The Colon Club

So were my questions about the "wedge-shape hyperenhancing areas in the right hepatic lobe consistent with perfusional anomalies" that she refused to answer. I am so sorry I have put my husband through all this. We would have been better off staying at MGH.

“>>> Given the track record we've had thus far, I don't hold my breath to get any answer.... I really hate this woman.“

Well, that’s pretty telling. I think that if you’re are so set against it, don’t bother. But make sure it’s your husband that makes the final decision, he’ll have to live with it.

Oh, absolutely it is his decision. I have been as neutral with him as Switzerland for the past few days. Laid out what I know and what I don't know and the ball is in his court. I feel awful bringing him there, though, and I know I won't be able to forgive myself if things go sideways. The risks are incredibly high, and I pray that those "wedge-shape hyperenhancing areas in the right hepatic lobe consistent with perfusional anomalies" that Dr. Kemeny did not like being asked about are not there anymore (despite the fact that they are somewhat still visible on the MRI CDs from MGH I have viewed) and won't increase the [life threatening, e.g. cholangitis] risks to 20%.

Don’t be so hard on yourself. Your husband is a very lucky man to have you by his side as a strong advocate. All of your questions are great legit questions. I do hope your doctor or doctor’s staff will be answering them. (Pls do share if you get them)
One way or another, he will be NED after surgery. With pump, we pray for no liver or bile ducts complications, if no pump, we try our best with good supplements and/or mop up and/or maintenance chemo to prevent recurrence.

I had lots of questions for my chemo, surgery and radiation. Many doctors gave me different answers, and some I didn't like.

Being such a big disease there are more questions then answers.

Following your posts for a while, you seem like a very difficult person to deal with. But I guess your already are aware of this.

Holy cannoli! Just got his CA19-9 result. <1. What the heck?

The testing method is an immunoenzymatic assay
manufactured by Beckman Coulter Inc. and performed
on the UniCel DxI 800.

Values obtained with different assay methods or kits
may be different and cannot be used interchangeably.

Test results cannot be interpreted as absolute
evidence for the presence or absence of malignant
disease.

Test Performed by:
Mayo Clinic Laboratories - Rochester Superior Drive
3050 Superior Drive NW, Rochester, MN 55901

Ultra low CA199, less than 2 units, means that cimetidine cannot not do any good as a long term treatment. I'm not sure about a minimal short course for perioperative, e.g. 800 mg for 5-10 days (BSA for 100 kg). Time to stop the long term cimetidine program. i'd revisit the previous surgeon's Celebrex/celecoxib reasoning for pre-op.

This is why tests done, reported and discussed, sooner than later, are important. Damn the obstructions, -ists everybody, it is up to us. One could have had two years of insight and potential benefit from some other chemistry(s) if the gastroenterologist, surgeon or onc pulled their heads out. Otherwise we have make it a priority, and get it done ourselves.

Is surgery still happening today, with or without a pump? If so, I hope your husband has a quick recovery!

I need to catchup on how this is going. Looks like surgery is soon but I missed the past month here.

NHMike wrote:I need to catchup on how this is going. Looks like surgery is soon but I missed the past month here.

Surgery is today NHMike as I understand it, and I hope that everything will work out fine. Keeping my fingers crossed!

rp1954 wrote:This is why tests done, reported and discussed, sooner than later, are important. Damn the obstructions, -ists everybody, it is up to us. One could have had two years of insight and potential benefit from some other chemistry(s) if the gastroenterologist, surgeon or onc pulled their heads out. Otherwise we have make it a priority, and get it done ourselves.

Well said. And I totally agree!!!

Eight hour surgery. He’s still in recovery so I haven’t seen him yet. Here’s what we got: rapid onsite specimen evaluation (biopsy) of caudate lobe tumor - benign; of the one suspicious tumor - cancer; nearby that one is two other tumors, too deep to biopsy so were ablated (therefore never know if cancer or not); and another that was resected and later biopsied. Pump placed and flow scan looks good. There was one spot that was leaking outside the liver but D’Angelica was able to ligate that. So, all in all there was one met, two unknowns, and one we will find out. He’s spending the night in the PACU so he will have good continuous careful monitoring throughout the night.

Praying for a quick recovery! Are you feeling better about everything now?

mpbser wrote:Eight hour surgery. He’s still in recovery so I haven’t seen him yet. Here’s what we got: rapid onsite specimen evaluation (biopsy) of caudate lobe tumor - benign; of the one suspicious tumor - cancer; nearby that one is two other tumors, too deep to biopsy so were ablated (therefore never know if cancer or not); and another that was resected and later biopsied. Pump placed and flow scan looks good. There was one spot that was leaking outside the liver but D’Angelica was able to ligate that. So, all in all there was one met, two unknowns, and one we will find out. He’s spending the night in the PACU so he will have good continuous careful monitoring throughout the night.

Thank you for update. A lot to take in.. I hope that he can rest without pain & recover and that you(!) also can get some rest.
Sending healing thoughts !

There was quite the scene yesterday. Extremely stressful. Long story. Will update later.