#5006 02-16-2005 06:36 AM | Joined: Oct 2004 Posts: 34 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | OP  Contributing Member (25+ posts)
Joined: Oct 2004 Posts: 34 | Hello All,
Well our "not so good news" turned out to be fairly good news. A recent CT scan showed a cyst in the tail of Bob's pancreas. For 4 days we worried & feared that the cancer had come back with a vengeance. Friday we had an appointment with a surgeon who after reviewing the scans feels the oral cancer is not connected to the pancreatic cyst. Apparently many people have such cysts, 80% of the time they are benign & asymptomatic so they are often not immediately discovered. As the person ages, the cells in the cyst changes & can sometimes turn into cancer. The symptoms of pancreatic cancer include intermittent stomach pain & weight loss so many people do not always go to the dr for such symptoms, thus when pancreatic cancer is found it is often advanced. The dr said most of his patients having this surgery are over 60 yrs old.
In Bob's case, the cyst never showed up on a PET scan & he has not had any symptoms. The dr offered to do just a needle biopsy but feels it should come out even if it is benign. Bob & I agreed & he will have surgery over his Spring Break on March 29th. Even though it is a laproscopic surgery it will still take 2 1/2 hours & may require Bob to stay in the hospital for several days~we're not too happy about that part! Basically, if Bob had not had a CT scan as part of the follow up tests, the cyst might not have been discovered & he could have developed pancreatic cancer 20-30 yrs down the road.
While another surgery will be difficult, we are sooo relieved that it wasn't a recurrence! Thank you all for your support!
Dx June 18, 2004, neck dissection July 1, 35 radiation txs Aug 18-Oct 7.
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#5007 02-16-2005 07:52 AM | Joined: May 2003 Posts: 928 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: May 2003 Posts: 928 | What wonderful news , I am so happy for you both.
Now you can take that deep breath and relax a wee bit.
Cheers
Marica
Caregiver to husband Pete, Dx 4/03 SCC Base of Tongue Stage IV. Chemo /Rad no surgery. Treatment finished 8/03. Doing great!
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#5008 02-16-2005 08:31 AM | Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 90 Senior Member (75+ posts) | | Senior Member (75+ posts)
Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 90 | I'm sure you both are relieved. That is fantastic news!!! Have a nice and relaxing weekend.
Shelley
Caregiver to husband, Ron. Throat cancer, Stage II. No Chemo or Surgery. Completed 35 Radiation Treatments in November 2004.
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#5009 02-16-2005 11:31 AM | Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 482 "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 482 | Bob and Laurie, what good news. Congrats. Glad it turned out this way. Enjoy.
Regards, Kirk Georgia
Stage IV, T1N2aM0, right tonsil primary, Tonsilectomy 11/03, 35 rad/3cisplatin chemo, right neck dissection 1/04 - 5/04.
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#5010 02-16-2005 11:34 AM | Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,244 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,244 | Bob and Laurie, YEH WAY TO GO..I'll raise a glass of my special red wine to you both..
Sunshine... love and hugs
Helen
SCC Base of tongue, (TISN0M0) laser surgery, 10/01 and 05/03 no clear margins. Radial free flap graft to tonsil pillar, partial glossectomy, left neck dissection 08/04
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#5011 02-16-2005 12:23 PM | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 528 "OCF Down Under" "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "OCF Down Under" "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 528 | Great news Bob and Laurie. You must be so relieved, although more surgery is disappointing for you. Love and light from Helen
RHTonsil SCC Stage IV tx completed May 03
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#5012 02-16-2005 01:08 PM | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 372 "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 372 | Bob and Laurie,
I know how worried and scared you were and now you can feel the R E L I E F!!!
God bless and take care!
Debbie
Debbie - Caregiver for husband, Dan, diagnosed with tongue cancer 7/03. Partial gloss., mod. neck dissections, graft. Recurrence neck tumor 12/03. Radical left neck dissection 12/24/03-unable to get all the tumor. 8 weeks chemo/rad beginning 1/12/04.
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#5013 02-17-2005 12:18 AM | Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 146 Gold Member (100+ posts) | | Gold Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 146 | Bob and Laurie,
Thanks for the update and what wonderful news! Sorry it involves more surgery but I'm sure Bob will sail right through this one. Now hopefully you can take a deep breath and relax a little.
Hugs, Nancy
Stage IV oral cancer (tongue), T3N2, total glossectomy with right and left modified neck dissection 7/03, rad /chemo ended 11/03
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#5014 02-19-2005 02:21 AM | Joined: Dec 2004 Posts: 18 Member | | Member
Joined: Dec 2004 Posts: 18 | pleased for you both, what a relief and how hard that wait must have been.
positive thoughts to you both,
charm
charm
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#5015 02-21-2005 07:54 AM | Joined: May 2002 Posts: 2,152 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: May 2002 Posts: 2,152 | Hi,
What kind of a dr did they sned you to for the pancreatic cyst?
My last CT showed some unclear stuff on the pancreas. My oral surgeon ignored it. My lung guy said he doesn't do pancreas. The radiologist suggested an MRI, which I could never do that because of claustophobia. I scheduled for another CT of the lungs in a month so am hoping they get a clearer picture of what is on pancrea this time.
Thanks,
Eileen
----------------------
Aug 1997 unknown primary, Stage III
mets to 1 lymph node in neck; rt ND, 36 XRT rad
Aug 2001 tiny tumor on larynx, Stage I total laryngectomy; left ND
June 5, 2010 dx early stage breast cancer
June 9, 2011 SCC 1.5 cm hypo pharynx, 70% P-16 positive, no mets, Stage I
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