I'm going for my CT scan today. I have to have both the contrast you drink before you go and the IV stuff. I'm not too anxious about the test itself since I've done it before. I don't particularly like how the IV contrast makes me feel, but it isn't awful. I'm more worried about the stuff I drink messing up my digestive system since I'm still struggling with reversal issues. I guess I'll just have to wait and see.
I meet with my oncologist on Thursday to find out the results. If all looks good, I'm calling my surgeon to schedule port removal. I know I might need it again, but it's been causing me pain in my arm for about three months now and they haven't been able to draw blood from it since December, so if I have to, I'll just get a new one put in later. They think the port shifted and is pressing on a nerve and I don't want to deal with not being able to raise my arm without pain for 6 months to a year "just in case" I need it for more chemo, especially since it's already not working for blood draws.
Any good thoughts or prayers you want to send my way for good results from the CT scan will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
Judy
CT Scan Tuesday-Updated with results
CT Scan Tuesday-Updated with results
Last edited by JudeD59 on Thu Apr 14, 2016 4:13 pm, edited 1 time in total.
56 yrs old, wife, mother to 4 daughters
RC Stage II T3N0M0 DX April 2, 2015
6 cm. mid-rectum-CEA 121
Xeloda and radiation finished 06/15/15- CEA 242
CEA right before surgery 81
LAR performed 8/12/15 Temporary ileostomy
CEA 10-21-15 1.6
PET scan 11-4-15 All clear
Port installed 11/11/15
Folfox started 11/18/15
Folfox stopped due to bad reaction
Reversal 2/17/16
CEA 2/3/16 1.7
CEA 3/31/16 1.3
CT Scan 4/12/16 All Clear
Port removed 4/21/16
CEA 5/24/17 1.4
RC Stage II T3N0M0 DX April 2, 2015
6 cm. mid-rectum-CEA 121
Xeloda and radiation finished 06/15/15- CEA 242
CEA right before surgery 81
LAR performed 8/12/15 Temporary ileostomy
CEA 10-21-15 1.6
PET scan 11-4-15 All clear
Port installed 11/11/15
Folfox started 11/18/15
Folfox stopped due to bad reaction
Reversal 2/17/16
CEA 2/3/16 1.7
CEA 3/31/16 1.3
CT Scan 4/12/16 All Clear
Port removed 4/21/16
CEA 5/24/17 1.4
Re: CT Scan Tuesday
Sending positive thoughts & hoping for the all clear for you. Hopefully double celebration with getting port out too.
Dad diagnosed Sept 14 Stage IV. Age 57yrs. Transverse colon - spread to Retroperitoneal, Mesenteric & Supraclavicular lymph nodes. Folfiri commenced Sept 14.
April 15 - Bowel resection
August 15, stable scan
Feb 16 - No signs of cancer on scan...stop chemo & scan in 3 month
Scan April 16, Crazy growth to stomach, lymph nodes & multiple mets to liver. Commencing Folfox.
August: chemo not working. Stopped treatment.
September 3rd 2016 peacefully left this earth.
April 15 - Bowel resection
August 15, stable scan
Feb 16 - No signs of cancer on scan...stop chemo & scan in 3 month
Scan April 16, Crazy growth to stomach, lymph nodes & multiple mets to liver. Commencing Folfox.
August: chemo not working. Stopped treatment.
September 3rd 2016 peacefully left this earth.
-
Deborah614
- Posts: 23
- Joined: Tue Jan 27, 2015 10:24 am
- Facebook Username: Deborah Melchi
Re: CT Scan Tuesday
Good morning, Judy
I feel a need to tell you about my recent port experience. My port felt uncomfortable from the start, but during chemo I lost weight and it protruded to the point of being in the way of my brastrap, showed through my clothes and was bumped into a lot. I asked to have it removed because it began to seriously hurt, but was told by my oncologist to keep it in a year, just in case. A few weeks later the pain was radiating through my arm, shoulder and clavical. The port nurse supervisor looked at it, saw no inflammation and told me it was probably pressing on a nerve, especially since I'd lost so much weight after it was installed in August 2015. I resigned myself to putting up with the port, until suddenly I spiked a 104° fever, was rushed to ER delirious and spent 6 days in the hospital due to a port infection. Needless to say, once the port was removed and I received umpteen bags of strong IV antibiotics followed by a take home prescription of more, my QOL improved greatly. This is just my story, but it's cautionary tale;)
Best wishes,
Deb.
I feel a need to tell you about my recent port experience. My port felt uncomfortable from the start, but during chemo I lost weight and it protruded to the point of being in the way of my brastrap, showed through my clothes and was bumped into a lot. I asked to have it removed because it began to seriously hurt, but was told by my oncologist to keep it in a year, just in case. A few weeks later the pain was radiating through my arm, shoulder and clavical. The port nurse supervisor looked at it, saw no inflammation and told me it was probably pressing on a nerve, especially since I'd lost so much weight after it was installed in August 2015. I resigned myself to putting up with the port, until suddenly I spiked a 104° fever, was rushed to ER delirious and spent 6 days in the hospital due to a port infection. Needless to say, once the port was removed and I received umpteen bags of strong IV antibiotics followed by a take home prescription of more, my QOL improved greatly. This is just my story, but it's cautionary tale;)
Best wishes,
Deb.
dx 12/17/14
stage 2 rectal cancer T3N0M0
standard treatment 28 days radiation w/xeloda, surgery, 8 rounds Folfox
22 shots neupogen 32 days in hospital for infections
60 years old
mother of 6, grandmother of 10, wife of 1 for 35 years
Jeremiah 29:11
05/28/15 APR, Barbie butt, permanent colostomy
May 2016 Cat scans NED!
May 2016 mammogram
June 2016 invasive ductal carcinoma breast cancer left breast stage1
August3 '16 mastectomy with reconstruction, genetic screening scheduled
stage 2 rectal cancer T3N0M0
standard treatment 28 days radiation w/xeloda, surgery, 8 rounds Folfox
22 shots neupogen 32 days in hospital for infections
60 years old
mother of 6, grandmother of 10, wife of 1 for 35 years
Jeremiah 29:11
05/28/15 APR, Barbie butt, permanent colostomy
May 2016 Cat scans NED!
May 2016 mammogram
June 2016 invasive ductal carcinoma breast cancer left breast stage1
August3 '16 mastectomy with reconstruction, genetic screening scheduled
-
DarknessEmbraced
- Posts: 3817
- Joined: Sat Nov 01, 2014 4:54 pm
- Facebook Username: Riann Fletcher
- Location: New Brunswick, Canada
Re: CT Scan Tuesday
I hope that your CT scan went well and that drinking gastrografin doesn't cause any digestive issues!*hugs* Hope you have good results from the scans!*hugs*
Diagnosed 10/28/14, age 36
Colon Resection 11/20/14, LAR (no illeo)
Stage 2a colon cancer, T3NOMO
Lymph-vascular invasion undetermined
0/22 lymph nodes
No chemo, no radiation
Clear Colonoscopy 04/29/15
NED 10/20/15
Ischemic Colitis 01/21/16
NED 11/10/16
CT Scan moved up due to high CEA 08/21/17
NED 09/25/17
NED 12/21/18
Clear colonoscopy 09/23/19
Clear 5 year scans 11/21/19- Considered cured!
Colon Resection 11/20/14, LAR (no illeo)
Stage 2a colon cancer, T3NOMO
Lymph-vascular invasion undetermined
0/22 lymph nodes
No chemo, no radiation
Clear Colonoscopy 04/29/15
NED 10/20/15
Ischemic Colitis 01/21/16
NED 11/10/16
CT Scan moved up due to high CEA 08/21/17
NED 09/25/17
NED 12/21/18
Clear colonoscopy 09/23/19
Clear 5 year scans 11/21/19- Considered cured!
Re: CT Scan Tuesday
I'll be thinking of you today Judy, and hoping for good results.
Best Wishes, peanut
Best Wishes, peanut
female, diagnosed Jan 14, RC stage 2a, age 56
MSS
April 14, 28 chemo/rad with Xeloda
June 14 adjuvant Xeloda 6 rounds
currently NED
MSS
April 14, 28 chemo/rad with Xeloda
June 14 adjuvant Xeloda 6 rounds
currently NED
Re: CT Scan Tuesday
Thanks Willow, Darkness, and Peanut. My scan is at 3 this afternoon so I'm just starting prep now.
Deborah, thanks for the info. That's pretty much what happened to me, too, except for the fever part (so far). I lost a lot of weight and the port is protruding much further than it originally was. I never wear my bra strap up unless I'm in public. They flushed it again two weeks ago without any problem, but still can't get any blood to come out. Luckily, the surgeon who put the port in did my two incisional hernia operations and likes me, so he said as soon as I was ready to have it taken out, call and he would squeeze me in ASAP. I hope it will be out by the beginning of next week. They were going to take it out while I was knocked out for my reversal and my onc said to wait, then I was going to have it out after my last appointment when he told me definitely no more chemo, but he said wait until after CT, which makes sense. But if the CT is clear and he still says wait, I'm going to tell him no.
Thanks for sharing your experience.
Judy
Deborah, thanks for the info. That's pretty much what happened to me, too, except for the fever part (so far). I lost a lot of weight and the port is protruding much further than it originally was. I never wear my bra strap up unless I'm in public. They flushed it again two weeks ago without any problem, but still can't get any blood to come out. Luckily, the surgeon who put the port in did my two incisional hernia operations and likes me, so he said as soon as I was ready to have it taken out, call and he would squeeze me in ASAP. I hope it will be out by the beginning of next week. They were going to take it out while I was knocked out for my reversal and my onc said to wait, then I was going to have it out after my last appointment when he told me definitely no more chemo, but he said wait until after CT, which makes sense. But if the CT is clear and he still says wait, I'm going to tell him no.
Thanks for sharing your experience.
Judy
56 yrs old, wife, mother to 4 daughters
RC Stage II T3N0M0 DX April 2, 2015
6 cm. mid-rectum-CEA 121
Xeloda and radiation finished 06/15/15- CEA 242
CEA right before surgery 81
LAR performed 8/12/15 Temporary ileostomy
CEA 10-21-15 1.6
PET scan 11-4-15 All clear
Port installed 11/11/15
Folfox started 11/18/15
Folfox stopped due to bad reaction
Reversal 2/17/16
CEA 2/3/16 1.7
CEA 3/31/16 1.3
CT Scan 4/12/16 All Clear
Port removed 4/21/16
CEA 5/24/17 1.4
RC Stage II T3N0M0 DX April 2, 2015
6 cm. mid-rectum-CEA 121
Xeloda and radiation finished 06/15/15- CEA 242
CEA right before surgery 81
LAR performed 8/12/15 Temporary ileostomy
CEA 10-21-15 1.6
PET scan 11-4-15 All clear
Port installed 11/11/15
Folfox started 11/18/15
Folfox stopped due to bad reaction
Reversal 2/17/16
CEA 2/3/16 1.7
CEA 3/31/16 1.3
CT Scan 4/12/16 All Clear
Port removed 4/21/16
CEA 5/24/17 1.4
Re: CT Scan Tuesday
Good luck with your CT scan Judy
I just got back from the hospital for own my ct scan and the digestive issues have already started. The contrast drink and/or the iodine empty me out better than any colonoscopy prep i've ever done
. Such fun.
I hope your results are good and that you can get de-ported quickly.
Take care,
Janie
I just got back from the hospital for own my ct scan and the digestive issues have already started. The contrast drink and/or the iodine empty me out better than any colonoscopy prep i've ever done
. Such fun.I hope your results are good and that you can get de-ported quickly.
Take care,
Janie
Rectal cancer dx 04/13 @ 42, MSS, KRAS positive
T3N2M1 (1 lung met)
5 weeks xeloda+radiation finished 07/13
APR 9/13 (permanent colostomy), 27/31 nodes positive
12 rounds of FOLFOX 04/14
Lung met growth 11/14
26 cycles Regorafenib (Stivarga) from 11/15 to 01/17
New lung met and chest/neck lymph nodes 01/17
1 cycle Folfiri
T3N2M1 (1 lung met)
5 weeks xeloda+radiation finished 07/13
APR 9/13 (permanent colostomy), 27/31 nodes positive
12 rounds of FOLFOX 04/14
Lung met growth 11/14
26 cycles Regorafenib (Stivarga) from 11/15 to 01/17
New lung met and chest/neck lymph nodes 01/17
1 cycle Folfiri
Re: CT Scan Tuesday
JJ2212 wrote:Good luck with your CT scan Judy
I just got back from the hospital for own my ct scan and the digestive issues have already started. The contrast drink and/or the iodine empty me out better than any colonoscopy prep i've ever done
I hope your results are good and that you can get de-ported quickly.
Take care,
Janie
So diarrhea then. I wasn't sure if it would be that because some people said it constipated them. At least it wasn't until you got home, right?
Judy
56 yrs old, wife, mother to 4 daughters
RC Stage II T3N0M0 DX April 2, 2015
6 cm. mid-rectum-CEA 121
Xeloda and radiation finished 06/15/15- CEA 242
CEA right before surgery 81
LAR performed 8/12/15 Temporary ileostomy
CEA 10-21-15 1.6
PET scan 11-4-15 All clear
Port installed 11/11/15
Folfox started 11/18/15
Folfox stopped due to bad reaction
Reversal 2/17/16
CEA 2/3/16 1.7
CEA 3/31/16 1.3
CT Scan 4/12/16 All Clear
Port removed 4/21/16
CEA 5/24/17 1.4
RC Stage II T3N0M0 DX April 2, 2015
6 cm. mid-rectum-CEA 121
Xeloda and radiation finished 06/15/15- CEA 242
CEA right before surgery 81
LAR performed 8/12/15 Temporary ileostomy
CEA 10-21-15 1.6
PET scan 11-4-15 All clear
Port installed 11/11/15
Folfox started 11/18/15
Folfox stopped due to bad reaction
Reversal 2/17/16
CEA 2/3/16 1.7
CEA 3/31/16 1.3
CT Scan 4/12/16 All Clear
Port removed 4/21/16
CEA 5/24/17 1.4
Re: CT Scan Tuesday
How was the scan? When do you know the result?
I wish you all the best. Please keep us posted. Hope you can get rid of the port soon.
I wish you all the best. Please keep us posted. Hope you can get rid of the port soon.
Oct 2012- thyroid cancer
June 19, 2015 Dx@39 yrs- CRC-T3N1M0
No vascular, no perineural invasion
Aug-Sept 2015- 28 rad/5FU
Oct 28, 2015- LAR- temp ileo, neg. nodes- 0/11
March 2016- 6 rounds Xeloda/positive CHEK2 mutation
August 2016- DCIS and decided post prophylactic double mastectomy
May 2018 - clean CT
Sept 2018-clean scope
Devastation, total shock- oct 2018, invasion of peri mets
Dec 20 - 2 round of folfox
Mom to 4 & 7 yrs kids - at least i brought them to this level of independence.
June 19, 2015 Dx@39 yrs- CRC-T3N1M0
No vascular, no perineural invasion
Aug-Sept 2015- 28 rad/5FU
Oct 28, 2015- LAR- temp ileo, neg. nodes- 0/11
March 2016- 6 rounds Xeloda/positive CHEK2 mutation
August 2016- DCIS and decided post prophylactic double mastectomy
May 2018 - clean CT
Sept 2018-clean scope
Devastation, total shock- oct 2018, invasion of peri mets
Dec 20 - 2 round of folfox
Mom to 4 & 7 yrs kids - at least i brought them to this level of independence.
Re: CT Scan Tuesday
The scan was fine, Lydia. Stuff you have to drink isn't bad in iced tea and the actual test took about 15-20 minutes tops. I don't enjoy the way the IV contrast makes my head feel like it's on fire and makes me feel like I peed myself, but it's only for a minute and all in all, not a big deal.
I go to the oncologist on Thursday for the results.
Thanks! Hope you are doing well.
Judy
I go to the oncologist on Thursday for the results.
Thanks! Hope you are doing well.
Judy
56 yrs old, wife, mother to 4 daughters
RC Stage II T3N0M0 DX April 2, 2015
6 cm. mid-rectum-CEA 121
Xeloda and radiation finished 06/15/15- CEA 242
CEA right before surgery 81
LAR performed 8/12/15 Temporary ileostomy
CEA 10-21-15 1.6
PET scan 11-4-15 All clear
Port installed 11/11/15
Folfox started 11/18/15
Folfox stopped due to bad reaction
Reversal 2/17/16
CEA 2/3/16 1.7
CEA 3/31/16 1.3
CT Scan 4/12/16 All Clear
Port removed 4/21/16
CEA 5/24/17 1.4
RC Stage II T3N0M0 DX April 2, 2015
6 cm. mid-rectum-CEA 121
Xeloda and radiation finished 06/15/15- CEA 242
CEA right before surgery 81
LAR performed 8/12/15 Temporary ileostomy
CEA 10-21-15 1.6
PET scan 11-4-15 All clear
Port installed 11/11/15
Folfox started 11/18/15
Folfox stopped due to bad reaction
Reversal 2/17/16
CEA 2/3/16 1.7
CEA 3/31/16 1.3
CT Scan 4/12/16 All Clear
Port removed 4/21/16
CEA 5/24/17 1.4
Re: CT Scan Tuesday
Best wishes for your results!!
Contrast is gross.
Contrast is gross.
11-13 Dx CC
SPS T4b(touched stomach organ),N1(3/23),M0(Stage 3B)
11-13: resect + partial gastrect
2-14: 1 Tx Cape + Oxy; renal failure, colitis
4-14: 7 Tx Capecitabine
1-15: clear CT
7-15: clear scope
1-16: clear CT
3-17: clear CT
10-17: clear scope (5 year gap now!)
CEA@dx: 8.4 / 6-15: 4.0 / 10-15: 4.2 / 2-16: 4.9 / 7-16: 4.9 / 11-16: 5.0 / 6-17: 4.5
NED since resection
SPS T4b(touched stomach organ),N1(3/23),M0(Stage 3B)
11-13: resect + partial gastrect
2-14: 1 Tx Cape + Oxy; renal failure, colitis
4-14: 7 Tx Capecitabine
1-15: clear CT
7-15: clear scope
1-16: clear CT
3-17: clear CT
10-17: clear scope (5 year gap now!)
CEA@dx: 8.4 / 6-15: 4.0 / 10-15: 4.2 / 2-16: 4.9 / 7-16: 4.9 / 11-16: 5.0 / 6-17: 4.5
NED since resection
Re: CT Scan Tuesday
JudeD59 wrote:At least it wasn't until you got home, right?
Nope. It started right there on the scan table, but luckily I have a colostomy.
Rectal cancer dx 04/13 @ 42, MSS, KRAS positive
T3N2M1 (1 lung met)
5 weeks xeloda+radiation finished 07/13
APR 9/13 (permanent colostomy), 27/31 nodes positive
12 rounds of FOLFOX 04/14
Lung met growth 11/14
26 cycles Regorafenib (Stivarga) from 11/15 to 01/17
New lung met and chest/neck lymph nodes 01/17
1 cycle Folfiri
T3N2M1 (1 lung met)
5 weeks xeloda+radiation finished 07/13
APR 9/13 (permanent colostomy), 27/31 nodes positive
12 rounds of FOLFOX 04/14
Lung met growth 11/14
26 cycles Regorafenib (Stivarga) from 11/15 to 01/17
New lung met and chest/neck lymph nodes 01/17
1 cycle Folfiri
Re: CT Scan Tuesday
JJ2212 wrote:JudeD59 wrote:At least it wasn't until you got home, right?
Nope. It started right there on the scan table, but luckily I have a colostomy.
I think it depends on the contrast they give you to drink. I remember having a CT years ago when I had to drink something really nasty and grainy and I had massive diarrhea with that. The stuff they gave me was just a little clear liquid I mixed in iced tea and couldn't taste at all. It wasn't gastrogaffin, but similar to that, I think. And no diarrhea so far and the test was hours ago. I'm pushing fluids to flush it out of my system, kidneys especially, and my stomach is a little achy, but that's pretty normal for me these days since my reversal.
Anyway, thanks for the info.
Judy
56 yrs old, wife, mother to 4 daughters
RC Stage II T3N0M0 DX April 2, 2015
6 cm. mid-rectum-CEA 121
Xeloda and radiation finished 06/15/15- CEA 242
CEA right before surgery 81
LAR performed 8/12/15 Temporary ileostomy
CEA 10-21-15 1.6
PET scan 11-4-15 All clear
Port installed 11/11/15
Folfox started 11/18/15
Folfox stopped due to bad reaction
Reversal 2/17/16
CEA 2/3/16 1.7
CEA 3/31/16 1.3
CT Scan 4/12/16 All Clear
Port removed 4/21/16
CEA 5/24/17 1.4
RC Stage II T3N0M0 DX April 2, 2015
6 cm. mid-rectum-CEA 121
Xeloda and radiation finished 06/15/15- CEA 242
CEA right before surgery 81
LAR performed 8/12/15 Temporary ileostomy
CEA 10-21-15 1.6
PET scan 11-4-15 All clear
Port installed 11/11/15
Folfox started 11/18/15
Folfox stopped due to bad reaction
Reversal 2/17/16
CEA 2/3/16 1.7
CEA 3/31/16 1.3
CT Scan 4/12/16 All Clear
Port removed 4/21/16
CEA 5/24/17 1.4
Re: CT Scan Tuesday-Updated with results
The scan came back clear, thank God. The doctor said lungs and liver look good. The person who read the scan noted some changes near where the original tumor was, but doc said that is normal scarring from radiation, chemo, and surgery. I'll have a sigmoidoscopy with the surgeon in June just to make sure there isn't anything new growing in the area, but onc wasn't worried. He said the scan was over-read by the radiologist and that they rarely say the scan is clear anymore because they don't want to get sued. So everything is good for now. I go back for blood tests in July.
Judy
Judy
56 yrs old, wife, mother to 4 daughters
RC Stage II T3N0M0 DX April 2, 2015
6 cm. mid-rectum-CEA 121
Xeloda and radiation finished 06/15/15- CEA 242
CEA right before surgery 81
LAR performed 8/12/15 Temporary ileostomy
CEA 10-21-15 1.6
PET scan 11-4-15 All clear
Port installed 11/11/15
Folfox started 11/18/15
Folfox stopped due to bad reaction
Reversal 2/17/16
CEA 2/3/16 1.7
CEA 3/31/16 1.3
CT Scan 4/12/16 All Clear
Port removed 4/21/16
CEA 5/24/17 1.4
RC Stage II T3N0M0 DX April 2, 2015
6 cm. mid-rectum-CEA 121
Xeloda and radiation finished 06/15/15- CEA 242
CEA right before surgery 81
LAR performed 8/12/15 Temporary ileostomy
CEA 10-21-15 1.6
PET scan 11-4-15 All clear
Port installed 11/11/15
Folfox started 11/18/15
Folfox stopped due to bad reaction
Reversal 2/17/16
CEA 2/3/16 1.7
CEA 3/31/16 1.3
CT Scan 4/12/16 All Clear
Port removed 4/21/16
CEA 5/24/17 1.4
Re: CT Scan Tuesday-Updated with results
woo hooo DH T2 N1b M0. 3/15 positive nodes.
Stage IIIA moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma.
Tumor size 6 cm.
Left hemicolectomy 10/26/15.
FOLFOX 11/30/15 to 5/2/16, full 12 cycles.
10/3/16 CT scan clear.
11/10/17 CT: "Focal opacity along the left lower lung, 7 mm. Two small peripheral opacities along the right lower lobe, 2 to 3 mm. A few small to mildly prominent left-sided central mesenteric nodes, up to 13 mm.
June 2019: NED.
2020: NED 5 years. 4 mm lung nodule on CT
Stage IIIA moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma.
Tumor size 6 cm.
Left hemicolectomy 10/26/15.
FOLFOX 11/30/15 to 5/2/16, full 12 cycles.
10/3/16 CT scan clear.
11/10/17 CT: "Focal opacity along the left lower lung, 7 mm. Two small peripheral opacities along the right lower lobe, 2 to 3 mm. A few small to mildly prominent left-sided central mesenteric nodes, up to 13 mm.
June 2019: NED.
2020: NED 5 years. 4 mm lung nodule on CT
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