reveals nothing significant, treatments can be minimized. I hope this is what transpires. In any event, thanks for keeping us posted.

    Courage and Peace of Mind!

    Rick
  • Davepet
    Davepet Member Posts: 92
    #26
    terato said:

    The PET scan is really the most definitive test!
    Everyone I ever spoke with about a "gold standard" of diagnostic tests, without exception, has mentioned the PET scan, when CT and MRI scans have not provided definitive answers. If the PET scan reveals nothing significant, treatments can be minimized. I hope this is what transpires. In any event, thanks for keeping us posted.

    Courage and Peace of Mind!

    Rick

    Well d@mn
    PET results say I'm "very likely to have a metastatic node in the left external iliac system". So I'm getting three course of BEP starting Mon.

    It is what it is, I guess.

    Dave
  • terato
    terato Member Posts: 375
    #27
    Davepet said:

    Well d@mn
    PET results say I'm "very likely to have a metastatic node in the left external iliac system". So I'm getting three course of BEP starting Mon.

    It is what it is, I guess.

    Dave

    If it took a PET scan to find it,
    it has got to be very very small and, therefore, easy to beat. I will be praying for you.

    Courage and Peace of Mind!

    Rick
  • Davepet
    Davepet Member Posts: 92
    #28
    terato said:

    If it took a PET scan to find it,
    it has got to be very very small and, therefore, easy to beat. I will be praying for you.

    Courage and Peace of Mind!

    Rick

    2 x 1.3 cm
    Is what the report says. It lit up in the PET scan so it's highly likely to be cancer & that puts me at stage 2. Still, considering the size & extent of the cancers that have been successfully treated with these drugs, this tumor has no chance.

    Dave

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