from passive to active waiting

Barbie7

So, I'm waiting for results from my liver biopsy.  Up until today, I was in what I like to call the "passive waiting" period, the days when I know that I will not hear from my oncologist - lab time, weekend, day off, etc.  Today, I tipped into the "active waiting" mode, my oncologist could call me at any time.

I do not like the active waiting, I go through the whole deal - jump when the phone rings, let my mind play crazy on me etc.  All normal, I know, but I just wanted to say here how it sucks.

I have an appointment at a spa tonight, which is good, but I have to turn off my phone.  Blech...

Just venting is all...

AlohaGirl

I know exactly what you mean, Barbie.  The waiting period when you know for certain you won't hear anything is so much less stressful than when you could hear at any moment!  I hope you get some good news very soon!  

chrishat

could i ask what prompted the liver biopsy? was it a weird looking result on a routine scan? liver function test? some other symptom? i have entered the deeply-paranoid-about-a-recurrence zone and am alert as to what i should watch for.

i wonder if you could call the office and ask if they have your results? i HATE sitting by the phone and sometimes when i call, they just put me through then.....

fingers crossed for normal test results for you!

Barbie7

Chrishat,

It started with a blip on a scan over two years ago.  With my diagnosis, it makes no sense that this spot would be cancer, because I was staged at 0, DCIS.  However, the lesions was showing more characteristics of metastatic disease than benign.  I had the head liver radiologist on my case at the Carbone Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  He was concerned enough to send me for a liver biopsy 2.5 years ago.  The pathology did not say what the lesion WAS, but it indicated that "there was no neoplasm in this specimen".  I have a wonderful onc, who has been keeping an eye on this by scanning first every 6 months, then last year we went to a one year interval.  I was at the point that if there were no changes, then we could probably let it go as an atypical focal nodular hyperplasia.... Until, it grew in this last interval.  My onc didn't like that it started to grow, so he took my case to three radiologists, including the head liver guy.  Recommendation? Liver biopsy or continue to scan.  We decided that continuing to scan won't answer any questions because it is so atypical.

As for calling the office.  Yes, I can do that, but I guess I just don't want to.... head in the sand?  perhaps.

Barbie7

Sorry to post to my own thread - but I didn't want to let it hang out there.  I received good news on Friday.  No cancer found in the sample.  My oncologist will still monitor the lesion through scans to keep an eye on its growth.  but for now, the news is good.

chrishat

that's wonderful....so happy to hear it! thanks for the update!

AlohaGirl

That's great news, Barbie!  Thanks for letting us know!

davisfamily70

Great news-good looking out for yourself!!!

lovemyfamilysomuch

So happy for you!! xo

Barbie7

Thanks guys! 

Racquel

Barbie -- AWESOME news!  Congrats.  I see you are in WI.  Can I ask where?  I grew up in Sun Prairie, currently live in Monticello and work in Middleton.

Barbie7

Hi Racquel, I'm in Madison.  I see Dr. Hegeman and the Carbone Cancer Clinic.

Racquel

GET ... OUT!  Madison?  Small world.  I'm moving back here hopefully this spring.  I had been going to Dean in Middleton but recently switched back to Monroe.  I've been warned repeatedly about Monroe but Dr. Pipp is AWESOME and she's a UW doc so I've gotten a referral for insurance to switch to UW clinics. 

Barbie7

Racquel, I sent you a PM