please

Hi Sally

The reports are soooo confusing!  I would make a note in your notebook to specifically ask the next onc visit.  Some node appearance is not necessarily cancerous - but it is something to be concerned about.  The 'likely metastatic' can only be confirmed through your oncologist.  Without knowing anything else about what else is going on in your case, there is no way for me, in my layman status to give you a real opinion - only what those terms have meant for me.  I have one node in my lower left lung and one node in my liver however, my mets started in my bone and is now in my abdominal wall and responding well to treatment. I have many 'undefined' areas externally on some of my organs - my scans on Monday are going to be important, I am considering a surgical option to remove these 'undefined' areas before they become 'defined'.  It is the first scan I am actually exicited about having - I am going to request a CD copy so that in addition to the report, I can actually 'see' what is going on with me - not that I am going to really know what I am looking at...LOL...but if I read the report along with looking, maybe I can make some sense out of it!  I figure why not get rid of the 'undefined' before it becomes 'defined' as cancer - makes sense to me!  Of course, my onc is used to my kinda warped ideas...sometimes I am on to something, sometimes I am way off base but hell, run it up the old flagpole and see if anyone salutes!

Sally, don't be fearful of asking specific questions about anything you don't understand - the only stupid question is one that isn't asked.  I wish you all the best and do let us know how it goes!

Many big hugs...LowRider 

salllyyy, can your onc order a PET scan???

Did you have chemo?

Was this scan before, after treatment, or just recently?

I would think that your onc would want to know if they are lung mets so that if they are they can start you on a treatment that would possibly shrink, reduce them.

If your onc's plan is to wait 3 months before getting a scan I would go and get a second opinion asap...

Big hugs too

Hi Sallyyy, sometimes they monitor with scans. If the nodules don't change with chemo they say most likely not cancer, but if they shrink from chemo they say most likely they are cancer. It is so hard not knowing, my heart goes out to you. When did they say they would do another scan? I agree with letlet, a second opinion would be good. Did your doctor ever talk to you about this or did you just find it in your report? Your doc should have discussed this with you.

oh Sallyyy I'm sorry u r so scared--it sounds like u'ronc know about this. maybe the words u'r reading aren't meaning what u think--But do bring it with and ask u'r onc, word for word what it means. please stay away from the dark thoughts, u'r Dr. is there for u with treatments u'r going to make u'rsef a nerveous wreck---and u might not need to Try some relaxation things it might help.

Dear Sallyyy, i feel so bad u mind is on overtime---please u'r looking for the worse scenario and really it might not be as horrible as u think. u'r stressing so much . if this is so bad, is there a way u can call u'r Dr. tomorrow and talk straight with him/her and say i an emerency for u to talk and maybe some things can be cleared up--one thing at a time.