Ct scan in my future

Maxiecat
Maxiecat Member Posts: 544 Member
edited March 2013 in Colorectal Cancer #1

Ok...this is the 3rd try at posting my post.   I had my drs appt yesterday...he is concerned about rising CEA and the back pain that I have had for a month now.   I did have a series of X-rays 2 weeks ago...but nothing cancer-related found.   I just have a little degenerative disease around a couple of the discs...basically i am getting older.  Dr ordered CT scan as soon as possible ... Will check results and may order an MRI before next appointment in 2 weeks.   I am waiting for central scheduling to call me...hopefully we can get it in tomorrow or Monday.

 

Comments

  • Chelsea71
    Chelsea71 Member Posts: 1,169 Member
    Thanks for the update. Have
    Thanks for the update. Have been wondering about the X-ray. How is the back pain? Any improvement?
  • Sundanceh
    Sundanceh Member Posts: 4,392 Member
    Alex

    I've got degenerative spine as well...part age...but mostly RADIATION.  It's gotten progressively worse over the 9-years since I last did the treatment.

    It's no coincidence either...they radiated me in both of my hips too...and I've got femoral head damage in both hips that is called Avascular Necrosis.  That's a serious condition and nothing but a hip replacement would cure it.

    Part of a heavy price I've paid to make it to 9-years...I'll drop by here in June to talk about when I officially make the 9-years...

    I am concerned about the rising CEA....and I hope that all it is...is just old age....I guess we can live with that one....or at least, we have to:)

     

  • Maxiecat
    Maxiecat Member Posts: 544 Member
    Thank you guys.  I am still

    Thank you guys.  I am still waiting to get my CT scheduled...the hospital messed up and did not get a pre approdone from the insurance company...so I called the Drs office back on Friday and had them move it to a stand alone facility.  They called me Friday afternoon and had taken care of the insurance issue...I have a call back Monday morning to get on the actual schedule...oh and to arrange picking up 2 tasty bottles of barium prep stuff.

     

    alex

  • smokeyjoe
    smokeyjoe Member Posts: 1,425 Member
    Maxiecat said:

    Thank you guys.  I am still

    Thank you guys.  I am still waiting to get my CT scheduled...the hospital messed up and did not get a pre approdone from the insurance company...so I called the Drs office back on Friday and had them move it to a stand alone facility.  They called me Friday afternoon and had taken care of the insurance issue...I have a call back Monday morning to get on the actual schedule...oh and to arrange picking up 2 tasty bottles of barium prep stuff.

     

    alex

    On one of my scan reports,

    On one of my scan reports, the  one radiologist reported on EVERYTHING, freaked me out because he noted stuff that was non cancer related .... but he mentioned degenerative disc disease on a certain spot .... I googled what he had reported  and it was something common in gymnasts  (go figure)  I did a lot of that as a youngster,  now explains the sore back I seemed to constantly have as a teen while still doing gymnastics.  

  • Maxiecat
    Maxiecat Member Posts: 544 Member
    I had the CT scan

    I had the CT scan yesterday...the barium prep was not too bad...I opted for the berry flavor...went and picked it up in the morning ... Had the scan at 3pm.  Just waiting on the report to see if I need to get an MRI later this week.  I talked to my nursing case manager...supplied by my husband's company...she has recommended a second opinion at MD Anderson.  She has had several other patients who also had appendiceal cancers ... so she is very familiar with HIPEC and getting everything approved through the insurance company ... if I end up needing it.  We had been thinking about Johns Hopkins or University of MD because of location.  She will take care of getting all of the approvals...it is covered under my insurance!  I am doing my research on MD Anderson and the others... And trying to wait patiently for the results off the CT.  I want to explore all of my options while I have this time.

     

    alex

  • Sundanceh
    Sundanceh Member Posts: 4,392 Member
    Maxiecat said:

    I had the CT scan

    I had the CT scan yesterday...the barium prep was not too bad...I opted for the berry flavor...went and picked it up in the morning ... Had the scan at 3pm.  Just waiting on the report to see if I need to get an MRI later this week.  I talked to my nursing case manager...supplied by my husband's company...she has recommended a second opinion at MD Anderson.  She has had several other patients who also had appendiceal cancers ... so she is very familiar with HIPEC and getting everything approved through the insurance company ... if I end up needing it.  We had been thinking about Johns Hopkins or University of MD because of location.  She will take care of getting all of the approvals...it is covered under my insurance!  I am doing my research on MD Anderson and the others... And trying to wait patiently for the results off the CT.  I want to explore all of my options while I have this time.

     

    alex

    Best Wishes, Alex!

    Sounds like all of the prep is going well...great to have help in setting all of that up.  MDA is highly rated so best of luck there if you choose that facility; I've read of several folks I know who have gone there and feel good about it.

    I'll be about 260 miles just north on I-45 in DFW...give me a shout if you run into trouble:)

    Best, best, best of luck!

    -Craig

  • marbleotis
    marbleotis Member Posts: 720 Member
    Maxiecat said:

    I had the CT scan

    I had the CT scan yesterday...the barium prep was not too bad...I opted for the berry flavor...went and picked it up in the morning ... Had the scan at 3pm.  Just waiting on the report to see if I need to get an MRI later this week.  I talked to my nursing case manager...supplied by my husband's company...she has recommended a second opinion at MD Anderson.  She has had several other patients who also had appendiceal cancers ... so she is very familiar with HIPEC and getting everything approved through the insurance company ... if I end up needing it.  We had been thinking about Johns Hopkins or University of MD because of location.  She will take care of getting all of the approvals...it is covered under my insurance!  I am doing my research on MD Anderson and the others... And trying to wait patiently for the results off the CT.  I want to explore all of my options while I have this time.

     

    alex

    Please keep us posted - as one signet to another

    Alex,

    what is making you think you made need HIPEC?

  • Maxiecat
    Maxiecat Member Posts: 544 Member

    Please keep us posted - as one signet to another

    Alex,

    what is making you think you made need HIPEC?

    I want to keep my options

    I want to keep my options open.  I have read that if the cancer does progress that this would be a possible option for me ..my current oncologist isnt instilling  a lot of trust with me.   I have had to ask for everything...have you checked my CEA?  When can II get a pet or ct scan.  I had to insist that they check my CEA...he checked it and it is rising... Then he comes back with he is concerned about the combination of rising CEA and back pain.   We would have found this a month ago when I first started to complain about the pain...but he didn't take me seriously.  

    I think at this point I just want to see someone who has experience with signet ring...I get the feeling from this dr that he has never seen this before...so he is treating it like ... In his words "a variant of colon cancer".  I don't want to go through the HIPEC if it is not necessary...but I do want to hear that from someone who at least makes me feel like they know what signet ring is and knows what they are talking about.  I would be so happy if I could hear those words NED...I think we all would be.  

  • Luckygirl2
    Luckygirl2 Member Posts: 308
    MD Anderson

    I just had an employee be treated at MD Anderson.  She had a very major and extensive surgery regarding her 2d recurrance of cervical cancer.  Pelvic extenoration or something like that, basically all she has left is kidneys, liver and pancreas, bladder and rectum were removed.  She and her husband both have had very positive things to say about the hospital and the staff.  They were in Houston from Monday after Thanksgiving until mid February. 

     

    Thinking of you!