Mable is still my friend!

I saw my oncologist last week.  No changes in my liver tumors!  Still friends with miss Mable.  I had two interesting things on my scan though. The First was a sub-acute right rib fracture of the eight rib. Now I know where that pain was coming from!  I know when I did it too but not why it fractured.  I bent over to move bucket of water and something "popped" in my ribs.  It hurt like hell and still does. I thought that perhaps I popped a muscle.  My oncologist didn't even mention it.  I saw it when I asked to read the report.  Then I asked him.  It was the very first comment.  I think he only reads the conclusion at the end...  When I did say something, then he asked me if I fell.  I was like "no".  He said it didn't have bearing on my cancer so???

The other interesting (funny) thing of note was a "new globular soft tissue density in the left buttock subcutaneous tissues.  Hahaha.  It could be a Sando shot that didn't go deep enough into the muscle (what a waste of money).  If it get bigger (it's 1.6 cm) then we will know if it is or not.  I did mention my heart palpitations.  He said nothing about the EKG I had.  He seemed clueless unconcerned about that even though carcinoid can cause them.  It really makes me miss my old oncologist.  I'm debating on whether or not to switch centers so I can go back to him.

Not my ribs!  8th rib is the one I fractured!

The next day I had an appointment with my GP (she's an internist) for a prescription refill (I hate having to go into the doctor just to get a refill but some meds require a yearly visit I guess).  I told her about the heart palps, the rib fracture and she was concerned. She was going to pull up my old Holter monitor results and echo cardiogram from 2012.  She wanted me to do the Holter monitor but when I told her I had and how big a pain it was she said she'd "see".  She also said fracturing my rib that way is NOT normal.  Wants me to have a DEXA scan to check my bone density.  I'm getting that on Wednesday.  Hope my bones are ok.

Oh, forgot.  When I got my Sandostatin shot, the needle clogged.  Not once, but twice!  She has to stick me 3 times!!!  I've never, ever had a needle clog.

All-in-all, good news.  Me and Mable will hang out for as long as we can!

4 Years...

I just passed my four year cancer diagnosis.  It kind of just went by without much thought until now.  It's hard to believe its been four years.  I'm feeling pretty good.  I have more pain from my neck than anything.  It is probably time for another injection.  I have been having some rib-area pain that is pretty steady.  It isn't super sharp but it's not a dull pain either.  It's hard to know if this is from the liver surgery or something else.  I was told that some people have pain forever after that type of surgery.  It does come and go and is definitely worse when I sit for long periods of time.

My first surgery was July 2nd, 2012.  Right-hemicolectomy via laporoscopic surgery.  My recovery went well and I was in the hospital for 4-5 days.  I can't remember.  My second surgery was the following February and was a liver resection.  They removed about ten tumors (which left me with about ten small ones).  My remaining rumors have remained fairly stable since.

Next up:  scan on July 20th and i meet with my Oncologist the following week to get results.  He didn't order any blood work but they'll do the basics before i see him.

I will let you know how that goes!

Scan results--sort of...

I called my cancer clinic Wednesday to see if they had my scan results. I got a call back a couple of hours later. The twat  twit that returned my call wasn't even the nurse! I think it was one of the front desk girls. While I appreciated the prompt return call, I was taken aback by her inability to tell me much. I am frustrated because she said they didn't compare this scan to my last scan because it was done at a different hospital (did I change insurance?) duh… OK, why couldn't they get my scan when they had NO problem comparing my past mammograms from said hospital? I had my last diagnostic mammo at this same hospital that I had my recent scan. I had my past mammo’s at the hospital I had my last scan (a year ago). It makes no sense to me. Probably not to you now either!

So, getting to the results. it sounds like I actually had “lesions” in my liver disappear! Great news so why am I not happy? This twat twit asked me if a millimeter was bigger than a centimeter! Pre-cancer I wouldn't have known either. I asked her how big are these remaining “lesions?” The only one she commented on was 9 mm, which is pretty small. Last scan they were 1.2 cm or smaller. I had around 10 but even my oncologist said we couldn't be sure what they were. Hmmm, I've had a surgeons hands on/in my liver cutting out what he could, ablating some and leaving the rest so I think we know what they are! Anyhoo, she did say she would put the report on my oncologists desk as he wasn't in the office. OK. I seriously doubt I will hear from him, which is fine. I’m good. I’ll get the report one of these days on MyChart. She did mention that I have a fibroid. Argh. I had one removed a year and a half ago (or so) when I went it for a uterine ablation due to continued/heavy bleeding. It hadn't shown up on my scan nor did it show on ultrasound but my OBGYN said it was about the size of my uterus and most likely causing the bleeding. After removing the fibroid, she tried to do the ablation but couldn't because my uterus was done! It said, “nope, no more hands or machines in there.” It did stop my bleeding so I was ok with that. The twat twit told me I should follow-up with my OBGYN. She said it was near in or on my right ovary. Can a fibroid grow on your ovaries? I thought they were just in your uterus. Guess I’ll Dr Google that one. I’m sad I can’t go back to the OBGYN who did my last procedure (due to job and insurance changing).  She was awesome and I really liked her. I felt more compassion and concern from her than I do from any of my other doctors! I haven’t found another one yet. I’ll just wait and see what the report really says.

A long story for what is basically good news! I’m still not happy.

Now it is Friday. I haven't heard from my oncologist and the report it still not in MyChart. I think I will call the hospital today and ask to get a copy of my scan and the report!

An update:  

A quick update on my scan results. Since I am an impatient patient person, I called the hospital and asked if I could get a copy of my scan and the report. They told me it wouldn't be available until Monday so I canned my cancer clinic and asked them if I could swing by and pick up a copy of the written report. It's closer anyway. I just wasn't feeling very confident after talking to the twat twit from their office regarding said results.

Doesn't sound like any of my "lesions" have disappeared! I still have "multiple, small lesions through all lobes of the liver." They measured 3 of them (she made it sound like I only had 3 and didn't give me the correct measurements either). My last scan said they were all 1.2 centimeters or smaller. The biggest now measure 1.4 x 1.6 centimeters, which is not much growth. The other two mentioned are just shy of a centimeter. Nothing to be worried about with Carcinoid like mine, which is slow growing. I do feel better since reading the results "with my own eyes."

I hope everyone has a lovely 3 day weekend (if you are in the States).

Scanxiety...

Google Scanxiety and you will actually get a definition: Anxiety suffered while waiting for the results of an important medical scan.

My definition: Anxiety suffered while waiting to get the scan!

I met with my oncologist yesterday and while everything seems fine, he did say that I should have a scan now rather than wait. I was a little surprised because at our last visit he said I could wait as long as my tumor markers remained "normal." This time he said he wouldn't want me to go longer than a year, which it has been as of Monday.

I am actually relieved to be getting a scan. Even though my markers and other blood work are good, I still want to "see" what is going on, if anything. Better to know that I am still stable than to wonder if I am. I don't trust tumor markers to show everything. However, even with the relief, there is anxiety. You just never know. He also told me I could get it within the next couple of weeks, like no hurry. Then he told the nurse to schedule it "now." NOW? Did he feel something when he palpated my abdomen and just didn't want to say anything? Then I remembered that we discussed getting the scan before he examined me. I'm sure he just told her to go ahead and schedule it now, not meaning urgent but to get it done since I may have had to wait a couple of weeks to get in. Well... that ain't the case. I go in Monday morning at, gulp, 7am! I'm not too thrilled about that but at least I'll be done early and can get to work. This is at a different hospital than I've had my other scans. This is at the hospital where I had my mammogram. Its a nice place and I'm sure it will be fine.

Keep your fingers crossed for good results!

Also, today is World Cancer Day.

Almost Two Years!

Approaching my two year "Cancerversary"...

I can't believe its almost been two years since I was diagnosed with NET cancer (neuroendocrine carcinoma)! My thoughts have been going back to that time and it's funny interesting how everything is "before" diagnosis or "after."  Before surgery #1 or after.  Between Surgery #1 and #2...  you get my drift?

During a very long drive home from my sisters in Southern Utah (fighting the wind all the way), I was thinking about that day, the day after my colonoscopy, when I was walking out of the CT scan room and when ignorance really was "bliss".  I wonder what the technician was thinking?  Was he feeling sorry for me?  I know he saw all the tumors in my liver!  Was he thinking "oh, she's a dead woman walking?"  I probably would have though it had I known then.  I'm sure that most people, with that many tumors, don't have a very good prognosis.  I haven't been back to that particular hospital since that first scan or I would ask him.  He was very nice.  An old "hippie" looking guy (probably not that old).  I remember his kindness, his easy "banter" when he took me back to the room and got me all set- up.  I don't remember being nervous or even worried.  I'd had a CT scan before so I remembered the "wet" feeling when they inject the contrast.  I'd sat in the waiting room for about two hours drinking the iodine contrast and had to pee so bad (I couldn't remember if I was supposed to go), and when he asked if I need to use the restroom before we got started I was like, YES!!!

I just went back and read my very first blog post, which describes that first CT Scan. Made me laugh (a little).  Who knew where I'd be almost two years later... hear I am, still, and grateful to be alive and doing so well.  (I'd still like to know what he was thinking as he walked me out.)

So I'm trying hard to rediscover my "bliss". Maybe not the ignorance part--I'd rather be informed of what is going on but I need some "bliss" to come back in my life.  I keep saying I'm going to start exercising again and I really think it's time to get off the couch and just start doing it!  Yes I am tired, I have no energy but perhaps if I can just get started with something I will feel better!

It'll be two years since "the call that changed my life" on June 18th.  Two years since my first surgery on July 2nd and 16 months since liver surgery on June 21st.  Back in January I stated that my "goal" for 2014 was NO surgery for the year!  So far, so good.

Mabel is still here!

Scan results are in... I am still stable-Mabel!   I was not impressed with the written report.  It was very short. Sometimes they are much more detailed and this one was definitely not.  It said tumors seemed to remain the same.  No new dominant lesions.  Everything else was "normal".  I do still have a "cyst" on my right ovary.  It is a little bit bigger.  The last scan report said it was in the "right adnexa" which is the area of the ovaries and fallopian tubes but it did not say it was on the ovary. This report says ovary.  So who knows?  Maybe it is different.  But a cyst is just a cyst.  I'm not concerned.

I see my oncologist on Tuesday.  I'm expecting a short and sweet visit and then my Sando shot.  I have been having a lot of diarrhea the past week or so.  I don't know if it is stress related or my Sandostatin wearing off.  I've not had a problem with that happening before but I know it does loose effectiveness over time.

I've had several interviews.  That is major stress.  I have another one tomorrow and then one on Tuesday morning.  Keep your fingers crossed.  The one on Tuesday is a second interview and probably the one I'd really like to get.

Take care!