Making headway! Liver results

percy4

Liver CT scan back. 5 harmless hemangiomas (small blood clusters) one 1/2 inch area of fat (common).  Only thing is one small area of nodal enhancement that they are not sure what it is, so want me to now do a "dedicated liver MRI".  Good grief.  Doc was very clear, however, that they do not suspect this is a cancer at all, just need to define it. Will let you all know, but I'm feeling good about the report.  One step at a time! - P.

percy4

Sorry; didn't explain.  For those of you who don't know, I had an MRI for the breasts and it incidentally showed 2 liver lesions, they weren't sure what they were, so I was worried, with the microinvasion.  So this is good news.

Beesie

Yes, definitely good news!

percy4

Thanks, Beesie.  While I am taking each step seriously, I am starting to go stir-crazy, get bored dealing with all this.  Can't WAIT to get back to my real life, with a newly renewed perspective!

TB90

Percy, MRI's are notorious for showing all sorts of stuff that are really just supposed to be there.  But the drs have to check it out once it is found.  One test just seems to lead to another.  For my cholesterol (as I mentioned on my other post), I had a US on the arteries in my neck as I was refusing medication due to SE.  The arteries were clear, but then they found nodes on my thyroid that are now being monitored.  It just goes on and on.  But for all the anxiety this is causing, I have to believe that we are being proactive with our health and this will pay off in the long run (if we don't die from stress first)   I am sure it will all be fine as the dr. has assured you.   

ballet12

Percy, so glad the news about the liver is good!  Yes, getting it out of the way.  Slow but sure.

percy4

Yes.  One more liver MRI, just to make sure, decision about SNB, 3 wks of rads, and that's IT!  Back to my life. xx

percy4

The RO, who raised an eyebrow about the no SNB, told me, when I now asked, that while he would probably recommend the SNB, as it is standard, he does feel that the risk with a micro is so small that it may not be standard for long.  Still; always a chance.  A big decision.

ballet12

Sounds like you are doing the Canadian protocol for rads--three weeks.  It's just what I did.  It was over fairly quickly.  Won't be a total piece of cake, but better than the alternatives (five weeks, etc.)

percy4

You know, my RO measured me, and said I could do the three weeks because I was small enough.  Did not call it the Canadian protocol, but I guess it is.  Wonder if there are fewer possible changes to the breast with the 3 wks.  He told me that while it is shorter, it is "biologically" the same to the breast as the longer one, in that you still can do it only once in your life, etc.  Still; it seems better for me, to me.  If only to get back to work!

ballet12

Percy, yes you are having the Canadian protocol.  The dosage for that protocol is equivalent to that received for a five week treatment cycle.  So you have a shorter period of time, but higher dosage per day. I don't know if there are fewer changes to the breast with the shorter cycle.  I didn't really have significant breast changes (slight redness).  I did feel fatigue, not so much during the treatment, but afterward, with crushing fatigue for about two weeks.  I did continue working throughout it all.  You'll just have to pace yourself to try to get extra sleep.  It's a year later now, and I just met with my RO.  No lasting effects.  Best of luck, especially on the SNB.

percy4

Well.  At the end of the day, while they do not especially suspect cancer in the liver, there are two enhancements that concern them, thus the MRI on Tuesday.  I am still worried, and need to be done with this.   It was, after all, only my primary (a family doc) who interpreted this for me.  Got the report, and it seems more concerning than he implied (don't know if he knows it all).  And the SNB.  Thankfully, Dr. Lagios has finally received all my stuff. Will see him, and hear his recommendations, on Wed.  Still; if there is ANY chance of nodal involvement, I need to do it, no matter what he says.  It's a 1 in 20 chance.  So; if you take 20 women in front of you, and know one will have nodal involvement (which can kill her) and then, say, one of of those women is you daughter, what do you do?  I wish they would have just done the SNB automatically, and not left this decision to me.

percy4

I know I should have the SNB.  I know it is standard.  I will never rest easy without it.  But it is so HARD to pass up their recommendation to not do it, to pass up the chance of not inviting lymphedema.  I hate that they have left this in my lap.  And I know so many of you say trust your docs.  I have, to a big extent, but what do you do when you KNOW they are wrong?

percy4

At the same time, I know the SNB will be negative.  But I can't really know it.  This is driving  me crazy.

lisagwa

the dr took 1 SNB and I am glad she did. My result was fine. As of now I don't feel any difference in my arm. The only time I felt something was when I had my blood pressure checked. It hurt. From then on, I always have them use my other arm. Also, my under arm was tender after the SNB procedure and uncomfortable. It feels fine now, no longer tender.