The results of the Pet Scan were not good. While the chemo did shrink some of the non hodgkins cancers, there are multiple new mass sites at the back of her intestinal tract along each side of the spinal column. They could be inflammation points as the particular type of chemo she has been taking can cause such points. However, all who have looked at the images strongly believe the sites are a new cancer that is NOT anything she has ever had before. If they are what they think they are this is going to be very difficult to treat.
One factor leading them to believe this is a new cancers at work is due to the fact that they have explosively grown since the last scan a couple of months ago when there was no sign of anything. One of the things that took so long this morning was waiting for the experts to take another look at today's results in comparison to the last scan as well as earlier ones. There is no question this is an all new problem. Whether this deal is responsible for her strange blood loss that has plagued her the last seven weeks nobody knows at this point.
So, next Thursday we will be spending the day at the hospital while they pump stuff into her and then do a CT guided biopsy and take samples from the sites. They hope to do this as an outpatient deal.
The following Wednesday we go in to see the doctor and find out the results.
Obviously, this is a tough blow. We are just stunned. As always, Sandi has taken the news way better than I did. She is mad and not giving up. The fight goes on.....
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7 comments:
I know exactly how you feel. I wish I could be encouraging, but it's tough. In Judy's case, they found a new growth and treated her for the wrong kind of cancer for over a year. They finally decided it was actually non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, after all, but by then it was too late.
The doctor was not encouraging at all....that is for sure. If it is what they think it is, treatment options are extremely limited.
I never saw this coming. By now I should have learned to expect the unexpected, but I really thought the worst this would be was that the chemo had quit working and they would have to switch it again. I never thought she would have some brand new cancer deal going on right now.
Apparently, this very rarely happens as the chemo can shrink some stuff and cause other ones to start growing. Apparently there are more than a half dozen masses all hanging out in there doing god knows what.
Kevin, I am so very, very sad to learn this devastating news.
The American Cancer society has published information that indicates it is not at all rare. I am shocked if she was told that and especially if she wasn't warned of the potential side-effect risks. Because of Steve's condition I've been reading as much as I can tolerate as I attempt to understand and be a support... too difficult most days, and I usually avoid it. I did, however, come across this recently from an excellent source.
You may read this information posted online by the American Cancer Society: http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/othercarcinogens/medicaltreatments/secondcancerscausedbycancertreatment/second-cancers-caused-by-cancer-treatment-chemotherapy
Excerpt below:
"How does chemotherapy affect the risk of second cancers?
Some types of chemotherapy (chemo) drugs have been linked with different kinds of cancer. The cancers most often linked to chemo are myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). Sometimes, MDS occurs first, then turns into AML. Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) has also been linked to chemo. Chemo is known to be a greater risk factor than radiation therapy in causing leukemia.
"Some solid tumor cancers have also been linked to chemo treatment for certain cancers... "
We have known about the risk of secondary cancers from chemo, the white blood cell boosting shots (can also cause the liver and/or kidneys to basically spontaneously explode), and the cancer risk with other things they have been doing all along. She has been warned all along the way. What is going to be rare--at least that is what we are being told-- is the type of cancer this is if the biopsies come back as expected.
Considering she is one of those rare individuals that has never shown the cancer blood markers no matter how much cancer there is (one of the reasons numerous papers are being written on her and her case) it kind of figures that she would develop a very rare secondary cancer.
How awful for you, both. My heart is with you.
Thank you. I know you are going through your own nightmare and I am truly sorry.
I am so very sorry to hear this. My mother had cancer and we were blindsided so many times. I learned to be afraid every time it seemed things were going well or at least not too badly, because something new would pop up. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Jeanne
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