Aa
Cancer concerns
I am a 32 year old female who is generally well, but have been steadily getting sicker since November/December 2008. First I just felt really tired, then I started lactating for no reason, Im not pregnant, then my bowel habits became non existent. I started taking laxtabs in order just to not feel so full all the time. My doctor threw a barrage of tests at me, which with every test, something new came up.
I tested positive to Cytomegalovirus, Epstein Barr Virus, Ross River Virus and Barmah Forrest Virus, but he thinks they are false positives. I have an ESR of 90 which increases, then drops then increases again, a CRP of 59 which is steadily increasing, ALP of 233 and rising. I had marked neutropenia and was anaemic for a while, but although my iron was 3, my ferrous (iron stores) were normal. I had an apendectomy in 2004, which has left my right side tender always, which docs say was adhesions. This new doctor wanted to check for hernia's because he still had no clue, and it turns out, there are 2 tumors.
The first is 102mmx97mmx96mm and occupies the left lobe, with poorly defined margins and internal vascularity and the second is in the 4B/5 or 4/5B sector of the right lobe and is 35mmx24mmx38mm and has clear borders with no internal vascularity.
I have been booked in for priority CT scan next week, but just the not knowing is just driving me mad.
Some days I am alright and can sit upright with no pain, but sometimes it radiates to my back and when I think about it, its been like this since it all started in November but I just thought it was because of my new job and that I was not that fit. In the last month Ive lost 4 -5kgs, but not sure whether its just because of stress. The only reason I actually can go to the toilet and releive the pressure on my bowels is with the use of laxettes which is getting annoying, because them in themselves make me feel weak but the doctor said the less pressure on your liver the better.
Ive read many things saying, cancer vs benign haemangiomas etc.. but seriously, the symptoms all seem to flow together..
Also, what will the surgery be like? I was reading that due to the size and complexity, usually they take the entire affected lobe. How do they get the golf ball size one out of the right side?
I tested positive to Cytomegalovirus, Epstein Barr Virus, Ross River Virus and Barmah Forrest Virus, but he thinks they are false positives. I have an ESR of 90 which increases, then drops then increases again, a CRP of 59 which is steadily increasing, ALP of 233 and rising. I had marked neutropenia and was anaemic for a while, but although my iron was 3, my ferrous (iron stores) were normal. I had an apendectomy in 2004, which has left my right side tender always, which docs say was adhesions. This new doctor wanted to check for hernia's because he still had no clue, and it turns out, there are 2 tumors.
The first is 102mmx97mmx96mm and occupies the left lobe, with poorly defined margins and internal vascularity and the second is in the 4B/5 or 4/5B sector of the right lobe and is 35mmx24mmx38mm and has clear borders with no internal vascularity.
I have been booked in for priority CT scan next week, but just the not knowing is just driving me mad.
Some days I am alright and can sit upright with no pain, but sometimes it radiates to my back and when I think about it, its been like this since it all started in November but I just thought it was because of my new job and that I was not that fit. In the last month Ive lost 4 -5kgs, but not sure whether its just because of stress. The only reason I actually can go to the toilet and releive the pressure on my bowels is with the use of laxettes which is getting annoying, because them in themselves make me feel weak but the doctor said the less pressure on your liver the better.
Ive read many things saying, cancer vs benign haemangiomas etc.. but seriously, the symptoms all seem to flow together..
Also, what will the surgery be like? I was reading that due to the size and complexity, usually they take the entire affected lobe. How do they get the golf ball size one out of the right side?
Went to the specialist today - no dice on the CT. He booked me in for Thursday... damnit.... got my hopes up that I'd see more from this CT.
He explained what he thinks his own theory is...
He did a palpation - now I have an enlarged liver too, whereas at ultrasound it said apart from the tumours, it appeared normal..
He said, to have had symptoms from November to now - it could be an aggressive form of cancer, as usually benign things are asymptomatic apart from the pressure aspect. He said, he thinks it could be Adenoma, firstly... but as I asked after that, about the symptoms stuff, he said with the symptoms you are presenting with... tingling fingers etc, tiredness, bowels not moving well, night sweats, etc, Lymphoma is the second one.
Adenomas generally present with clearly defined borders too and when I asked him that, he just said, we have to wait til thursday.
So, if a lymphoma cancer has caused this, why is it in my liver? Im a bit confused now.. could it be that far that its manifesting there?
He explained what he thinks his own theory is...
He did a palpation - now I have an enlarged liver too, whereas at ultrasound it said apart from the tumours, it appeared normal..
He said, to have had symptoms from November to now - it could be an aggressive form of cancer, as usually benign things are asymptomatic apart from the pressure aspect. He said, he thinks it could be Adenoma, firstly... but as I asked after that, about the symptoms stuff, he said with the symptoms you are presenting with... tingling fingers etc, tiredness, bowels not moving well, night sweats, etc, Lymphoma is the second one.
Adenomas generally present with clearly defined borders too and when I asked him that, he just said, we have to wait til thursday.
So, if a lymphoma cancer has caused this, why is it in my liver? Im a bit confused now.. could it be that far that its manifesting there?
I dont know that caffeine is terrible for you - i sure drink a lot of it (so I am not a glowing beacon as far as dietary example I know).
As far as getting huge masses outta small places - it is possible - and if I ever need something big dragged out of something small - i would search out the "can do" doc that "has done" before the old guy that proclaims impossibility - i mean look at appendectomies and the change in procedure over the last 20 yrs. Laparascopy via the 3 hole method has made huge inroads...
Yeah...the CT scan (especially with contrast) gives the doc a much clearer picture than just an ultrasound - which tend to take a real keen eye to see, as the images are more diffuse - at least the ones Ive peeked at. CTs show much greater detail of things like bile ducts, portal veins, and all of those inner workings
Hope you get to feelin better friend!
J
As far as getting huge masses outta small places - it is possible - and if I ever need something big dragged out of something small - i would search out the "can do" doc that "has done" before the old guy that proclaims impossibility - i mean look at appendectomies and the change in procedure over the last 20 yrs. Laparascopy via the 3 hole method has made huge inroads...
Yeah...the CT scan (especially with contrast) gives the doc a much clearer picture than just an ultrasound - which tend to take a real keen eye to see, as the images are more diffuse - at least the ones Ive peeked at. CTs show much greater detail of things like bile ducts, portal veins, and all of those inner workings
Hope you get to feelin better friend!
J
Yes, I admit once upon a time I did a bit of hooch, pills, drank a bit.. but since mid last year have not done anything of the sort. Im 6ft tall and weigh 80kgs, and am generally lean and in pretty good health. My diet is usually fruit and vegetables, I like clean fresh salads and things like that. Red Bull is something I was drinking lots of though..
Maybe jumping the gun, but I guess I just read too much stuff. Can they get softball size tumors out of keyhole surgery too? My doc doesnt seem to think they can, but then again he isnt the specialist.
I guess the fact its just that most benign things Ive read about are asymptomatic. And something coupled with anaemia and other disturbances seem to come out more serious.
Ill know more on monday I guess, dead noon, CT scan, public health system obviously does work... from the ultrasound to getting a CT it was just over a week. Talk about priority.
Cheers for the advice :)
Maybe jumping the gun, but I guess I just read too much stuff. Can they get softball size tumors out of keyhole surgery too? My doc doesnt seem to think they can, but then again he isnt the specialist.
I guess the fact its just that most benign things Ive read about are asymptomatic. And something coupled with anaemia and other disturbances seem to come out more serious.
Ill know more on monday I guess, dead noon, CT scan, public health system obviously does work... from the ultrasound to getting a CT it was just over a week. Talk about priority.
Cheers for the advice :)
First off, sorry to learn of your general malaise. Bein sick stinks!
I dont know exactly how or if all of this ties into hepatic matters - but it is always wise - even in healthy folk to be nice to your liver - i/e it likes living in a housing that errs on the lean side of heavy, doesnt like too much hooch, poisons, certain mushrooms, an abundance of certain herbs and spices, etc etc.
Next, dont start contemplating how the mechanic is going to do an engine and transmission swap when all that has happenned is your "check engine" light is on. IMHO, you rushing to conclusions - and worrying about a lot of what ifs.. Take a step back from this, read what you can and search for the cause with an open mind...
next: hows your diet? is it well compriised of fibrous fruits grains and vegetables??? or is it a greasy cheeseburger and fries - or fish and chips or other empty calorie, high fat, low nutrition overprocessed ****? Poor food choices play a great role in overall health - and thats magnified greatly with each decade of life and the food choices youve made more often than not. SOme are more sensitive to this (genetically) than others - just like I get fat easily - and friends can consume twice the calories i can and still be thin.... anyway - enough of that sermon
As for getting "golf ball sized masses" out of a pea sized incision - look at laparoscopic procedures online - they are fascinating - and leave nary a trace of surgery to the outer world!
J
I dont know exactly how or if all of this ties into hepatic matters - but it is always wise - even in healthy folk to be nice to your liver - i/e it likes living in a housing that errs on the lean side of heavy, doesnt like too much hooch, poisons, certain mushrooms, an abundance of certain herbs and spices, etc etc.
Next, dont start contemplating how the mechanic is going to do an engine and transmission swap when all that has happenned is your "check engine" light is on. IMHO, you rushing to conclusions - and worrying about a lot of what ifs.. Take a step back from this, read what you can and search for the cause with an open mind...
next: hows your diet? is it well compriised of fibrous fruits grains and vegetables??? or is it a greasy cheeseburger and fries - or fish and chips or other empty calorie, high fat, low nutrition overprocessed ****? Poor food choices play a great role in overall health - and thats magnified greatly with each decade of life and the food choices youve made more often than not. SOme are more sensitive to this (genetically) than others - just like I get fat easily - and friends can consume twice the calories i can and still be thin.... anyway - enough of that sermon
As for getting "golf ball sized masses" out of a pea sized incision - look at laparoscopic procedures online - they are fascinating - and leave nary a trace of surgery to the outer world!
J
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