Question:
I always seem to be questioning the steps my dh's doctor is taking when I post here. Thanks for your patience in reading yet another question from me.
to recap - After surgical removal of a tumor in his colon (stage 2), dh followed up with an oncologist, who told him that he believed the surgery was curative. I asked how the doctor could be certain, since no CT scan or x-rays were done (or CEA tests) at any point in the process of diagnosing and treating. The doctor consulted his notes and found this to be true. He ordered a CT scan and CEA testing.
The initial CT scan came back showing a small spot on dh's liver. CEA testing revealed a score of 4.6. DH chose not to know the results of his test. (A whole other story...) As far as he knows, the CT scan he had done again last week (of his abdomen and pelvis) was just a regular follow-up to the initial scan ordered by the dr..
We go back on Wednesday to see what this scan and new bloodwork reveal. I'm hopeful it was just an anomoly caused by his surgery - a pocket of blood, or scarring...
My question today, though, is this - if the first places CC usually spreads are the liver and lungs, and he's never had an xray or CT of his chest, how can we be sure there are no mets there?
I suggested DH get a second opinion when he was first diagnosed and deciding about surgery and treament, and he blew me off. I guess I'm afraid that a clear scan of his liver (God willing) will be taken as a sign that there is NED, when the lungs have not been examined at all.
Are my concerns making sense, or am I just losing it here? (Which is entirely possible, I admit.)
Answer:
Yes you are making a lot f sence. My DH had LC and every three months he has scans even though the surgery was a sucess. He will have scans every 3 months for two years and then every 6 mos for years then once a year forever. My cousin's husband had colon and stomach cancer he went to Sloan and his surgery was a sucess no chemo after (my dh had Chemo as a just in case measure)and no PET scans or CT scans as a follow up not even an X ray.Three years later he has LC.My husbands ONC as does most believe in follow ups just because the nature of cancer. Be your husbands advocate.
My Prayers are with you and your husband
Answer:
If I were you, I would mention the chest x-ray to the doctor when you go on Wednesday. My husband had one when he was first diagnosed and then a year later. He also had one last year before he had cataract surgery so we know he should be ok in that area at least.
Hopefully, the spot on the liver is just a cyst or something like that. My husband had two show up on a ct scan after treatment. I also have two on my liver, which showed up on my ct scan, at which time they found lymphoma in my abdmen. It seems that liver cysts are quite common, especially in my family!!
Let us know how it goes on Wednesday.
Love and prayers,
Answer:
Hi, pearl
That is true that colon cancer usualy spreads to the liver first, and than lungs. But in some cases it can give mets to the lungs skipping liver(rare). The standard CT protocol for colon cancer even without known mets in the liver is CHEST, ABDOMEN, PELVIS.
mikosha
Answer:
I appreciate your responses.
I'm going to ask the doctor on Wednesday about some sort of chest exam, whether it is xrays or CT scans. I'm not sure whether chest studies were never ordered or whether they were denied by our previous insurance company. Thankfully, we changed insurance companies in January (I hope for the better).