Shadow on liver -- help?

[hillview]

Hi all,
Mom was diagnosed with colon cancer recently -- surgery showed T3N1MX with one lymph node out of 14 positive. She just had a follow up CAT scan and it showed a shadow on her liver and she is doing a PET scan tomorrow. Anyone had GOOD news after something like this? Is it really possible that she could be stage IV with just one lymph node??

HELP am devastated.
thanks!
/hillary

[Holly]

Hillary,

Welcome to the Colon Club. To answer your question. I am stage IV and I had no affected lymph nodes. According to my oncology team it is an anomoly less rare than once thought to be true. My met was to my liver. In regard to your mummy's liver, there are multiple things that can cause "a shadow" on the scans. In my case, it was the scar tissue from my liver resection. Also, it is important to understand that Scans are subjective. Meaning they may be interpreted differently by different radiologists. If you are in doubt or suspect, I would recommend that you talk to the oncologist and perhaps suggest that the scans be reviewed by the department chair of radiology.

Hope this help. Please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers!

Hugs!

Holly