Alisa Posted January 24, 2007 Share Posted January 24, 2007 Hi everyone! I’ve been away from the list for a while again, due to my office moving locations, packing, unpacking, learning new computer systems, etc. I haven’t had a chance yet to catch up on the board and I pray for good news for us. But I did want to let everyone know, and hopefully offer some encouragement, that my latest round of CT scans that I had done 3 weeks ago came back No Evidence of Disease still! The nodules they have been watching for 3 years are still unchanged, so they weren’t even mentioned in the report. My onc said they probably didn’t mention it cause by now they assume it’s scar tissue, since there has not been any change in all this time. I can only assume they are right (but part of me still worries). Now, my oncologist suggested next time to get CT scan without contrast. He told me the contrast doesn’t make any difference when scanning the lungs. He said the contrast is only valuable when checking areas around the lungs, and since it’s just my lungs at this point they are looking at (no longer looking for a recurrence, but for new primary, just in case) he said there is no need for the contrast. Does anyone have any opinions on this? This is the first time I heard that the contrast in the CT with contrast is ineffective for lungs. I will cross-post in Good News also. Thanks and blessing to all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bware21 Posted January 24, 2007 Share Posted January 24, 2007 Alisa, Rock on, girl. These posts are SO important. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joanie55 Posted January 24, 2007 Share Posted January 24, 2007 Hi Alisa, Wow, what great news this is. I haven't forgotten about you and would love to meet one day in the city for coffee or lunch. Joan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ztweb Posted January 24, 2007 Share Posted January 24, 2007 Fantastic news! JEn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don M Posted January 24, 2007 Share Posted January 24, 2007 Alisa, I am glad to hear about your NED. I had always thought that the contrast showed more detail in the lungs. I guess the ct scan without contrast would pick up on a definite nodule, but maybe would not show all the little stuff that is sub centimeter in size..just guessing. Don m Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheryl Ferguson Posted January 24, 2007 Share Posted January 24, 2007 I am so happy for you Alisa, you go girl! Cheryl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teriw Posted January 24, 2007 Share Posted January 24, 2007 Alisa -- this is so strange. Just this morning your beautiful picture popped into my head as I was driving to the office. I realized I hadn't seen you in a while and wondered how you were. Congratulations on your awesome scan news!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Wood Posted January 24, 2007 Share Posted January 24, 2007 NED is great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Connie B Posted January 24, 2007 Share Posted January 24, 2007 Great News!! So Happy for you! As for the contrast. To much contrast is NOT a good idea on the kidneys. None the less, I have had nodules for over 4 years and we watch them via CT withOUT contrast. Go Celebrate! Congratulations! Good to see you back! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shineladysue Posted January 24, 2007 Share Posted January 24, 2007 Wonderful news!!! I'm so very happy for you. Sue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john Posted January 24, 2007 Share Posted January 24, 2007 Great news. I don't think contrast is necessary based on the links below. One article says contrast can help determine benign nodules from malignant, but since there are no nodules now, contrast is not necessary. contrast I don't *think* will necessarily show anything smaller, a different scan like a spiral will show smaller nodules. http://radiology.rsnajnls.org/cgi/conte ... t/212/1/56 and http://www.webtie.org/sots/Meetings/Lun ... script.htm DR. PATZ: They are wrong -- I did the study. I wrote the study showing that it makes no difference, contrast versus no contrast. I told them that. And there are no other scientific studies whatsoever out there. If anybody has got any other data, I would be glad to look at it and see it, but I can tell you that the only study, particularly in lung cancer, looking at staging management. It made no difference, contrast versus non-contrast. I don't know why they did it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Treebywater Posted January 24, 2007 Share Posted January 24, 2007 I love NED!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carolhg Posted January 25, 2007 Share Posted January 25, 2007 Your good news is Hope for so many of us Alisa. Thank you for posting because we all truly need hope. Carol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather_T Posted January 25, 2007 Share Posted January 25, 2007 What great news!!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jang Posted January 25, 2007 Share Posted January 25, 2007 Great news Alisa!! I have contrast everytime. I'm going to mention this to my doctor next time and see what he says. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ernrol Posted January 25, 2007 Share Posted January 25, 2007 Alisa, GREAT NEWS! Stay positive, Erne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kasey Posted January 25, 2007 Share Posted January 25, 2007 Encouraging news for sure, Alisa. Seems like you have made your way out of the forest......finally. And it sounds all good to me! If you and Joan are doing lunch......give me a heads up beforehand. I'd love that too. Keep doing what you're doing, Alisa, among other thing.....encouraging many of us here. Kasey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trish2418 Posted January 25, 2007 Share Posted January 25, 2007 What great news! I'm so happy for you and your boys. Trish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marym Posted January 25, 2007 Share Posted January 25, 2007 Great news. I just love hearing these types of updates. May it continue. Mary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dazy Posted January 26, 2007 Share Posted January 26, 2007 GREAT NEWS, Alisa!!! I have my scans withOUT contrast - I'm allergic. I was told that the contrast will help define vascular structures, and is optimal for visualizing the spleen/adrenals/kidneys, etc. Sometimes, the contrast can obscure calcification - I think that is partly why they take a scan w/o prior to the contrast. Densitometry, which is used to measure the density, and look for calcification, fat, etc. in a nodule can only be performed without contrast. Sometimes, they might look for post-contrast enhancement of a nodule - if it enhances >20 hounsfield (sp?) units after contrast, it is more likely malignant. But this same info could be obtained thru PET. Or, if (and I mean IF ) they find another li'l booger in there, they can perform a contrast scan at that time. CT without contrast will still give plenty of detail. They keep finding little boogers in my lungs as small as 3-4mm! And they can even describe edges and other characteristics with GREAT detail. Whatever you choose - YIPPEEEE FOR NED!!!! May you continue to have a LONG and happy affair! Yours in HOPE! Stacey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chloesmom Posted January 26, 2007 Share Posted January 26, 2007 Alisa, Another 6 years woman! That is such great news and I look to you for inspiration! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nonni Posted January 27, 2007 Share Posted January 27, 2007 Wonderful news...don't you just love NED!!!!.... All my Ct's have been with contrast ....hmmmm...gotta ask the doc about this.. Hey to everyone...and God Bless us All...PamS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pewjumper Posted January 27, 2007 Share Posted January 27, 2007 Alisa, congratulations to you! Your post is very encouraging to me, as my mom is stage 2b. Do you care to elaborate on your regimen of chinese herbs and supplements? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alisa Posted January 30, 2007 Author Share Posted January 30, 2007 I just want to thank everyone for all your "congrats" and kind wishes. Again, I am overwhelmed at the warmth and caring of this community. A few have asked me about my herb/supplement protocol. It's pretty long, so please check the archives under posts under my name. I've left detailed descriptions in the past. If you have trouble finding it, then please PM me. Thanks again everyone!! xoxox Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carolhg Posted January 31, 2007 Share Posted January 31, 2007 I just feel so good when I see your posts. Thank you Alisa. We all need this good news for inspiration. It gives us hope and with hope we can fight. Thank you again. Carol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.