lenr8 Posted June 15, 2003 Share Posted June 15, 2003 Well I went for my brain MRI to check for mets. I was having no symptoms but guess what? They found a tumor unfortunately. I seem to only be getting bad news. Don't get me wrong I will still beat this thing. The DR. thinks i may have surgery to take it out since it is only one tumor the odd thing is it did not show up in a PET scan. I have not lost hope I just wnt to get some better news Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gina D. Posted June 15, 2003 Share Posted June 15, 2003 Seems like you got the 'Tude to beat it, my friend. I know you will! Keep up that hope and so will I! Odd it didn't show on the PET tho. Did they have any idea why it didn't? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Wood Posted June 15, 2003 Share Posted June 15, 2003 My prayers are with you, Lenny. Don Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remembering Dave Posted June 15, 2003 Share Posted June 15, 2003 Lenny, hang in there buddy. Keep the positive attitude going, you can beat this thing!!! David C Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Debaroo Posted June 15, 2003 Share Posted June 15, 2003 Lenny, I am so sorry about this latest development, but much can be done for brain tumors. My dad had three brain mets in December 2002, we dealt with those with gamma knife-a very non-invasive procedure, and there have been no problems regarding brain mets since then. I have posted several times regarding the procedure, if you are interested. Also, feel free to private message me, or e-mail me if you are interested in any info.. My dads doctor said, "don't worry about the brain mets, we can deal with those...brain mets will NOT kill your father." You have the same attitude as my dad. Approach this as just another hurdle....get ready...set...run...and...JUMP!!!! Wishing you the best of luck, you can deal with this thing. Take care, Deb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SandyS Posted June 15, 2003 Share Posted June 15, 2003 Hey - us midwestern-ers gotta hang together - you ARE gonna beat this! Do what the docs tell you and keep a positive attitude! Hugs and prayers, SandyS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LindaMRG Posted June 15, 2003 Share Posted June 15, 2003 Youve got prayers going up for you every night. Keep reading what Deb wrote about what her dad's doc said about brain mets! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiny Posted June 15, 2003 Share Posted June 15, 2003 Lenny- It's another zigzag on this crazy LC road, so shift down, hang on, and trust the doctors to steer carefully. You can do this. Will be praying for you mightily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norme Posted June 15, 2003 Share Posted June 15, 2003 HI LENNY, WHEN THE DR TOLD YOU ABOUT SURGERY, IS HE TALKING ABOUT RADIO SURGERY WHERE THEY CAN GO INTO YOUR BRAIN AND ZAP THE TUMOR. IF NOT, YOU MAY WANT TO CK ON THAT....GOD BLESS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam'swifeShirley Posted June 15, 2003 Share Posted June 15, 2003 You can get rid of this one brain met by surgery, maybe just with radiation (gamma knife?) and may have no more recurrence. This is not great news but could be worse. Praying for you. Sam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kimblanchard Posted June 15, 2003 Share Posted June 15, 2003 Lenny Great way to approach this new cancer! Great attitude. You'll be in my prayers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol Lee S Posted June 16, 2003 Share Posted June 16, 2003 Sending a hug you know you can beat this!!! Carol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lenr8 Posted June 16, 2003 Author Share Posted June 16, 2003 Thank you all for your prayers and support. I kind of expected it just because of the way things are going. I am not as worried about the brain tumor as I am the other mets. But I feel strong. I am still curious how come it didn't show up on the pet scan. Does anyone know why? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Cheryl- Posted June 16, 2003 Share Posted June 16, 2003 Lenny, I am so sorry about your news. I am waiting on the results of a Brain MRI myself. I will keep you in my prayers. Cheryl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam'swifeShirley Posted June 16, 2003 Share Posted June 16, 2003 Lenny, A "routine" cancer PET scan doesn't look at the brain, just the face, neck, chest, abdomen and pelvis. "Eyes to thighs" they call it. Are you sure that your's actually looked at the brain? An MRI scan is the "gold standard" brain scan now. Sam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carleen Posted June 16, 2003 Share Posted June 16, 2003 Len, I am so sorry about the bad news, but you have the right attitude. This Met can be taken care of, and from there you move on to the next hurdle. When we went to have Keith's PET scan, we were told that the PET scans were great, and very accurate, however they can not look at the brain. When I first saw my husbands PET scan, I started hyperventilating, because I saw all the black spots, and then his entire head was black, and I thought the cancer had completely taken over his brain. So, the doctor tried to explain this all to me in laymen's terms. Hot sites, such as cancer tumors show up as black spots on a PET scan, the entire brain shows as a black mass on PET scans as well. Part of what the explaination we received was that the PET scan uses irradiated Sugar substance to locate tumors, becuase cancer shows a high absorbancy of sugars. However, one of the first sources of energy the brain utilizes in functioning is also sugar intake, so the Brain naturally has a high sugar level, therefore it always shows black on the scan. We were told to detect brain Mets, an MRI had to be done. We were also told that Bone scans were necessary as a PET scan will show a bone met if the lesion is on the external part of the bone. IF the met is isolated to the marrow, then the PET will not always show it. Sometimes, but not always. Hope that helps some. I am praying for you, Lori, and your children. You will be fine, and once this is past, you will go on to conquer the rest of this beast. Why, because you are one Strong, Determined, Fighting Son of a B---H!!! I know you can do this! Carleen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JudyB Posted June 17, 2003 Share Posted June 17, 2003 Lenny, It was only during surgery that they were able to tell what an undiagnosed area in my lung was. It was a primary adeno tumor. My surgery was for a primary squamous tumor. Fortunately both cancers were in the same lobe! The adeno didn't show up on the PET. Everyone thought it was an infection of some sort. No one has been able to tell me why it didn't "bloom." So, who knows. Just shows these xrays are not necessarily the end-all, be-all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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