Diagnosed cancer after biopsy

[Cosmogal]

My mom just go the result of her biopsy from a lesion they found on her femur. They are saying that she has cancer and its metastic. They said from either the ovary or uterus. Well my mom had a hysterectomy at the age of 29 (she is 59) and her ovaries are really almost gone. If she does have ovarian cancer why is it that all her blood work (C125, Ca19 and CEA levels) were fine. If it has spread then wouldn't it show up? She starts radation tomorrw and then sees the oncologist. I am scared to death. Is there anything for me to cling on to? I don't want to lose my mom.
Thanks
Paula

[shaanjha]

hi
     This is not my first bout with skin cancer. I had it in my right ear 15 years ago. I think it was a scam being run by my dermatologist. It was a weird experience . I had it examined by another specialist and it was no malignant.

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Breast Cancer  -  http://www.bodyhealthdebate.co.uk

" I don't know if it's pain that I do not like or time."

[Cosmogal]

Hello I have an update!
My mom has been going through chemotherapy and is doing wonderful. She has had a cat scan the showed that the tumor was shrinking just a few days after her 2nd chemotherapy. On the 27th of this month she will have a pet scan to determine if they can do surgery or if they will need to. She has 2 more sessions left. Her leg has healed well and she is walking, using a cane most of the time. She just celebrated her 60th birthday which was great because she was able to have her 3 children in the same room at the same time which she hasn't had for years. Her weight is stable. In fact she put some weight back on that she lost during radiation. The doctors have been amazed at how well she is doing. She is a fighter.
Thanks for all your help during this difficult time.
Paula

[Cosmogal]

Hello,
My mom's pet scan didn't show anything more. Thank God! She just finished radiation and today she sees her oncologist to start chemotherepy. The surgeon who did her surgery on her femur said she is doing very well and that the bone is healing better than he expected and the radiation was working very well. He could see a huge difference. She is up to using a cane already. She still likes to use the walker when she feels the distance is too much. I am praying that the chemo will work well. Only time will tell. I also hope that is doesn't make her too weak. She has lost 27 pounds. She actually looks great though. She needed to lose weight so now she looks incredible and her spirits are up. I am so proud of her. I really am. She is scared but is really focusing on getting better. I am sure whatever life she has left, whatever the case may be she will want to live it to the fullest. Anyway, I thought I would update you on her progress.
Paula

[DrNoopurMD]

Hi,

Good to hear from you again.
A pet scan is a very sensitive tool being used increasingly nowadays in clinical oncology. It is used to pick up metastasis and the response to treatment. PET is sensitive enough to pick changes in molecular biology even before the actual anatomic change has taken place.
The findings of PET scan are correlated with the CT scan results and then a conclusion is made.
http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=PET&bhcp=1
Do keep me posted. I shall definitely check out the link. Thanks for sharing!

[Cosmogal]

Oh I forgot to mention that her blood work again came back the same. CEA levels are still low, about the same for a smoker, within range. Her markers were also again negative.

[Cosmogal]

Well we are waiting for the results of her pet scan. How much more can a pet scan show over a CT scan? She had the test done on thursday. I am a little nervous and don't want them to find it anywhere else. She is healing nicely and should begin this week radiation again. She had to have the staples removed from her leg first. She is home and using a walker to walk. I am sure in no time she will be walking again soon. She is only 59 and in pretty good health otherwise. She is doing physical therepy as well. Needless to say I am frantic and nervous and overall hoping for the best. I have really become quite the activist though. I even started a myspace page on quitting smoking and the dangers of smoking. Myspace has 80 million webpages and if I can reach out to many then that is great. That is just the beginning for me. Check it out if you want to! www.myspace.com/donotsmokeplease. I have alot of things on it from the American Cancer Society. Thanks again for all your help and concern!
Paula

[DrNoopurMD]

Hi,

I am really happy that your mom is responding to treatment and is doing well. It is important to differentiate if there is one cancer which has spread or two different cancers.
It is a good sign that they have not found metastasis any where else.
She will be undergoing more treatment but since she is in good health and taking it all well I am hopeful she will respond. Take care and keep writing.

[Cosmogal]

They are waiting  to do the biopsy because she has been on asprin therepy since the surgery. Everything has come back clear. No cancer in the brain. Its only the leg  and the lung. The one in the lung measures 2.7 x 3.7 cm. They said it is possible primary Adenocarcinoma. They did mention that they wanted to do another bone scan to rule out the possibility of 2 different cancers. One in the bone and one in the lung. I am relieved to see that its not all over her. My aunt died 2 years ago from lung cancer that spread like wildfire all over her body. There wasn't a place I don't think that didn't have cancer. Today they took out the foley and she is doing well there, She wallked with a walker 26 steps and is getting ready for rehab so they can soon start chemo and radiation. Anyway, I will continue  to update later.
Thanks for all your advice.
Paula

[Cosmogal]

Thanks! My mom does feel well. That was the whole crazy thing about this. She only had the leg pain. Well the Ct of her lower abdoman came back clear., They are still waiting on the liver to be read but all the rest came back fine. They are running a CT scan of the brain today as well. That is the only test left. Hopefully they will not find anything there as well. They will be doing a needle biopsy tomorrow on the node from the lung. Her radiologist would like to restart radiation as soon as she is able. She is doing physical therepy and its going well.
Anyway, she wants to eat but they keep putting her at NPO! My dad brought her favorite food in, a chicken salad sandwich, but can't eat until after the cat scan. I will check out that link!
Thanks for everything!
Paula

[DrNoopurMD]

Hi Paula,

How is your mother feeling otherwise? Does she have a good appetite?
Food plays an important role in cancer treatment. Please go through the link below it will give you some useful tips on how to maintain good nutrition while undergoing cancer treatment.
http://www.ascocancerfoundation.org/patient/Library/Cancer.Net+Features/Living+With+Cancer/Managing+Cancer+Side+Effects+Through+Nutrition

I wish your mom all the very best. Thanks for sharing and please continue to do so!

Noopur

[Cosmogal]

I was wrong. The lower abdominal scan has not been read yet. The said that is was only a single lobe involved and her oncologist is talking with a surgeon about going in and taking it out. So far though the upper part, that is only the one thing they have. They will continue with radiation once she is up to it and then chemotherepy. The doctor said that she should continue to respond to radiation and it should actually be better with the metal rod stablizing the tumor. So again we will see.
Paula

[Cosmogal]

The CT Scan came back. The only place they found it was in the upper right lobe of her lung. No where else as I was told. Now she had the one in her bone pretty much taken out. What do you think of this? I am hoping it gives her some hope now. We thought for sure the ovaries but its not.

[Cosmogal]

Thank you so much. I am hoping for the best, She is drinking the stuff for the CT scan. My mom is relatively healthy so I am hoping she can fight it. I am really numb right now.  The surgery went great and she actually got up today and stood. Something she hasnt' done. I think I am going to see if they will send her to Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa. I am really scared to hear the CT results. I just don't get how she can feel great everywhere but her leg and it just take over and invade her body like this! Its very scary. Like a time bomb that went off. I know that this diagnosis probably won't cure her but I am hoping that for awile it can put her in remission. I hope.

[DrNoopurMD]

Hi Paula,

The swollen node also indicates that the cancer has spread.
Since she is responding well to radiotherapy and surgery and more than anything else has a positive attitude, I think she has a chance. Please do not lose hope. Take care!

[Cosmogal]

This morning my mom was trying to get from the couch to the wheelchair and her leg broke. She was taken by ambulance and went into surgery at noon today. She was in incredible pain. I have never seen anything like it. She did well. We have yet to hear back from the surgeon. This was a planned surgery but made sooner due to the break. Her pain is more tolerable at this point. She had only had 2 radiation treatments. In one of her xrays she has a swollen node. So now I am worried about that as well. I am praying she has some kind of fighting chance. I am afraid that if she doesn't she won't make it long. Before this she was determined and now I just don't know. Right now I am in the room with my mom watching over her.
Thanks for your help.
Paula

[DrNoopurMD]

Hi,

I am so happy that your mother is responding well and has a positive attitude towards the whole situation. I also think that the blood tests should be repeated as it is quite possible the levels may be elevated next time around. Please keep me posted. Thanks for sharing!

[Cosmogal]

Thanks! My mom is recieving radiation right now on her leg and its seems to be going well. She is scheduled for a Pet Scan this week. Once she is finished with radiation she will have surgery on her leg. Then she will see her oncologist and then do chemo and radiation at the same time. Still not sure why her levels do not indicate cancer but I am sure they will consider running those tests again. The doctors have said that it is odd since it has spread. Anyway, she is in good spirits and is trying to stay optomistic in light of her diagnosis.

[DrNoopurMD]

Hi,

The CA-125 returns a true positive result in only 50% of stage 1 ovarian cancer patients.
http://www.ovariancancer.jhmi.edu/ca125qa.cfm Since it has already spread to other parts of the body it indicates a late stage cancer which should cause some elevation in blood levels of CA-125. However it cannot be used as the only diagnostic tool for ovarian cancer as it is not 100% accurate. A transvaginal ultrasound or MRI of the abdomen will be diagnostic.

[Cosmogal]

She saw a radiologist today and starts radiation therepy tomorrow. They are also ordering a pet scan as well. Then they will be doing surgery. According to her results from the biopsy they are saying that the cells from the lesion on her femur are consistant with ovarian or uterine cancer. We know that it can't be uterine since she has a hyterectomy so it only leaves the ovaries. She has had a bone scan, MRI and xrays but only on her leg cause that is where she has been having the issue. The pet scan will tell us if they see any anywhere else. I just don't get why it doesn't show up on blood work if it has possibly spread from the ovary to her femur. Any thoughts on that?
Thanks
Paula

[DrNoopurMD]

Hi,

Apart from the biopsy what all tests has your mother undergone? How did the doctor conclude that she has ovarian or uterine cancer? A CT scan or MRI of abdomen will help in diagnosis. I would suggest you to seek a second opinion.