recurrence in lymph node

vodkamarty
vodkamarty Member Posts: 17
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Good Evening,

My wife Frannie (Stage IV) had a recent PET Scan that reflected a probable recurrence to a pelvic lymph node. Suspected tumor only 8 x 12 mm. She's had two surgeries, been through FOLFOX, then FOLFIRI + Avastin. Otherwise, in good health and feeling fine. We've chatted with three well respected Onc's. All say the same "it's small, you have no symptoms, let's wait and watch". This seems sensible, but we'd like to be more proactive and not let the cancer get too far ahead of us.

Anyone have a similar experience? Appreciate any feedback!

Best,

Marty

Comments

  • AnneCan
    AnneCan Member Posts: 3,673 Member
    #2
    Marty
    I am sorry to hear about the probable recurrance + hope you will get the answers here that you are looking for.
  • sasjourney
    sasjourney Member Posts: 395 Member
    #3
    I have the same issue
    Hi Marty,

    I have the same issue, but I have several enlarged lymph nodes that showed up on a CT scan and my biopsy confirmed it was the cancer. I was NED for about 10 months and had finished FOLFOX. My onc. is going to put me back on chemo...not sure if it will be Xeloda or 5-fu with avastin. I also have a consultation with Dr. Lenz coming up to see what he suggests. I'll let you know what he says and I am also waiting to hear back from my onc. at MD Anderson. I feel fine as well, but I know I have to do whatever I can to kill the disease. I completely understand you not wanting to wait too long on this and I agree with you. Did they do a biopsy to confirm that it was cancer again?

    Good luck with your decision.

    Take care,

    Sara
  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    #4
    Scan
    Sorry that the scan showed this. Hoping that you can get to the answers of what is the best treatment. Sometimes wait and see is just a game. You might want to get a second opinion. Just a thought.

    Kim
  • tootsie1
    tootsie1 Member Posts: 5,044 Member
    #5
    Sorry about the news
    Hey, Marty.

    I'm very sorry about this news. I know that if it were me, waiting would make me extremely nervous. I don't have any good advice for you, but I'm sure others will. I just know that if it were me or a loved one, I would probably get more opinions on this.

    *hugs*
    Gail
  • taraHK
    taraHK Member Posts: 1,952 Member
    #6
    my experience
    Sorry to hear this -- it's scary.

    Just FYI: I had a swollen lymph node in my groin -- didn't "light up" on PET scan, but it was noticeably swollen. My surgeon thought it was probably nothing. My oncologist thought it was suspicious. I chose to have it removed (under light sedation). It was nothing (i.e. not a metastasis). Of course everyone's experience is different but I just wanted to share this positive story. Hope yours is nothing, too. Waiting is hard, but sometimes the best thing.....

    Tara
  • vodkamarty
    vodkamarty Member Posts: 17
    #7
    taraHK said:

    my experience
    Sorry to hear this -- it's scary.

    Just FYI: I had a swollen lymph node in my groin -- didn't "light up" on PET scan, but it was noticeably swollen. My surgeon thought it was probably nothing. My oncologist thought it was suspicious. I chose to have it removed (under light sedation). It was nothing (i.e. not a metastasis). Of course everyone's experience is different but I just wanted to share this positive story. Hope yours is nothing, too. Waiting is hard, but sometimes the best thing.....

    Tara

    Lymph node
    Thanks Tara,

    Onc's think Frannie's will be problematical due to 2+ previous surgeries and small size. Glad yours was no big deal.

    All the best,

    Marty
  • vodkamarty
    vodkamarty Member Posts: 17
    #8
    tootsie1 said:

    Sorry about the news
    Hey, Marty.

    I'm very sorry about this news. I know that if it were me, waiting would make me extremely nervous. I don't have any good advice for you, but I'm sure others will. I just know that if it were me or a loved one, I would probably get more opinions on this.

    *hugs*
    Gail

    Lymph node
    Thanks Gail.

    Have future appointment at Stanford (were're Kaiser, but have also consulted with Dr. Venook at UCSF and Dr. Abrams (Intregrated Onc- my favorite doc) also at UCSF.

    Best regards,

    Marty
  • vodkamarty
    vodkamarty Member Posts: 17
    #9
    sasjourney said:

    I have the same issue
    Hi Marty,

    I have the same issue, but I have several enlarged lymph nodes that showed up on a CT scan and my biopsy confirmed it was the cancer. I was NED for about 10 months and had finished FOLFOX. My onc. is going to put me back on chemo...not sure if it will be Xeloda or 5-fu with avastin. I also have a consultation with Dr. Lenz coming up to see what he suggests. I'll let you know what he says and I am also waiting to hear back from my onc. at MD Anderson. I feel fine as well, but I know I have to do whatever I can to kill the disease. I completely understand you not wanting to wait too long on this and I agree with you. Did they do a biopsy to confirm that it was cancer again?

    Good luck with your decision.

    Take care,

    Sara

    Lymph node
    Thanks Sara,

    Would definitely like to hear what your doc's say.

    Frannie had FOLFIRI + Avastin and found it very manageable. This was the first time she added Accupuncture to the regime and she found it helped alot. Hope you have the same experience.

    All the best,

    Marty
  • pepebcn
    pepebcn Member Posts: 6,331 Member
    #10
    vodkamarty said:

    Lymph node
    Thanks Tara,

    Onc's think Frannie's will be problematical due to 2+ previous surgeries and small size. Glad yours was no big deal.

    All the best,

    Marty

    Got retroperitoneal lymph nodes affected
    I'm doing radiotherapy ,it seems it use to work in other patients! Ask for that!
    Hugs!

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