Not 1 node - 17 out of 19 ugh

Kathleen808
Kathleen808 Member Posts: 2,342 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Hi Friends,
Well **** met with Dr. Lenz today (my mom was with him) and the good news is they tested 4 areas and 3 of them were cancer free. However, there were numerous lymph nodes involved 17 out of 19. In the report is said something like they were 15% active. They were all clustered together and the surgeon thinks he got all of them. **** was quite taken back by this. Dr. Lenz recommends a CAT/PET in 4 weeks and then FOLFORI + Avastin again because that seemed to be shrinking things. I think if they see more growth in 4 weeks they will recommend HIPEC and we will head out to DC to see Dr. Sugarbaker. Dr. Lenz is running a ton of tests on the tumor to see if it has mutated at all. We should have those results back in 2 weeks.

I just can't wait for **** to come home on Thursday. I hate him not being here. We appreciate continued prayer and good thoughts.

Thanks for always being here.

Aloha,
Kathleen
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Comments

  • zenmonk
    zenmonk Member Posts: 198
    praying
    Aloha, It sounds like you have a solid plan in place and your doctor is on top of things. I hope things work. Thanks you for keeping us posted.
  • John23
    John23 Member Posts: 2,122 Member
    Lymph nodes



    My surgeons informed me, that the lymph node's job is to grab
    "bad" things from our body and hold 'em there like a jail cell,
    until our immune system could knock 'em off and toss 'em out....

    So I suppose with that simplified concept in mind, it might be
    considered a good thing that the nodes did their job as well as
    they did; Maybe a lot less bad cells floating around now!

    I might be a realist, but I prefer to look at the upside wherever possible.

    Think positive.
  • sfmarie
    sfmarie Member Posts: 602
    Kathleen
    I continue to hold you and **** and your entire family in my prayers. I do not post often, but read the board daily.
    Hugs, Marie
  • Crow71
    Crow71 Member Posts: 679 Member
    Hey Kathleen. This sounds
    Hey Kathleen. This sounds very tough to deal with. I don't understand how **** went from one node to 17 out of 19 nodes. I guess it doesn't matter now as long as the surgeon got everything. Waiting for 4 weeks won't be fun, but hopefully you can relax and enjoy yourselves.

    How is **** recovering from surgery?

    If you do need HIPEC, let me know if you are interested in looking at Wake Forest. I highly recommend Dr. Shen and Dr. Levine. I'm just a few minutes away, and Kim and I would love to help you guys.

    Take Care - Roger
  • angelsbaby
    angelsbaby Member Posts: 1,165 Member
    Crow71 said:

    Hey Kathleen. This sounds
    Hey Kathleen. This sounds very tough to deal with. I don't understand how **** went from one node to 17 out of 19 nodes. I guess it doesn't matter now as long as the surgeon got everything. Waiting for 4 weeks won't be fun, but hopefully you can relax and enjoy yourselves.

    How is **** recovering from surgery?

    If you do need HIPEC, let me know if you are interested in looking at Wake Forest. I highly recommend Dr. Shen and Dr. Levine. I'm just a few minutes away, and Kim and I would love to help you guys.

    Take Care - Roger

    Kathleen I
    hope all goes well and i hope **** is feeling better from the surgery, take care

    michelle
  • maglets
    maglets Member Posts: 2,576 Member

    Kathleen I
    hope all goes well and i hope **** is feeling better from the surgery, take care

    michelle

    Kathleen and ****
    ahhh....you will be glad to get **** home and start the recovery from surgery Kathleen.

    thinking about you pair sooooo much

    mags
  • just4Brooks
    just4Brooks Member Posts: 980 Member
    John23 said:

    Lymph nodes



    My surgeons informed me, that the lymph node's job is to grab
    "bad" things from our body and hold 'em there like a jail cell,
    until our immune system could knock 'em off and toss 'em out....

    So I suppose with that simplified concept in mind, it might be
    considered a good thing that the nodes did their job as well as
    they did; Maybe a lot less bad cells floating around now!

    I might be a realist, but I prefer to look at the upside wherever possible.

    Think positive.

    I agree with John
    They seem to have did their job and held the cancer cells from going throughout his body. Now the doctors just need to knock them out and things should be looking good. I think of you guys everyday!!


    Brooks
  • msccolon
    msccolon Member Posts: 1,917 Member
    prayers
    I know you are going to have to wrap your head around this news as you were expecting better, but I know the two of you will make it through this next battle as well. I continue to pray for **** as well as you, for strength and comfort in this fight.
    mary
  • lisa42
    lisa42 Member Posts: 3,625 Member
    oh, man
    Hi Kathleen,

    Man, this isn't the news we wanted to hear, of course. I'm sorry. **** is in good hands, though. I actually emailed Dr. Lenz myself yesterday about my Xeloda dosage (I was thinking I wasn't taking enough- he confirmed it). I literally had an email answer about a 1/2 hr later and it was in the middle of the day- I think he must quickly check email between appointments or something- amazing. Let us know if they do recommend HIPEC. So, **** would have to go to Dr. Sugarbaker in DC for that? Do they not do that at USC? I believe my liver surgeon, Dr. Andy Lowy at UCSD, does do HIPEC & he's very good- I know UCSD was ecstatic when they were able to get him from Cincinatti 3 yrs ago- I'd highly recommend him- he did a superb job on my liver resection & has a superb bedside manner & spent almost 2 hrs w/ me at my appts answering questions, explaining, etc.

    Take care & I'll be praying for the best outcome of all this.
    Lisa
  • Sundanceh
    Sundanceh Member Posts: 4,392 Member
    Home Sweet Home
    I'm sure **** will be just as glad to see you too, Kathleen:)

    Here's to "regrouping" and getting ready to go again - sounds like you have your plans laid out and it sounds hopeful.

    "E Ola"

    -Craig
  • lesvanb
    lesvanb Member Posts: 905
    Kathleen and ****
    I'm so glad that you all keep us posted, and I'm so sorry that this tough tough path continues for you. Keeping you both and your family close to my heart. Sounds like you have a good plan, and as Lisa says, you are in good hands. I hope **** can keep surfing after he recovers from his surgery. I wouldn't doubt that his love of the sea and its movements also helps.

    all the best, Leslie
  • thready
    thready Member Posts: 474
    Seperation
    I know you were hoping that all the stuff they took out was all clear, but that could still be the case. I also know it is so hard for you two not to be together during this time. When does **** get home?

    We will be praying for you both a lot!!!
    Take care,
    Jan
  • Fight for my love
    Fight for my love Member Posts: 1,522 Member
    You and **** are in my
    You and **** are in my prayers. Hope everything goes well.Take care.
  • mom_2_3
    mom_2_3 Member Posts: 953 Member
    Kathleen
    In a weird way it's good that that single lymph node lit up as it took you down the path of surgical removal and the discovery of the other lymph nodes, potentially before they became large and nipping all of it the bud right now. I know it's not fantastic news that the nodes were found but only 15% were active (so I assuming you had an 85% necrotic rate on them) and they were all in one area. Sounds like the surgeon did a great job being thorough and getting them all.

    I know how glad you will be both be when **** is back again in your home and in your loving care. I keep your family in my thoughts.

    Amy
  • Kathleen808
    Kathleen808 Member Posts: 2,342 Member
    you are wondrful
    You are wonderful friends. Your support and perspectives are so valuable. You are right that it is good the one node lit up otherwise we would not have known. Counting down, 2 more days till **** gets home. Then our 22nd anniversary is on Friday. <3

    Thanks again.

    Aloha,
    Kathleen
  • lisa42
    lisa42 Member Posts: 3,625 Member

    you are wondrful
    You are wonderful friends. Your support and perspectives are so valuable. You are right that it is good the one node lit up otherwise we would not have known. Counting down, 2 more days till **** gets home. Then our 22nd anniversary is on Friday. <3

    Thanks again.

    Aloha,
    Kathleen</p>

    Happy Anniversary
    Happy Anniversary to you and ****! I'm glad he will be home for it- that would have been a bummer if you had the separation over the anniversary. Like everyone said, it's good they found the one node or you would have gone along thinking all was well, not knowing. You can feel much better after this and after **** is healed from the surgery. I know he faces more chemo, but it sounds like he's done so well on chemo in the past.
    I'm continuing to pray!

    Lisa
  • abmb
    abmb Member Posts: 311
    Praying
    Kathleen, I will keep your husband in my Prayers. I just wish and Pray there could be a cure for this disease. Take care and God Bless. Margaret
  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    Surgery
    Glad for the good news on the areas that were non cancerous. Your doctor seems to have a handle on things so that is great. Have a happy anniversary and wishing him a very speedy recovery. Continue to let us know how he is feeling.

    Kim
  • tootsie1
    tootsie1 Member Posts: 5,044 Member
    Sorry
    I'm sorry about that news! Of course y'all are in my prayers.

    *hugs*
    Gail
  • pf78248
    pf78248 Member Posts: 209
    So sorry about those darn nodes
    Kathleen,

    I hate that **** had that news but I am agreeing with several others that maybe the first one was a blessing in disguise. I am thrilled you get to celebrate your anniversary Friday. I know it must be tough to be separated and I'm sure you would have liked to be there with him for his appointment with Dr. Lenz. Sounds like he is having great care!

    I will keep your family in my thoughts and prayers. I am sitting in Houston at MD Anderson. David had surgery today and we got disappointing news, too. But we have to keep on doing our best for our guys! Happy Anniversary to you and ****.

    Hugs and Healing,
    Priscilla.