Dear Fiana and Lovelylady
I apologize for my delay.
First to Lovelylady- I am not totally sure how questions get posted (I am on the receiving end) but theoretically it is 2 questions per day. I think sometimes when I get completely overwhelmed with my day job and do not respond for over a week, the site locks down. Please try again.
Dear Fiana
thank you for your complete information. I am very sorry to hear about what your mother is going through. You said " I need answers and reassurance that she will be fine." I wish I could. It does sound like your mother is getting very sick now. The doctor is right - commonly the cancer will stabilize with doxil. It does take 3 to 4 cycles to fully see this. But sometime that is not the case. Your mother has been living with cancer for a while now. But if the cancer grows to a certain size or affects too may areas at the same time, a person becomes very ill and may not recover.
Right now, I would say the your mother's pleural effusion and the compression of that part of her lung is an important problem. If that gets much worse, she can have respiratory problems. Ask her doctor about draining that fluid.
I know that watching your mother decline with this terrible disease is heartbreaking. I am so sorry.
take care
Hello I am LovelyLady1 and I am trying to post a question to Dr. Goodman. I am having a very difficult time doing so. The Forum keeps telling me that it is full to try again. There are only two posts for today-so I am confused. Any help would be helpful-and I would be very greatful to you. Thank you for your time. God Bless.
Sincerely,
LovelyLady1
Hello Dr. I just received my Moms most recent CT scan report that was done her last hospital stay 12 days ago.
Findings: A noncontrast CT sca of the abdomen and pelvis is performed. Exam complete to prior study 5-12. There is a moderate to large right sided pleural effusion with right lower lobe subsegmental atelectasis. Numerous 1.5-2 cm lymph noes are seen scattered throughout the peritoneal cavity including the small bowel mesentery. Gastrohepatic ligament with numerous 1.5-2 cm omental and peritoneal lymph nodes. A very small amount of free fluid is noted in both paracolic gutters as well as in the pelvis. Trace perihepatic ascites is notes. Evaluation of liver and spleen is limited secondary to IV contrast. Surgical clips are present of gallbladder fossa. Bone windows show no lytic or blastic bony lesions.
Impressions:
1. Omental lymphadenopathy with evidence of mild peritoneal carcinomatosis.
2. Trace ascites
Please explain to me how bad does this sound. The new small bowel mesentery is making me very nervous after reading some stuff on online..is it similar to pancreatic cancer and is this very bad new finding.
Please help me out translating this and making sense.
thank you so much again and again.
Fiana
Hello Dr and thank you for responding. Im not too understanding about your reply. What do you mean it sounds that my Mom is very sick??? Are you going by what Im saying or by her CT scan report I posted???? They did drain her fluid yesterday and she is feeling better...what does this mean from this point on she will only get worse????
Is there recovery for her???? She doesnt seem that bad for me to assume that its just gonna be worse from this point on. Please please explain to me. Im confused and now even more worried.
thank you
Fiana
Hi Fiana
the development of fluid in the lungs can make a person sick. It is good to drain it. It is good to know she is feeling better. The development of a new problem like fluid in the lungs can sometimes reflect new behavior from the cancer. That is - the fluid in the lungs can come back. However, if the doxil reduces the cancer, the fluid may not come back.
I understand your anxiety. It is hard not knowing what will happen. But your mother is getting perfect care.
take care