~* The Waiting Room *~
Comments
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I am so glad Alyson that you can do the happy dance!
Annette, my husband (no previous cancer) was also diagnoised with lung nodules in both lungs. First spotted on a CT scan of liver. They are just watching them and so far no growth, Dr. said that they may have been there since childhood. Let's hope that this is true for you. We don't know what we have just hanging around until they start scanning us.
My Dr. told me I have probably had LCIS since my breasts first developed. I hope you can find peace with this soon.
BetteLou I hope you feel better and can continue your treatment.
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Wonderful new Alyson.
Omaha- So true about what is there and we don't realize it till they scan.
Bettelou--Glad you are home. so sorry about the hair.
Annette--We will wait with you.
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Got treated on time this week! Now waiting to see how I tolerate it. Praying for now more fevers!
Bette
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In the waiting room as well. Diagnosed Stage 3c last June. Made it through 3 surgeries, chemo, and rads. About a month ago a sore showed up on my chest near my incision. Had a skin check by rad onc before my vacation to Yosemite to make sure I could go swimming in the river, he thought it was a stitch trying to work it's way out, sent me to surgeon, who said it wasn't a stitch, and did a biopsy.... and now I wait, and grind my teeth.....
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Hi all,
Been a while since I have been here....ultrasound tomorrow for a lump that appeared near my orig. tumor site. Report 6 mo. ago read likely benign. Had bilat mast. and do think the lump is slightly larger than 6 mo. ago....but can we ever REALLY tell until we get in there and they image it??? It makes me crazy.....I really can't say if it is bigger and if so....how much....my mind fails me as to what it was originally b/c I feel it so often :-(. I've been OK but now that the day is tomorrow, I am super anxious just to know one way or another and hope I don't get the 'wait and rescan in 6 mo.' thing. :-( So joining you in the waiting room..........0 -
B9!!!! YAAHOOOOOO! The air smells sweeter tonight. I feel extremely grateful.
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Sweetlight in this war there is no sweeter sound than B9, I am thrilled for you. You have had enough! My girlfriend was stage III (both breasts had tumors) and 15 out of 20 nodes + and she has been dancing with NED for 16 years!
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Woohoo! B9. Doing a happy dance for you, Sweetlight!
I survived the weekend with only low grade fevers from chemo. Feeling tired but basically well today . This is my week of from chemo. YES!!
Bette
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I'm so happy to check back in to see you all dancing the B9 happy dance in the waiting room. It's a very good look for this place!
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Bette, I hope this week off of chemo gives you enough energy to do a couple of fun things with your hubby. Feel well.
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Update on my wait - My insurance is still refusing the PET scan because they think the nodules are too small to show and tumor markers are not elevated. The pulmonary doc wants to find out what they are, so he is going to do a bronchoscopy (sp) on Monday the 14th. He said they would use and x-ray that day and overlay if with the ct scan to find the right spot to try and biopsy the largest nodule which is the size of a pea. They will also wash the lung and then suction the fluid out and have it analized for any cancer cells. If anything is suspicious they send it on to Mayo. The nodule on my thyroid they said could be checked with ultasound and that is getting set up. if ultrasound and blood tests don't give definite answer the thyroid is easily biopsied. It may take a week or more after tests are done to get answers, but at least we may know something. If nothing definite is learned, we just watch for 3 months and do another CT and see if any of them have changed in size. Onc told pulmonary doc that he would not assume it was cancer and would not treat until he had a definite answer. I see onc next Tuesday so will have a chance to ask him a few questions. I only got to talk to pulmonary doc on phone but did get to talk to his PA in person and get a few things answered. So it is still a waiiting game, but at least some answers may be coming. Annette
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How is everyone doing over this holiday weekend? We've been getting alot of yard work done (extra hands off work really help!). I don't think that I reported back on this thread that my US guided bx was b9 - but they aren't sure they did the bx in the right area since it was so hard to really see anything! The radiologist that did the bx did NOT have a comfortable approach OR technique - in fact, I will never schedule another procedure without knowing who is going to do it - AND approve! It was so-o-o-o miserable! (And they tell me some ladies SLEEP through the bx!!!!!) Now they want to repeat the MRI to see if the bx clip is in the area of concern! My onc was going to take all info to the tumor board on Friday and I find out Tuesday what the overall decision is from all present. Hopefully it will be clear, but there may still be decisions to make on my part! God is in control of ALL! And I'm so-o-o-o-o thankful to rest in HIS Hands!0
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2Hands4me, I'm sorry you had such a hard time with the bx. I will pray that you get good news tomorrow. It is wonderful to know that God is in control.
Tomorrow I have lab work to check if I am OK for my second cycle of Gem/Carbo in the clinical trial I am in. After cycle 2 my scans will be repeated to see if I am responding. If not, I get crossed over to the experimental arm of the trial and get the PARP inhibitor with the G/C. This means many more 3-hour drives to VA, but the treatment was so promising in the UK and in Phase II here that we are eager to do it.
Waiting for those scans requires more patience than I normally have, so it is good that I can put it in God's hands.
Bette
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Hi everyone. I hope you all had a restful Labor Day and started off with a even better Tuesday. I have to admit I splurged and ate a bowl of coffee, choclate crunch icecream!!! That made my day of waiting a bit better. Anyone?
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Back from onc visit - and I said that I wanted it to be clear....... The tumor board decided that with all the information and looking again at the path report from my right mastectomy - the best treatment would be a left mastectomy! There are so many issues and even the right path report was so "busy" (not positive for cancer except the DCIS and small microinvasion but other issues that may have been a cancer soon). And these other "busy" findings apparently dramatically increases my chance of a left ca. Without the mastectomy, we would be doing repeated mammo, US, and MRI's plus frequent bx to check findings. The tumor board was a surgeon(not mine), a plastic surgeon, a pathologist, several medical oncologists and maybe some radiologists - so their opinion carries alot of weight with me. I certainly didn't think I'd be repeating surgery so soon, but I don't want cancer and I don't want anything missed. My onc said that they were just too concerned about possibly missing something and I don't want repeated appointments and procedures. The final path report may be negative, but then I'll be DONE!
This is my path..... I want God's Will in my life, so I plan to go on with my Hand in His, letting Him lead since I know He knows best! Thinking of all of you still waiting and praying you'll receive good news soon!
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We made a quick trip to LA for a Prostate Cancer Seminar (DH diagnosed last year) and also attended a Heritage Singers concert at the Crystal Cathedral! Was a nice break from the Waiting Room and so convenient of them to schedule them together for us!
Now back, waiting to hear when my surgeon appointment can be........
Thinking of all of you!
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Update - Never got pet scan approved so they did US of thyroid nodules are a goiter and one that looked a little different the radiologist said would be b9.!!!!! So most good news. radiologist wants to watch for a year but PCP wants thyroid surgeon to look and make sure he agrees to watching for a year, He does all the work for all 5 of the Christie clinics. PCP said she would be agreeable to what ever surgeon recommended. I see him next Monday. To discover what the lung nodules were the pulmonary doc decided on a bronchoscopy, They did it today and took a piece of the largest nodule and washed the lung and suctioned out the saline to check and see if any abnormal cells. I should have results back next Tuesday when I have an appointment with him. If this is not cancer then I will be finished except for the every 3 week herceptin till March. Rads will be done on Friday. I cannot believe this could really almost be the end. It was last December when I got the call about doing another mammogram. 9 months!!! Good luck to all of you waiting. Annette
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We had a wonderful weekend at a retreat for couples dealing with metastatic breast cancer, followed by a feverish Sunday that ended up in the ER. Home now and waiting to learn if I can get my chemo this week.
Bette
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Yes Annette I hope this journey ends for you with all those nodules being B9 I have my fingers crossed for you!
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Update: No chemo this week due to elevated liver enzymes and pneumonia. Must wait for more blood work next Monday to see it treatment next week will work.
Bette
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Bette I will be praying that you heal quickly and can resume your tx plan real soon.
Gentle Hugs
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Praying for you Bette.
How is everyone?
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Waiting for lab work tomorrow morning which will show if my liver enzymes have fallen low enough for me to get chemo this week. Also chest x-ray to see if pneumonia has cleared. I have been being such a good eater since I started testing my blood sugar twice a day. It is running slightly high. Tomorrow will tell. No food after 7:30 PM tonight.
Feeling good today except for an aching foot. I stepped on something the wrong way on Tuesday, and it has been hurting ever since. I probably need to get it checked out. Just don't want to sit in yet another waiting room!
Bette
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Hi Ladies,
Back again it seems for another anxious wait. I had my mammogram in May then following a visit to my onc she scheduled an ultrasound (my original cancer didn't show on mammogram -5cm). Had the ultrasound in August and then 2 weeks ago my onc called out of the blue. I hadn;t heard in a like 3 weeks so figured no news is good news, tight? Seems they have found what they think is an enlarged lymph node in my arm pit, same side as last year. Now they want me to have a biopsy. The onc called 2 weeks ago with the news but I haven't got a date yet for the biopsy. Did anyone esle have a recurrence on the same side after undergoing mastectomy, chemo, radiation, herceptin, tamoxifen/femara? I know they only removed 10 nodes during the mastectomy surgery which means a number of them were left and the cancer was in 50% of the 10 that were removed. I don't know I feel, just that I want to get the biopsy over with and move on.
Thanks for letting me vent girls.
Gaynor
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Gaynor, I felt the same way with my biopsy this summer; I just wanted to get it over with and deal with whatever the results were.
I am waiting for a doctor appointment tomorrow to find out if:1) Do I have diabetes? 2) Is my pneumonia gone? 3)Are my liver enzymes lower so that I can get chemo? 4) Why does my head hurt all the time? 5) What is the matter with my foot that I have been limping for over a week? I think he will probably run when he sees me with my list of questions! LOL
With all these questions and concerns, sometimes I am afraid I will be seen as a hypochondriac, but they are all important to me, and I need them answered! Appointment at 9:45 AM tomorrow. Still waiting.
Bette
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My wait is over. The test results were great. No cancer in the lungs or thyroid. No spread anywhere. I just have to finish the herceptin. I will be done in March. I will pray for all of you still waiting. Hugs Annette
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Bettelou
Thanks for listening. I called the onc and th eultrasound place after writing on here. Turns out the last ultrasound was not clear enough for them to know exactly which spot to biopsy so now they want another set of ultrasounds before they decide whether or not to biopsy. I guess thats promising as the spot is not illuminating the screen! I'll let you know how it goes, the ultrasound is scheduled for next Wednesday.
Hugs and prayers
Gaynor
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NanaA
Excellent news, revel in that and be well!
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Liver enzymes are up even higher, so no chemo tomorrow. Instead, another CT scan to check for progression or regression of my disease.
So more waiting. Hoping that the scan will show improvement. Praying that the liver inflammation will go down, so I can remain in the clinical trial. If not, I am secure in the knowledge that God has a plan.
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11
Bette
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Hello - here I am again -
I have my THIRD follow up CT scan tomorrow for enlarged left ovary (referred to in report as "ovarian mass"); malfunctioning adrenal gland; several spots on my pancreas; several spots on my lung; and an enlarged lymph node in the lower abdominal area. Oh, joy. Also have my first f/u mammo and U/S on Monday. Results will be discussed with med onco on Wednesday. Seriously thinking of having ovaries taken out if mass has become larger. Still pre-menopausal but have not had a period since June. Did not need chemo due to Onco score of 12, but had rads. Tried Tamox for several months but developed every known side effect and so am no longer taking it. On top of this, I may be starting a new jjob in three weeks. I am BEYOND anxiety at this point. So, I think I will just sit here for a while, sip a martini, pop a Xanax, and chill!
Thanks for listening. And, Bettelou, I must tell you that you are my inspiration. I have been following your posts and your experiences and my admiration for your strength and faith is boundless . . .
Blessings to all!
Maria
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