PETSCAN RESULTS -BAD NEWS

[Marci]

HI ALL,

WELL WE GOT THE RESULTS BACK AND OUR JUST DEVASTATED. THEY SAID THAT MY MOM HAS A TUMOR IN THE CENTER OF HER CHEST, A SPOT ON HER SCALPULA, AND A SPOT NEAR HER BUTT AREA BY THE HIP. I JUST CANNOT BELIEVE IN THIS SHORT OF TIME ALL THIS TOOK PLACE IN HER BODY. I AM JUST BESIDE MYSELF. THE REPORT READS AS FOLLOWS IF ANYONE HAS ANY INKLING TO IT:

FOCAL INTENSE ABNORMAL METABOLIC ACTIVITY WITH A SUV OF 6.0 FUSES WITH A SOFT TISSUE MASS IN THE ANTERIOR MEDIASTINUM CONSISTENT WITH METASTIC DISEASE IN A PREVASCULAR LYMPH NODE. ALSO NOTED ARE FOCI OF ABNORMAL METABOLIC ACTIVITY ADJACENT TO THE RIGHT SCAPULA AND AT THE SUBCUTANEOUS MUSCULAR JUNCTION OF THE RIGHT GLUTEAL MUSCLE CONSISTENT WITH SOFT TISSUE METASIS.

THE ONCOLOGIST SAID WE WILL DO MRI AND BIOPSY THE BACK AND THEN PROCEED WITH CHEMOTHERAPY. HE SAID THIS DOES LOOK WORRISOME. NOT SURE IF I SHOULD CONTACT HIM PRIVATELY (I AM HER HEALTHCARE PROXY ) TO SPEAK WITH HIM ABOUT THE REALITIES OF THIS. WORRISOME OF COURSE BUT I NEED TO KNOW WHAT IS THE OUTLOOK FOR THIS AT THIS TIME. SO SCARED OUT OF MY WITS CAN'T IMAGINE HOW SHE FEELS , AND ALL I CAN DO IS HOLD BACK TEARS AND TRY AND COMFORT HER.

THANKS FOR LISTENING AND ALL THE KINDNESS-

MARCI

[SandraL]

Hi Marci. Of course you are devastated. This is very tough for all involved. Take a deep breath though and work with the doctors on a treatment plan. There is always hope. Once you have a treatment plan in place you will still start to feel a bit better. Take care

Sandra

[jaminkw]

Marci, I can't read scan reports either so I'm no help there. I'm sure you and your mom are really scared and I'd talk to that doctor. Knowing is power even if the news isn't the best. Just don't ask or let them throw statistics at you. Just focus on what do they see and what are they going to do about it. If you have any questions about their opinion, you can always get a (free) second opinion from Dr West and his colleagues at cancergrace.org.

Hang in there, Judy in Key West

[dchurchi]

Marci,

I am sorry to hear your mom could be battling the beast again. If it would help you better prepare yourself, then I would call her Dr and speak to him/her. I did the same with Alan's Dr.

I will keep both you and your mom in my prayers

[CaroleHammett]

Sorry for the negative scan results, Marci.

I would note, however, that you mentioned a tumor in the middle of her chest, but the PET scan report you posted didn't mention a tumor, but a mediastinal "soft tissue mass" that is "consistent with" metastic disease in a "prevascular lymph node" plus bone mets (scapula and hip).

While it is true that all these are definitely metastic, in my (totally non-professional) opinion, they are far from the worst in terms of news you might have gotten from this scan (lymph nodes indicate spread, but no mention of tumor is good).

In the meantime, if I were you, I'd definitely call onc to discuss his thoughts on this in far more detail.

Carole

Don't be afraid of death... Be afraid of the unlived life.--Tuck

[Patti B]

Marci-

Sorry for the bad scan results but I have to agree with all the other above - you should feel free at ANY time to call you doc and ask questions and discuss treatment options!!!

Best of luck and please keep us posted.

Hugs - Patti B.

[Marci]

Hi All,

Thank you all for responding and praying for me and my mom. I truly appreciate it. Sorry I was late replying back so much going on. You all know how it is unfortunately. Talk with you all soon. Hope all of you are doing well and are feeliing well.

Blessings,

Marci