Cat Scan results for next Monday am

Hello friends,

Just wanted to say thank you for your suggestions again. I told my partner about your messages saying she should keep on being persistant and keep calling about getting the results.

Well she called back a few times and was lucky as she talked to someone live finally.
The person booked her for Monday morning results with her doctor. Apparently he will schedule her for her operation during this meeting. The operation to remove the
1 milimeter margin..........and other things if the scan says there is more to remove.

She is really worried about the results but I think it is normal right.
She is very upset that life has to be so cruel.
I try to encourage her by saying that she should concentrate on the positive things that the doctor told her after he removed her 2 centimeters tumor. The doctor said then that the tumor was not that deep and that it was not that big.....whatever big is, not sure.

I feel like I am not as strong as her but I don't show her that I feel this way.
Oh my.......not sure what to do if we have bad results....what to do, what to say.

Hope everyone is doing well......I am so glad I found this site. Take care, Sue

Comments

  • Pam M
    Pam M Member Posts: 2,196
    Long Weekend Coming Up
    Hope you guys can distract yourselves. Knowing it's normal to worry doesn't take the worry away. Neither does knowing that most of us getting scans after surgery or treatment get good results.

    Sorry you all have to go through this scary patch. It's much worse than the pain of treatment, in my opinion. Sounds really good that tumor was not very big and REALLY good that it wasn't that deep. I don't think there is a way to prepare yourself for bad news at these results appointments - hoping that's a moot issue, and you won't get bad results.
  • longtermsurvivor
    longtermsurvivor Member Posts: 1,842 Member
    It's important to remember
    that the goal is treatment and cure. There isn't bad or good, there is just a discussion of what else it takes to get from where things are, to the goal. I've found it very helpful to look at things that way, not focusing on what "bad" news I might get during the next visit, because the visits are without end.

    I had my first PET scan almost 14 years ago. The first generation machines took almost 5 hours to do the scan. Being strapped to the gantry for five hours was almost beyond toleration. It taught me to really focus on my meditation! I've now had, I'm guessing, 12 of the dang things. I can honestly say I don't get nervous about them. Maybe this is because of the familiarity I have with the process of being "in process".

    As has been suggested, distraction is very helpful. Go do some things. Fun. It won't be completely successful, but it will help.

    Understand that there will be other treatment recommended. One mm margins are not enough. And surgery and/or radiation will almost certainly be in the discussion. Be preparred to listen carefully, ask lots of questions, and take notes.

    There is life after treatment. And during treatment as well!

    Pat
  • jim and i
    jim and i Member Posts: 1,788 Member
    I agree with the others,
    I agree with the others, there really is no way but to prepare for bad news. I pray there is only positive news but if it is bad I found that people who are grieving just want you to listen and hold them. I do not think there is any thing you could say other than I love you and I am with you through it.

    Debbie
  • Sue22
    Sue22 Member Posts: 99
    jim and i said:

    I agree with the others,
    I agree with the others, there really is no way but to prepare for bad news. I pray there is only positive news but if it is bad I found that people who are grieving just want you to listen and hold them. I do not think there is any thing you could say other than I love you and I am with you through it.

    Debbie

    Thank you...
    Thank you so very very much with your words of wisdom all you my friends.
    You are an amazing bunch.

    You are giving me strength. I will print your notes and show it to her.

    I hope you are doing well also.....and Pat I hope your treatments are not too hard on you.

    Take care and talk soon. Sue
  • longtermsurvivor
    longtermsurvivor Member Posts: 1,842 Member
    Sue22 said:

    Thank you...
    Thank you so very very much with your words of wisdom all you my friends.
    You are an amazing bunch.

    You are giving me strength. I will print your notes and show it to her.

    I hope you are doing well also.....and Pat I hope your treatments are not too hard on you.

    Take care and talk soon. Sue

    Sometimes it goes better than you'd ever imagine
    Thanks for thinking of me. I had my pre-radiotherapy PET scan this week, which showed complete resolution of the cancer. So I finished my 4th round of Carboplatin/Taxotere, and went in for my radiation planning session today. Got my CT for marriage to my prechemo PET for targeting, got my mask fit, and I'm good to go. They won't start my rads for four weeks, but I'm pretty well on autopilot now until I start IMRT. And the best news is I may get enough salavary gland sparing this time to not go completely dry. One can only hope.

    Preparing to be sick again here in a few days. It seems to hit me about 4-5 days after the carboplatin, but hey, who am I to complain!

    Have a good weekend. Not all news is bad.

    pat
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    Hi Sue
    She is right to be up-set that life has taking this path and I believe we all have been there saying why-me. The thing I did find about having cancer is that it made me more aware of how things in this world really are. I was going about life just thinking about me, now I think in a different way. That there are people all over our world in need and I can be a part to help them through there battles in life. I know that this is new to you both but in time it will make you both stronger and closer together. Her tumor being small and not very deep that to me is all good news, so all you can do now it to wait till Monday and see what the rest of the results are. For now just try to find something to keep you both focus on, if you can find things to make you laugh that is some of the best medicine in the world.

    Wishing you both the best
    Hondo
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    Sue
    Will be thinking of you and your partner on Monday. I am surely hoping she receives the best possible news under these circumstances. You will both be amazed at the strength you will find in these coming days.
  • Sue22
    Sue22 Member Posts: 99

    Sometimes it goes better than you'd ever imagine
    Thanks for thinking of me. I had my pre-radiotherapy PET scan this week, which showed complete resolution of the cancer. So I finished my 4th round of Carboplatin/Taxotere, and went in for my radiation planning session today. Got my CT for marriage to my prechemo PET for targeting, got my mask fit, and I'm good to go. They won't start my rads for four weeks, but I'm pretty well on autopilot now until I start IMRT. And the best news is I may get enough salavary gland sparing this time to not go completely dry. One can only hope.

    Preparing to be sick again here in a few days. It seems to hit me about 4-5 days after the carboplatin, but hey, who am I to complain!

    Have a good weekend. Not all news is bad.

    pat

    Pat
    You are welcome Pat.
    Hang in there ok. Lots of the terms you use I am not familiar with but with time I will learn them with time. Hope your salivary gland doesn't go dry either........good luck with it all.

    Earlier.....yesterday I think you said : ''One mm margins are not enough''. Not sure I understand. If you have a minute could you explain it to me? Do you mean that the one MM margin is big when it comes to cancer cells?

    Sue
  • Sue22
    Sue22 Member Posts: 99

    Sue
    Will be thinking of you and your partner on Monday. I am surely hoping she receives the best possible news under these circumstances. You will both be amazed at the strength you will find in these coming days.

    Tks
    Tks sweetblood22......that's nice of you. She is stronger than me I think. Take care and have a nice day. Sue
  • longtermsurvivor
    longtermsurvivor Member Posts: 1,842 Member
    Sue22 said:

    Pat
    You are welcome Pat.
    Hang in there ok. Lots of the terms you use I am not familiar with but with time I will learn them with time. Hope your salivary gland doesn't go dry either........good luck with it all.

    Earlier.....yesterday I think you said : ''One mm margins are not enough''. Not sure I understand. If you have a minute could you explain it to me? Do you mean that the one MM margin is big when it comes to cancer cells?

    Sue

    a millimeter is a very small margin Sue
    The bigger the margin, the safer against relapse. I don't know what your surgeon's tolerance is for margins, but it will likely be at leaast 3mm, and probably greater than that. The margin of course, refers to the gap between the deepest penetrating cancer cells they could see on the microscope slide, and the cut margin from the resection around the cancer.

    Hope this helps.

    Pat
  • tommyodavey
    tommyodavey Member Posts: 727 Member
    Not Deep
    Hi Sue,

    I am sorry for both of you having to go through this. Watching my wife suffer through my illness upset me. We both lost weight, but at least she appreciated it.

    Focus on the tumor having a margin. That is positive news. Mine was 4cm and was clearly defined too. For awhile I felt sorry for myself and then quickly realized just how lucky I was that the cancer had not invaded deeper. I am only one third through but will continue to be grateful for modern medicine.

    All you can really do is stay positive for her and give support.

    Tommy
  • Sue22
    Sue22 Member Posts: 99

    Not Deep
    Hi Sue,

    I am sorry for both of you having to go through this. Watching my wife suffer through my illness upset me. We both lost weight, but at least she appreciated it.

    Focus on the tumor having a margin. That is positive news. Mine was 4cm and was clearly defined too. For awhile I felt sorry for myself and then quickly realized just how lucky I was that the cancer had not invaded deeper. I am only one third through but will continue to be grateful for modern medicine.

    All you can really do is stay positive for her and give support.

    Tommy

    Tks
    Tks a lot Tommy. Hope the rest of your treatment goes well. You sound like a very positive person.........that's good. Sue
  • Ingrid K
    Ingrid K Member Posts: 813
    Sue22 said:

    Tks
    Tks a lot Tommy. Hope the rest of your treatment goes well. You sound like a very positive person.........that's good. Sue

    good luck tomorrow
    Sue, sending you and your partner all the best possible positive vibes for her appt. tomorrow. She is lucky to have you by her side. The folks on this forum are truly wonderful and have been a huge help to me... they will be there for both of you as well.
    Ingrid
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    Sue22 said:

    Tks
    Tks a lot Tommy. Hope the rest of your treatment goes well. You sound like a very positive person.........that's good. Sue

    Hi Sue
    Wishing you all the best for tomorrow results

    Hondo
  • Sue22
    Sue22 Member Posts: 99
    Hondo said:

    Hi Sue
    Wishing you all the best for tomorrow results

    Hondo

    Tks
    Tks Ingrid and Hondo........please see my new post. You have the results there.

    Have an awesome evening. Sue
  • Sue22
    Sue22 Member Posts: 99
    Hondo said:

    Hi Sue
    Wishing you all the best for tomorrow results

    Hondo

    Tks
    Tks Ingrid and Hondo........please see my new post. You have the results there.

    Have an awesome evening. Sue
  • Sue22
    Sue22 Member Posts: 99
    Hondo said:

    Hi Sue
    Wishing you all the best for tomorrow results

    Hondo

    Tks
    Tks Ingrid and Hondo........please see my new post. You have the results there.

    Have an awesome evening. Sue
  • Sue22
    Sue22 Member Posts: 99
    Hondo said:

    Hi Sue
    Wishing you all the best for tomorrow results

    Hondo

    Tks
    Tks Ingrid and Hondo........please see my new post. You have the results there.

    Have an awesome evening. Sue