UPDATE ON HOP --- GREAT NEWS
I'm tickled to death to report some great, great news.....The doctor's office called this afternoon, after the PET and CT scans...They said the scans showed no evidence of the cancer metastisizing to other organs AND the CEA test indicated same.
They also "finally" gave us the results of the biopsy on the smaller tumor and it is NOT cancer, however it and the polyps they took out were the type that do turn into cancer. SO, WE'VE BEEN DOING THE 'HAPPY DANCE' tonight.
We're still looking at major surgery w/ the whole colon being taken out, but we honestly feel that we've seen a miracle. The first night of the day we found out we had cancer, we prayed for healing and for no metastisizing and that the smaller tumor was NOT cancer. Prayers answered.
Just wanted to share our good news with all you great people and thank you again for your concerns, thoughts and prayers. POWER IN PRAYER????? YOU BETCHA ! ! ! !
Blessings to all,
Marygale and Hop
Comments
-
What a relief!
What a relief! I am so happy for you. I know that feeling when you get good news. It is such a weight lifted from your shoulders. I know you still have a long road ahead of you, but this is certainly great news! God Bless!
Faith0 -
WOWFaith4Cure said:What a relief!
What a relief! I am so happy for you. I know that feeling when you get good news. It is such a weight lifted from your shoulders. I know you still have a long road ahead of you, but this is certainly great news! God Bless!
Faith
That is amazing news! I am very happy for you. Just curious, why so drastic and taking out the whole colon? I'm sorry if I missed this info in an earlier post... just wondering.0 -
wonderful!
So glad to hear your wonderful news! I do believe in miracles, too! Back in February, when I started the radiation/chemo preparing my very low lying rectal tumor for a rectal resection, I started praying for a miracle. I'd spend each radiation session in prayer that it was shrinking the cancer completely away. I even asked the radiation oncologist at the time, "If radiation makes my tumor go completely away, will I still need surgery?" She looked at me kind of funny and said, "Well, that would be the surgeon's call, not mine, but you know we're not expecting the tumor to go away. This is just to shrink it some to make the surgery a little easier." Well, the tumor DID go completely away! After praying and thanking God, I had a little conversation with God... I asked what the point of this miracle was if I still had to have the surgery and likely end up w/ a colostomy (that wouldn't have been for sure, but highly probably because it was so close to the anus). I started researching online about people who had a "complete response" to chemorads and was desperately trying to find articles about people who were told they didn't need the surgery after all. Most definitely still had it, but I did come across a Brazilian doctor and a doctor in Europe who have not continued to still routinely do these colon/rectal resections as a given anymore- but they were looking at them on a case by case situation. I already knew that my surgeon had told me she'd still operate even if the tumor went away just to be proactive. So, anyhow... my prayer was- Lord, why do I need this surgery if you took the tumor and all residual cancer cells in the rectum away? Can't you get into the head of my surgeon and convince her of this?
Well... I happened to check my email that evening, and you won't believe this...
Literally, at about 10:30 at night, an email came in from my surgeon and this is basically what she said, "Lisa, I've been looking over your scans, and path reports, and have been pondering your case. With no evidence of any cancer in the rectum at all, I just don't see any reason to put you through this surgery."
I let out a shriek when I read this email and called my husband- we both believe it was a direct answer to our prayers! I've met and been followed up by this same doctor since- I know that I would need the surgery if I ever had any recurrence in the colon or rectum, but for now, we're just watching it carefully. My cancer had actually already spread to liver and lungs- had I been a stage 1 or 2, then I might have still had the surgery to be proactive and prevent spreading but, since that had already happened, we saw no reason to face rectal surgery and "the bag". I don't remember what Hop's staging is, so that might make a difference, but I just wanted you to know of a case where someone did not have this surgery after all (I did have liver surgery, just not the rectal).
Anyhow- SO happy to hear of your good news- Happy New Year!
Lisa0 -
WOWchynabear said:WOW
That is amazing news! I am very happy for you. Just curious, why so drastic and taking out the whole colon? I'm sorry if I missed this info in an earlier post... just wondering.
It is drastic. Surgeon said since the malignant tumor is at one end and the other at the other end, if they left any of the colon in, it would put Hop at High Risk of it returning. And the fact that the many polyps were the kind that turn into cancer. Now, that's where we're standing at the moment............And from the way he talked, it's taking too much of a risk to leave any of it in.
I know Hop is hoping things will change, and it would be great if they did . We have an appointment Jan. 08 to plan the course of treatment and surgery.
Marygale0 -
WONDERFUL -- LISAlisa42 said:wonderful!
So glad to hear your wonderful news! I do believe in miracles, too! Back in February, when I started the radiation/chemo preparing my very low lying rectal tumor for a rectal resection, I started praying for a miracle. I'd spend each radiation session in prayer that it was shrinking the cancer completely away. I even asked the radiation oncologist at the time, "If radiation makes my tumor go completely away, will I still need surgery?" She looked at me kind of funny and said, "Well, that would be the surgeon's call, not mine, but you know we're not expecting the tumor to go away. This is just to shrink it some to make the surgery a little easier." Well, the tumor DID go completely away! After praying and thanking God, I had a little conversation with God... I asked what the point of this miracle was if I still had to have the surgery and likely end up w/ a colostomy (that wouldn't have been for sure, but highly probably because it was so close to the anus). I started researching online about people who had a "complete response" to chemorads and was desperately trying to find articles about people who were told they didn't need the surgery after all. Most definitely still had it, but I did come across a Brazilian doctor and a doctor in Europe who have not continued to still routinely do these colon/rectal resections as a given anymore- but they were looking at them on a case by case situation. I already knew that my surgeon had told me she'd still operate even if the tumor went away just to be proactive. So, anyhow... my prayer was- Lord, why do I need this surgery if you took the tumor and all residual cancer cells in the rectum away? Can't you get into the head of my surgeon and convince her of this?
Well... I happened to check my email that evening, and you won't believe this...
Literally, at about 10:30 at night, an email came in from my surgeon and this is basically what she said, "Lisa, I've been looking over your scans, and path reports, and have been pondering your case. With no evidence of any cancer in the rectum at all, I just don't see any reason to put you through this surgery."
I let out a shriek when I read this email and called my husband- we both believe it was a direct answer to our prayers! I've met and been followed up by this same doctor since- I know that I would need the surgery if I ever had any recurrence in the colon or rectum, but for now, we're just watching it carefully. My cancer had actually already spread to liver and lungs- had I been a stage 1 or 2, then I might have still had the surgery to be proactive and prevent spreading but, since that had already happened, we saw no reason to face rectal surgery and "the bag". I don't remember what Hop's staging is, so that might make a difference, but I just wanted you to know of a case where someone did not have this surgery after all (I did have liver surgery, just not the rectal).
Anyhow- SO happy to hear of your good news- Happy New Year!
Lisa
What a beautiful story. Ya see, you had a miracle too and yes, I too believe it was a direct answer to your prayers. I'm happy for you.
It would be great if Hop were that lucky. The malignant tumor is very large and very close to the rectum and the other tumor is on up around on the transverse just before the transcending part and Dr. believes everything in between is diseased and if they left it, Hop would probably have to go thru all this again. Heck, we just want it "outta there"--the cancer.
I loved your story and thanks for sharing it w/ us.
God bless and have a Happy New Year.
Marygale0 -
CLAUDIAclaud1951 said:How Wonderful
That is so great to hear.
What a Happy New Year for both of you. Just keep your energy for moving forward.
Hugs to you both
Claudia
Thanks so much. It is giving us a bit of a break to get ready for surgery.
Marygale0 -
Yippee Skippee!
Marygale & Hop,
This is wonderful news! I am sure it relieves you both so much. You are fighters and can take whatever comes next. I, too, am praying my tumor has disappeared with chemo/rads. It is so low I am facing a possible colostomy, so prayers are getting stronger right now. I see the surgeon on Jan 12, and we go from there.
Wonderful New Year's News!! Vicki0 -
VICKICOVickiCO said:Yippee Skippee!
Marygale & Hop,
This is wonderful news! I am sure it relieves you both so much. You are fighters and can take whatever comes next. I, too, am praying my tumor has disappeared with chemo/rads. It is so low I am facing a possible colostomy, so prayers are getting stronger right now. I see the surgeon on Jan 12, and we go from there.
Wonderful New Year's News!! Vicki
Praying right along w/ you for yours. Hey, Jan. 12 is my birthday...to hear good news from you would be a wonderful birthday present...GO FOR IT.
The news has taken a big load off us...Now, building strength and fighting for the big tumor that IS cancerous....although w/ a colon like Hops, the surgeon still wants to take it out. Otherwise, he'll probably have re-occurances..........and we do not want to go thru this again.
Good luck to you...have someone keep us all posted....and God Bless
Wishing you a miraculous New Year.
Marygale0 -
A miraclelisa42 said:wonderful!
So glad to hear your wonderful news! I do believe in miracles, too! Back in February, when I started the radiation/chemo preparing my very low lying rectal tumor for a rectal resection, I started praying for a miracle. I'd spend each radiation session in prayer that it was shrinking the cancer completely away. I even asked the radiation oncologist at the time, "If radiation makes my tumor go completely away, will I still need surgery?" She looked at me kind of funny and said, "Well, that would be the surgeon's call, not mine, but you know we're not expecting the tumor to go away. This is just to shrink it some to make the surgery a little easier." Well, the tumor DID go completely away! After praying and thanking God, I had a little conversation with God... I asked what the point of this miracle was if I still had to have the surgery and likely end up w/ a colostomy (that wouldn't have been for sure, but highly probably because it was so close to the anus). I started researching online about people who had a "complete response" to chemorads and was desperately trying to find articles about people who were told they didn't need the surgery after all. Most definitely still had it, but I did come across a Brazilian doctor and a doctor in Europe who have not continued to still routinely do these colon/rectal resections as a given anymore- but they were looking at them on a case by case situation. I already knew that my surgeon had told me she'd still operate even if the tumor went away just to be proactive. So, anyhow... my prayer was- Lord, why do I need this surgery if you took the tumor and all residual cancer cells in the rectum away? Can't you get into the head of my surgeon and convince her of this?
Well... I happened to check my email that evening, and you won't believe this...
Literally, at about 10:30 at night, an email came in from my surgeon and this is basically what she said, "Lisa, I've been looking over your scans, and path reports, and have been pondering your case. With no evidence of any cancer in the rectum at all, I just don't see any reason to put you through this surgery."
I let out a shriek when I read this email and called my husband- we both believe it was a direct answer to our prayers! I've met and been followed up by this same doctor since- I know that I would need the surgery if I ever had any recurrence in the colon or rectum, but for now, we're just watching it carefully. My cancer had actually already spread to liver and lungs- had I been a stage 1 or 2, then I might have still had the surgery to be proactive and prevent spreading but, since that had already happened, we saw no reason to face rectal surgery and "the bag". I don't remember what Hop's staging is, so that might make a difference, but I just wanted you to know of a case where someone did not have this surgery after all (I did have liver surgery, just not the rectal).
Anyhow- SO happy to hear of your good news- Happy New Year!
Lisa
Your story is truly a miracle. I love hearing about things like that!
*hugs*
Gail0 -
Fantastic
That is fantastic news; I am feeling your excitement and relief all across the miles.
i have been told my CEA is normal and my scans showed no further tumors so I am feeling
good right now too. Here's hoping we have a New Year full of more good news and continue to
dance the naked happy dance.....hooray!0 -
KIRSTEN
Thanks, Kirsten. We're so excited but yet dreading the surgery too.
Marygale0 -
DIXIECHICKdixchi said:Fantastic
That is fantastic news; I am feeling your excitement and relief all across the miles.
i have been told my CEA is normal and my scans showed no further tumors so I am feeling
good right now too. Here's hoping we have a New Year full of more good news and continue to
dance the naked happy dance.....hooray!
W O W and DOUBLE W O W ! ! ! You have great news too. I'm happy for you. It's such a relief, isn't it.
May you have a wonderful, happy and healthy New Year.
Marygale0 -
WHAT A YEAR FOR MIRACLESKarmar said:What a year for miracles
Such great news!!!! I am so Happy for you both. A late christmas present but the best one could recieve.
Karen
Hi Karen: Yep, it sure is. At least for now, we have that off our shoulders....now if we can just get this major surgery out of the way and on the road to healing....
Thank you for your response.
Marygale0 -
I'M DANCINGKathiM said:I'm dancing!!!!
BUT, considering it's below zero for the HIGH on these days here in Holland, AND I went skating today on a frozen river...well, I am standing in front of a heater as I dance!!!
Hugs, Kathi
Thank you, Kathi. I think it gave us all a bit of a "pick-me-up". I praise God ! !
Marygale0
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