PET and CAT results came today

mswijiknyc
mswijiknyc Member Posts: 421
edited March 2014 in Head and Neck Cancer #1
Hubby Pat has his surgery Oct 1 - radical neck dissection and a complete laryngectomy. Right after his surgery, his doctor told me that if the surgery had been postponed by a week or two, he would have died. The tumor was growing very, very fast.

The doc took everything he could see and all the lymph nodes. He said he had to peel the tumor off of hubby's carotid artery. All that was left was microscopic cells.

That was a little over two months ago.

The doctor called with hubby's scan results today.

He has a tumor at the base of his skull. It is inoperable. The cancer has come back. You can feel it right behind his ear; it's about the size of a peach pit. And it's growing fast.

The doc had been talking about seeded radiation. Not anymore. And I don't know how he will make daily RTs when he can barely walk.

At least I know why his eye is so droopy all the time . . . .

Comments

  • Pam M
    Pam M Member Posts: 2,196
    #2
    Bleep
    Very sorry to hear of the tumor at the base of your hubby's skull. sorry, too that they can't just go in now and take it out. When will you be laying out your plan of attack for this round? I'm assuming it's probably chemo/rads then surgery? Hoping docs come up with a plan that will eliminate the tumor with the least amount of damage to him. Asking for hope, strength and success for you two.
  • mswijiknyc
    mswijiknyc Member Posts: 421
    #3
    Pam M said:

    Bleep
    Very sorry to hear of the tumor at the base of your hubby's skull. sorry, too that they can't just go in now and take it out. When will you be laying out your plan of attack for this round? I'm assuming it's probably chemo/rads then surgery? Hoping docs come up with a plan that will eliminate the tumor with the least amount of damage to him. Asking for hope, strength and success for you two.

    checkmate
    Pat has been adamant - no chemo. He had the surgery first and his doc has said there is nothing left for him to take. More surgery cannot be done. Rads is the only option at this point. Pat wants to talk to the rad onco before making any decisions. He has already put off rads more than what the docs would like, and if/when he starts rads, it wouldn't be before the New Year.

    Happy 30th Birthday to me. (sorry - that's the only pity party I'm allowing myself)
  • charles55
    charles55 Member Posts: 87
    #4
    mswijiknyc said:

    checkmate
    Pat has been adamant - no chemo. He had the surgery first and his doc has said there is nothing left for him to take. More surgery cannot be done. Rads is the only option at this point. Pat wants to talk to the rad onco before making any decisions. He has already put off rads more than what the docs would like, and if/when he starts rads, it wouldn't be before the New Year.

    Happy 30th Birthday to me. (sorry - that's the only pity party I'm allowing myself)

    double bleep
    That is really tough to hear about your husband, Pat. For it to be so large so quickly since Oct 1, it sounds like the current tumor was there all along. I hope you can encourage Pat to continue to fight back against this beast. He is till recovering from his surgery, and now has to face this. That would be a lot on even a very, very strong person and caregiver, but I believe the prize is worth it. This site is full of people who were given low survival chances at first, and yet here they are. My very best prayers are going out for you and Pat.
  • Hal61
    Hal61 Member Posts: 655
    #5
    Radiation
    Sorry to hear of your husband's stubborn situation. Tough fight ahead for both of you still. Know that everyone here is pulling for you both. For me, radiation treatment, though rough to get through, has left no lingering problems or symptoms. You're very stong to support your husband's decisions, and I'm hoping your next birthday finds him well on the road to recovery with you at his side.

    Hal
  • luv2cut1
    luv2cut1 Member Posts: 288
    #6
    Thoughts and Prayers with you and hubby
    I cannot even imagine how scary and overwhelming it must be to hear the scan results. I hope you have some time to regroup and figure out what is next. Emotions must be all over the place. It sounds like you have been a wonderful caregiver - please remember to take care of yourself during this scary time, and please let us be here for you if you need to vent or need support.

    Please take care,

    Myka
  • Glenna M
    Glenna M Member Posts: 1,576
    #7
    mswijiknyc said:

    checkmate
    Pat has been adamant - no chemo. He had the surgery first and his doc has said there is nothing left for him to take. More surgery cannot be done. Rads is the only option at this point. Pat wants to talk to the rad onco before making any decisions. He has already put off rads more than what the docs would like, and if/when he starts rads, it wouldn't be before the New Year.

    Happy 30th Birthday to me. (sorry - that's the only pity party I'm allowing myself)

    Positive thoughts
    Sending positive thoughts for you and Pat. Hopefully he will agree to rads and they will shrink his tumor and you two will have many more years together.

    Never feel bad about having a pity party. I'm 15 months post treatment and I still have one occasionally, I think we all do at times.

    Stay strong and please keep us posted.

    My best,
    Glenna
  • delnative
    delnative Member Posts: 450 Member
    #8
    luv2cut1 said:

    Thoughts and Prayers with you and hubby
    I cannot even imagine how scary and overwhelming it must be to hear the scan results. I hope you have some time to regroup and figure out what is next. Emotions must be all over the place. It sounds like you have been a wonderful caregiver - please remember to take care of yourself during this scary time, and please let us be here for you if you need to vent or need support.

    Please take care,

    Myka

    Wow ...
    We're all pulling for you and your beloved.
    Heck of a way to "celebrate" your 30th birthday, though.
    Cancer sucks.

    --Jim in Delaware
  • adventurebob
    adventurebob Member Posts: 691
    #9
    That sucks.
    That really sucks. I wish I could take it away. Sorry that I can't. Sending hope and strength.

    Bob
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #10
    Hi mswijiknyc
    I don’t know how you feel about it but get a second opinion from one of the major cancer institution and never give up. My local Oncal doc did an MRI and told me my cancer was back and so my wife said she wanted a second opinion and so we went to MD Anderson in Houston. They did a PET and said the problem was not cancer as I was NED, later we found out it was just a bad infection in my head behind my left ear. I was put on some very strong antibiotic and I am just now starting to feel the swelling going down.

    Take care; hope and praying for you both.
    Hondo
  • mswijiknyc
    mswijiknyc Member Posts: 421
    #11
    Hondo said:

    Hi mswijiknyc
    I don’t know how you feel about it but get a second opinion from one of the major cancer institution and never give up. My local Oncal doc did an MRI and told me my cancer was back and so my wife said she wanted a second opinion and so we went to MD Anderson in Houston. They did a PET and said the problem was not cancer as I was NED, later we found out it was just a bad infection in my head behind my left ear. I was put on some very strong antibiotic and I am just now starting to feel the swelling going down.

    Take care; hope and praying for you both.
    Hondo

    (not so) funny story
    We tried to go to another doctor who is part of Mt. Sinai. We got sent right back to the same doc. Not sure what to do or how to handle this.

    I've said it before, I will say it again:

    His decision. Not mine.

    My job is to make peace with what he decides. And to advocate for him. And pray like hell I can make it without losing my sanity.
  • Pam M
    Pam M Member Posts: 2,196
    #12
    mswijiknyc said:

    checkmate
    Pat has been adamant - no chemo. He had the surgery first and his doc has said there is nothing left for him to take. More surgery cannot be done. Rads is the only option at this point. Pat wants to talk to the rad onco before making any decisions. He has already put off rads more than what the docs would like, and if/when he starts rads, it wouldn't be before the New Year.

    Happy 30th Birthday to me. (sorry - that's the only pity party I'm allowing myself)

    Happy Birthday - NOT
    He'd better get better in a reasonable amount of time - he needs to give you a fabulous birthday gift next year to make up for sucky birthday this year (I know it's not his fault, but somebody has to play catch up on your next birthday).

    Does he say why he's so against chemo? I had healthy doses (3 chemo drugs for induction, one with radiation), and fared well. I would think chances are, as my docs would say "his body would be able to withstand treatment"

    My cousin shares your birthday - he's a two year cancer survivor.
  • luv4lacrosse
    luv4lacrosse Member Posts: 1,410 Member
    #13
    mswijiknyc said:

    (not so) funny story
    We tried to go to another doctor who is part of Mt. Sinai. We got sent right back to the same doc. Not sure what to do or how to handle this.

    I've said it before, I will say it again:

    His decision. Not mine.

    My job is to make peace with what he decides. And to advocate for him. And pray like hell I can make it without losing my sanity.

    FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT
    Hi and sorry you find yourself here. I had surgery, rads and chemo and must say as far as side effects go, the rads were much worse.

    I hope he decides to fight the good fight, and understand he is responsible for his choice. I am cheering you on to convince him to fight and not to give up.

    Take care

    Mike
  • 3Mana
    3Mana Member Posts: 811
    #14
    mswijiknyc said:

    (not so) funny story
    We tried to go to another doctor who is part of Mt. Sinai. We got sent right back to the same doc. Not sure what to do or how to handle this.

    I've said it before, I will say it again:

    His decision. Not mine.

    My job is to make peace with what he decides. And to advocate for him. And pray like hell I can make it without losing my sanity.

    Don't lose your sanity
    Hi,
    Sounds like your hubby is a little stubborn huh? Or maybe he just feels, that he wants to live without all treatments that make him feel worse. I know it's frustrating for you, but like you said he's the one who has to make the decision whatever it is. All you can do is be there for him and support whatever he decides to do.
    Take care!! "Carole"
  • vermontliz
    vermontliz Member Posts: 11
    #15
    Do only what you can
    I feel a connection to you, as my husband after vigorous head/neck rads,chemo now has the damn C in the spine... PET scan on Monday revealed it spread throughout his bones...it is so difficult to watch him come to terms with the diagnosis. He is not sure if he will go through more chemo, but we scheduled it for Jan 4th.

    I can only do what I can, be there and love him, and take care of myself. Please take care of you, whatever that means for you. I am exercizing, having "girls nights" taking time off of work when possible, take naps & see a great therapist. I realize that is what I can do. Honor and love yourself, and you are in my hearth and prayers this holiday season.

    Liz

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