MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish

Dianarose, The new blockage must have felt terrible. There has got to be some help for you soon. The endoscopy does not sound pleasant but sometimes it is our fear of the unknown that is the worst and the actual procedure turns out to not be that bad. If doing that biopsy is going to aid in fighting off or getting rid of those blockages, then go for it. What hormonal therapy are you actually on now? You only list Aromasin and that sure must not be doing anything...haven't they tried another? With you being ER/PR+, it seems like that would be a good line of defense so I would have thought they would keep going on that to find some that works for you???

Barbe is certainly right, abdomens and pelvises (or is that pelvi ) are being radiated all the time. In Stage IV therapy, I think radiation can be used to shrink down larger masses that are pressing on internal things and causing trouble and pain, so maybe that is an option that could be used in Dianarose's case.

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I didn't get around to posting yesterday because I had my "last ditch" appointment about my thyroid/parathyroid issues yesterday. Let me use an old standard formula to summarize that for you:

Three hour drive to second opinion from doctor at teaching hospital = $29.00

Copier ink and paper to hand deliver some additional reports = $1.05

Mediocre lunch at Greek restaurant = $41.00

Parking (1/2 off) = $2.50

Charge for specialist OV (which is, miraculously, in-Network) = $40.00

Getting my treatment choice validated and being able to get surgery exactly the way I want it = PRICELESS

I really did not know what my odds were going into this consultation and, as always, I was hoping for the best, yet preparing to hear the worst that yet another doctor would tell me I should lose my whole thyroid gland over a small lump just sitting there not doing anything. But no, this time I went to a renown specialist (the kind who says stuff like, "I wrote the guidelines" and it's not just ego, it's fact) and he was up for just taking out the one naughty parathyroid that I have and leaving everything else alone.

You know how doctor's will sometimes say to you, "Well, if it were my wife, I would do such and such" I turned the tables and asked this doc, "If you were me, with the same nodule on your thyroid, would you leave it alone and just continue to observe?" He replied that he probably would. He also said a few appropriate things about the overtreatment of papillary thyroid cancer. He also mentioned his "buddies" who authored the most recent important study that has lead to all the recent talk/press about the overtreatment. Finally, I had met the right doctor!

Anyone just picking up on my current cancer (well, suspicious thyroid nodule with 85% chance to be cancer) saga, please know that thyroid cancer is not Breast Cancer and has a different set of rules. Also know that I have spent the last 2-3 mos., doing a lot of reading about it and only then coming to an informed decision. Also know that the doctors in my own town either treated me like a moron, tried to fear-monger me into a surgery I did not want, or simply refused to honor my wishes for what was done to my body. It is only in that context should you read this about how I did not give up, went elsewhere, and finally did prevail for all the right reasons.

Yay, me!

D-Rose, All I know is that when I went on my walk yesterday, my footsteps actually felt lighter because a weight had been lifted off of me. BTW, I completely understand how starved you can get in a hospital. After my surgery, they were slow to give me solids and I was ravenous. The lady next to me had intestinal blockage and was on liquids for three days and all we talked about was food and how hungry we were. Maybe you will be able to get some eggs but those can get you pretty gassy as well. Watch out.

Or is that just me?

Dianarose, Momine beat me to it and has described the robotic surgery quite well. I will only add that rather than one big scar from an open surgery, you end up with 3 or 4 or 5 (depends on all what instruments are needed) small incisions, some even less than one inch. Mo is right that it is like laparoscopic, and that is because robotic surgery IS laparoscopic, just done with a robot. Both human and robotic laparoscopic surgeries are less traumatic to the body and the healing is quicker. Do not fear the robot. The robot is good.

My CRC robot was called "Da Vinci." Does that sound at all familiar? I don't know how many kinds there are out there. What kind of robot did you have, Momine?

Dianarose, Neither Momine nor I had YOUR procedure, so as far as the length of time...you need to check that with your doc. Yes, a laparoSCOPE is what goes in and has a look around. That will be one of the incisions made so that the scope can be inserted. It will be very handy at taking a close look at what is acting up in there all around your intestines and ureter. I think a separate incision is made for the robot arm that will wield the scalpel, and they can do precision cutting if that is the course they wish to take. I am just thinking that with you (and how confused everyone seems to be) that the decisions may not be all made beforehand. I mean any cutting may depend on how things look in there, ya know?