Testing and more testing.....

tjohnson2310
tjohnson2310 Member Posts: 168 Member
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I am getting so frustrated. On May 17th I was diagnosed with right breast IDC. I made my first visit to MD Anderson Cancer Center on June 14th. From June 15-23 I went through test after test after test. I will be returning on July 5th for more test. I know this has to be done but it is so slow and frustrating. During my week long of testing a CT of the abdomen reveled 2 suspicious abdominal lymph nodes. My doctor wanted to have a CT guided biopsy of the abdominal lymph nodes but the radiologist can not reach the nodes. Also on the CT they found a cyst on my liver which they believe to be benign but when I return next week I have to have an MRI of the abdomen. Also a CT of the chest found a 2 cm thickening of the lining of the lung. There is no evidence of metastasis but he wants me to see a pulmonologist who am sure will order another test. I am not looking forward to chemo but I am looking forward to developing a treatment plan. My doctor says he wants to tailor my treatment. He kindly told me to be patient because we are going after the disease. But it is hard to be patient when you have a cancer growing inside of you.

Comments

  • Mariannemm
    Mariannemm Member Posts: 136
    #2
    I went through the same thing...
    When my husband and I showed up for my 1st chemo treatment we met with my doc 1st and he said we can't start your chemo today. I had spent the day in the hospital the week before having all those tests done like you. They had found 2 spots on my skull that they were not clear what they were. My mom died of BC that had spread to her brain so you can guess we were so stressed that day. So the dr had already sent me up for another scan and off we went. He had told me that we needed to find out what it was so that he could give me the correct corse of treatment for the type of cancer I had. If it has spread it would totally change my chemo plan. He said he would call me at 4pm that day with the results of the test and he kept his word. Everything was fine and I started chemo the next Monday. I have had many more test since that day, anything that goes wrong off I go to a specialist. I have seen a heart dr, GI doctor and extra scans for back pain I was having. Right now I am going in for an ulta-sound on my uterus. My gyn says it is exta large and just wants to make sure there is nothing going on. I am starting radiation this week, so my two weeks of rest from dr is about to be over! I do understand your feeling of wanting to get going with having the cancer growing inside you. I felt the same way! But if they started with one chemo it may not do its job if you have a cancer that has spread you could need a different chemo. That is what I have been told, I completely trust my onc! One week while I was on Taxol I was deined chemo because my blood counts were too low and that week i was so worried that the cancer would get an upper hand. I begged him to do it anyway! Take care and keep us posted! Marianne
  • Marsha Mulvey
    Marsha Mulvey Member Posts: 597 Member
    #3
    Mariannemm said:

    I went through the same thing...
    When my husband and I showed up for my 1st chemo treatment we met with my doc 1st and he said we can't start your chemo today. I had spent the day in the hospital the week before having all those tests done like you. They had found 2 spots on my skull that they were not clear what they were. My mom died of BC that had spread to her brain so you can guess we were so stressed that day. So the dr had already sent me up for another scan and off we went. He had told me that we needed to find out what it was so that he could give me the correct corse of treatment for the type of cancer I had. If it has spread it would totally change my chemo plan. He said he would call me at 4pm that day with the results of the test and he kept his word. Everything was fine and I started chemo the next Monday. I have had many more test since that day, anything that goes wrong off I go to a specialist. I have seen a heart dr, GI doctor and extra scans for back pain I was having. Right now I am going in for an ulta-sound on my uterus. My gyn says it is exta large and just wants to make sure there is nothing going on. I am starting radiation this week, so my two weeks of rest from dr is about to be over! I do understand your feeling of wanting to get going with having the cancer growing inside you. I felt the same way! But if they started with one chemo it may not do its job if you have a cancer that has spread you could need a different chemo. That is what I have been told, I completely trust my onc! One week while I was on Taxol I was deined chemo because my blood counts were too low and that week i was so worried that the cancer would get an upper hand. I begged him to do it anyway! Take care and keep us posted! Marianne

    Waiting
    Frustration is certainly a part of dealing with cancer. I went through about the same thing for 2 weeks back in February. Didn't think I was ever going to get to the actual treatment. During that process, my eyes were opened to the FACT that I didn't know much about this disease.

    Now I know more about the many variations and that each has a different treatment that is known to be more effective on it. They must know exactly what organs are involved, if the cancer is HER2 positive or negative. Does it have hormone receptors or protein receptors?

    There are many different chemotherapies and targeted therapies. The exact diagnosis lets the doctors make the decision which therapies to use. Surgeries and radiation are possible too.

    Hang in there and stay strong. MM
  • New Flower
    New Flower Member Posts: 4,294 Member
    #4
    Marsha Mulvey said:

    Waiting
    Frustration is certainly a part of dealing with cancer. I went through about the same thing for 2 weeks back in February. Didn't think I was ever going to get to the actual treatment. During that process, my eyes were opened to the FACT that I didn't know much about this disease.

    Now I know more about the many variations and that each has a different treatment that is known to be more effective on it. They must know exactly what organs are involved, if the cancer is HER2 positive or negative. Does it have hormone receptors or protein receptors?

    There are many different chemotherapies and targeted therapies. The exact diagnosis lets the doctors make the decision which therapies to use. Surgeries and radiation are possible too.

    Hang in there and stay strong. MM

    Hi
    waiting is tough.I am very sorry that you feel this way. Please do not forget the doc need tests to develop your treatment plan. For example If you are a candidate for a major surgery including mastectomy and reconstruction your lungs and your heart conditions are very important to sustain the surgery. Bone scan and PET scans are done to determine weather or not your cancer is local or spread. Based on these data your oncologist will make a decision on your treatment plan.

    Good luck with your treatment.

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