SLT Posted November 6, 2004 Share Posted November 6, 2004 I really need advice from somebody on this forum. My dad was doing so well and then over the past three weeks he's been extremely sick. One month ago dad's CAT scan showed no spread of cancer and 50% shrinkage of the tumour. He's NSCLC 3b with lymph node involvement. He also had a bone scan that came back clear. His family DR. had an Xray done of his chest and a Dr. not involved in his cancer treatment looked at the xray and said that it looked like the cancer has come back. He didn't even have the xray or CT scan from a month ago to compare to and I know for a fact that the Xray displays streaking around scar tissue, etc so I feel like he wasn't in any position to be making that statement. They did an ultrasound on Thursday to look at his organs and the person doing the ultrasound said that she didn't like the looks of dad's gallbladder and dad said that where she was pressing was where he's extremely tender. Well yesterday, his family DR. said that everything looked good from the ultrasound and although the gallbladder didn't look great, it didn't look bad enough to be the culprit of dad's problems. He left it at that. Today, my family has taken dad into Out Patients because he can't eat anything and hardly drink any liquids. I don't understand how this could be related to his cancer and seems more like his gallbladder. He's extremely fatigued, nauseous, had pain in his ribcage that's going around his back and shoulder area. He's abdomen is bloated and he's gained almost 10 pounds in 2 weeks yet he isn't eating. His tumour that was 50% smaller one month ago, never bothered him a day when it was twice the size so I don't understand how it could be the cancer? And when the tumour was twice the size he had no breathing problems whatsoever. Now, he can hardly hold his breath for 30 seconds. Apparently, the gallbladder sits fairly close to the lungs. Does this seem like anything to do with cancer?? I feel like it's more likely his gallbladder. I'm 2 hours away from my dad and I'm waiting to see if they'll keep him in the hospital and give him an IV to get some fluids in him. They have him thinking it's the cancer and it's been a huge blow to him. Personally, my gut says that it's way too soon after such a great report only 4 weeks ago! Dad's family Dr. is planning to get a hold of the oncologists treating dad this Monday - they are 2 hours away from where my father lives. Can cancer come back that fast and cause these kinds of symptoms? ANY advice would be so much appreciated. I'm so worried about my father right now! Thanks so much Sherri Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzie Q Posted November 6, 2004 Share Posted November 6, 2004 I don't think you jhave all the info yet, but I would suggest requesting a consult from a GI specialist along with the onc. If your dad's gall bladder is inflamed, it can cause some of the symptoms you describe(based on my mom's experience many years ago), but they may not want to do surgery right now for it if the risk of surgery is greater than leaving it alone. Is he running a temp? What else is going on? Any lesions in the liver? Any fluid in the abdomen? I don't know what else to tell you, but it makes sense that if he was tender over the area where his gall bladder is when doing the ultrasound scan, then perhaps that is at least part of the source of his troubles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLT Posted November 6, 2004 Author Share Posted November 6, 2004 Well we finally have some answers. I'm really upset that my father's family Dr. could not diagnose dad's problem! The emergency dept. has sent Dad to a bigger hospital because it has been discovered that he has excess fluid surrounding his heart. He is going to have an emergency procedure to remove the fluid. When I research this on the Internet, it seems so obvious...he has all the associated symptoms. So thank heavens he went to emergency this morning...it could have gotten extremely serious. In doing some research on the Internet, it looks like this could be cancer related. I'm praying it hasn't spread. It could also be viral and dad is just getting over a nasty cold. It says it could also be from Radiation which Dad recently had done. So I'll have to wait and see and do lots of praying that it was due to radiation or a viral infection and not cancer. Right when we were feeling so happy and positive, things have taken such a dramatic turn. Thanks for listening. Sherri Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cindi o'h Posted November 6, 2004 Share Posted November 6, 2004 Sherri I am so glad to hear that your dad will be admitted and that he will have some answers. Sorry about the fluid around his heart. Dang. I have a little fluid myself, and I live with it because it is a little. But I guess if there is more than a little or a moderate amount that sometimes a pericardial window is necessary to get that fluid off. Keep us updated on how your dad is doing. And I will say some prayers for him too. Hang in there. The build up of fluid around my heart and lungs continues as a result of radiation treatment that was completed nearly two years ago....!! I am hoping that the reason for his fluid is the same as mine. Cindi o'h Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLT Posted November 6, 2004 Author Share Posted November 6, 2004 I pray it's from the radiation, too! You have no idea how much better you just made me feel to know that someone else has experiencd something similar due to radiation. I'm going to hope for the best. Thanks for your prayers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Wood Posted November 6, 2004 Share Posted November 6, 2004 Sherrij, my prayers are with you all. Glad your dad is in good hands. You have to remember that a family doctor (G.P.) is a generalist. Many times you need a specialist. I don't know anything about fluid around the heart, but I do know about gall bladder, and it does not take much irritation of the gall bladder to cause severe pain in the chest or abdomen. Take care, and be patient. Don Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowflake Posted November 7, 2004 Share Posted November 7, 2004 Sherri, I had my gall bladder removed last year. At the time, it wasn't "working", but wasn't too horrible to deal with...until my first ever gall bladder attack. I thought I was going to DIE (and to be honest, for a few seconds hoped I DID to make the pain stop). I had a tenderness below my diaphragm and some back pain. No gall stones... My GP sent me for an ultrasound of the gall bladder and a gall bladder function test. The ultrasound showed no stones, the other test showed no function. I was sent to a specialist who told me that GENERALLY, he would not remove my gall bladder as there was a slight chance it would begin to irritate and I could have it removed years out into the future...BUT, with my history, he felt that it should come out. His feelings were that if I needed to do chemo, etc., it would negatively impact the malfunctioning gall bladder and they would not be able to remove it... So I got a week off on sick leave before Christmas.... Surgery wasn't too bad (I was up and shopping the day after surgery since I was told to walk and exercise)...hurt, but was manageable... Maybe along with the heart issue, your dad still has something going on with his gall bladder...just a thought. Hope all goes well, Becky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stand4hope Posted November 8, 2004 Share Posted November 8, 2004 Sherri, I'm a little late here, and I hope your dad is doing ok at the hospital. My husband has a "moderate" pericardial effusion. So far, no problems with it, but I have researched the symptoms of problems so we can be ready if it begins to bother him. Some of the symptoms your dad had do sound like what I have researched. I also know the pancreatitis can cause some of the symptoms, except maybe the breathing. When you said pain radiates to his back, that made me think of pancreatitis. Pancreatitis is also extremely painful. Please remember to come back and let us know how it went. Love, Peggy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLT Posted November 8, 2004 Author Share Posted November 8, 2004 Thanks so much to all that have responded. Well, Dad definitely has pericardium effusion. It was a bit of a procedure to drain the fluid surrounding his heart, but it gave him instant relief. The nausea went away instantly and dad's stamina and ability to get a decent breath instantly improved. For those that are watching their own situation, be very sure to watch for extreme fatigue. Dad's heart was working far too hard so I'm so thankful that it has been taken care of. He's resting to get his strength back and has already begun to get rid of all the fluid retention and his appetite is back. The bad news is that they found two small tumours there. So it looks like it has spread through the lung wall. It's so crazy that these tumours weren't there just one month ago! Cancer is such a horrible thing...we were just feeling like we had some breathing room and could relax for a little while and then this! I'm wondering how they treat tumours on the lining of the heart? Can they radiate or is chemo the only option? We're hoping to get Dad back into the oncologist ASAP to discuss what happens from here. Any additional advice, I would love to hear from you. If I learn more about this, I will keep you posted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhutch1366 Posted November 8, 2004 Share Posted November 8, 2004 Sherri, I'm sorry your dad has new tumors, but I am very glad he got relief by draining the pericardial effusion. I will keep him in my prayers that the little tumors will respond to treatment. XOXOXOXOX Prayers always, MaryAnn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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