Biopsy Question

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Rstarrg
Posts: 69
Joined: Thu Aug 27, 2015 7:25 pm

Biopsy Question

Postby Rstarrg » Thu Feb 20, 2020 6:58 pm

Been a while since I’ve posted. Long story short. All was good and NED during follow up after LAR surgery, chemists, etc. lost my insurance so last scan and blood work was done Mar 2018. Went to doc Jan 2020 and had 3.4 CEA which was up from 2.5 Mar 2028. So had CT and only issue was two non-significant incidental liver lesions. Had MRI. Doctor says radiologist says appears to be benign Adenomas but small and want to follow up with MRI IN 6 months. So I was feeling relieved. CPN called tonight and says that I may want to have a biopsy and not wait 6 months. I was kind of excited about 6 month break. Thoughts? What would you do?
Diag rectal 2a 7/27/15
Age 43
9/18/15 completed radi and xeloda
LAR Surgery 10/23/15 w/temp ileo
Started post surgery chemo (xeloda and infusions (8 total) 11/30/15
Completed 7/8 oxiplatin and Zelda
5/17/16 reversal
8/23/16 CT Scan (getting results 8/26)
Widow
Lost husband 7/14 to carcinoma unknown primary
Mother to 3 boys - 15, 13 and 11
NED 8/16, 11/16
Next scan end of 2/17

Rstarrg
Posts: 69
Joined: Thu Aug 27, 2015 7:25 pm

Re: Biopsy Question

Postby Rstarrg » Thu Feb 20, 2020 6:59 pm

Sorry should have reviewed - some words jumbled. Should be chemo and 2019 was last scan before 2020.
Diag rectal 2a 7/27/15
Age 43
9/18/15 completed radi and xeloda
LAR Surgery 10/23/15 w/temp ileo
Started post surgery chemo (xeloda and infusions (8 total) 11/30/15
Completed 7/8 oxiplatin and Zelda
5/17/16 reversal
8/23/16 CT Scan (getting results 8/26)
Widow
Lost husband 7/14 to carcinoma unknown primary
Mother to 3 boys - 15, 13 and 11
NED 8/16, 11/16
Next scan end of 2/17

Brearmstrong
Posts: 112
Joined: Sun Mar 26, 2017 3:24 pm
Location: CT

Re: Biopsy Question

Postby Brearmstrong » Fri Feb 21, 2020 8:34 pm

I would want the biopsy and know for certain that it’s not cancer. That way if it is, you can catch it early. A lot can happen in 6 months.
50 F diag 1/17
Muc Adeno 4cm
mod diff G2 T4aN2
nodes 8/50
CEA 4.6 after surgery <.05
KRAS G12D MSS
FOLFOX Apr-sep 17
Nov 17 PET p aortic nodes Stage IV
Folfori w/avastin
May 18 surgery on nodes xeloda 2yr
Aug 18-May 20 NED
July 20 hysterectomy
July 21 vats right lung
Clinical trial- failed liver Mets biopsy shows now poorly differentiated carcinoma.
HAI pump at MSK may 2022
Nov met to pancreas- causing pain
Radiation ablation to pancreas Dec 22
New lung Mets watch and wait

Rock_Robster
Posts: 1027
Joined: Thu Oct 25, 2018 5:27 am
Location: Brisbane, Australia

Re: Biopsy Question

Postby Rock_Robster » Fri Feb 21, 2020 10:21 pm

I also wouldn’t want to wait 6 months, but biopsies do have their own risks to consider, particularly if it does turn out to be malignant. Is there a possibility of scanning sooner, eg 2-3 months? If indeed metastatic then I would imagine (not a doctor) that this much time without chemotherapy would show some change.

Good luck,
Rob
41M Australia
2018 Dx RC
G2 EMVI LVI, 4 liver mets
pT3N1aM1a Stage IVa MSS NRAS G13R
CEA 14>2>32>16>19>30>140>70
11/18 FOLFOX
3/19 Liver resection
5/19 Pelvic IMRT
7/19 ULAR
8/19 Liver met
8/19 FOLFOX, FOLFOXIRI, FOLFIRI
12/19 Liver resection
NED 2 years
11/21 Liver met, PALN, lung nodules
3/22 PVE, lymphadenectomy, liver SBRT
10/22 PALN SBRT
11/22 Liver mets, peri nodule. Xeloda+Bev
4/23 XELIRI+Bev
9/23 ATRIUM trial
12/23 Modified FOLFIRI+Bev
3/24 VAXINIA (CF33 + hNIS) trial

Rstarrg
Posts: 69
Joined: Thu Aug 27, 2015 7:25 pm

Re: Biopsy Question

Postby Rstarrg » Sat Feb 22, 2020 4:29 pm

Thanks for the replies. ❤️
Diag rectal 2a 7/27/15
Age 43
9/18/15 completed radi and xeloda
LAR Surgery 10/23/15 w/temp ileo
Started post surgery chemo (xeloda and infusions (8 total) 11/30/15
Completed 7/8 oxiplatin and Zelda
5/17/16 reversal
8/23/16 CT Scan (getting results 8/26)
Widow
Lost husband 7/14 to carcinoma unknown primary
Mother to 3 boys - 15, 13 and 11
NED 8/16, 11/16
Next scan end of 2/17

Lee
Posts: 6207
Joined: Sun Apr 16, 2006 4:09 pm

Re: Biopsy Question

Postby Lee » Sat Feb 22, 2020 5:23 pm

I just went through a recent cancer scare.

I'm a 16 year survivor of rectal cancer. I had radiation, LOTS of it. Anyway last fall, started passing a few drops of blood in my underwear. Assumed it was bladder cancer. Went to my primary, yep there is blood in my urine and send me off to a Urologist. Bladder is fine, but through very tests, there's something on my left kidney. Yes I had to know. Early January Urologist went up into bladder and up into kidney and took biopsies of this blip. The good news, no cancer. As for the small amount of blood, everything else is fine, so Urologist says this is my new normal. Guess as more people are beating cancer, and with the amount of radiation I had, yes they are starting to see people like me. Everything is fine, this is just my new normal.

Moral of story, not all blips are cancer. Hope it's that way for you too.

Lee
rectal cancer - April 2004
46 yrs old at diagnoses
stage III C - 6/13 lymph positive
radiation - 6 weeks
surgery - August 2004/hernia repair 2014
permanent colostomy
chemo - FOLFOX
NED - 16 years and counting!

Rstarrg
Posts: 69
Joined: Thu Aug 27, 2015 7:25 pm

Re: Biopsy Question

Postby Rstarrg » Sat Feb 22, 2020 5:56 pm

Thanks Lee!! Good news is that my CEA level is normal. My onc says to wait and quite frankly, I’m tired of tests and being poked and prodded and medical appointments and anxiety and everything else. But I am grateful that so far I’m better than a lot and I do recognize this fact. Hugs to all.
Diag rectal 2a 7/27/15
Age 43
9/18/15 completed radi and xeloda
LAR Surgery 10/23/15 w/temp ileo
Started post surgery chemo (xeloda and infusions (8 total) 11/30/15
Completed 7/8 oxiplatin and Zelda
5/17/16 reversal
8/23/16 CT Scan (getting results 8/26)
Widow
Lost husband 7/14 to carcinoma unknown primary
Mother to 3 boys - 15, 13 and 11
NED 8/16, 11/16
Next scan end of 2/17

Gravelyguy
Posts: 382
Joined: Thu Jul 05, 2018 6:03 pm

Re: Biopsy Question

Postby Gravelyguy » Tue Feb 25, 2020 10:19 am

Hi,

You can certainly wait if you choose but just to let you know, at the start of my journey I had a liver biopsy and other than taking it easy for a few days, it was not a very difficult procedure. Just an FYI!

Dave
6/17 dx mRC t3n1m1 very low rectal tumor 2 liver Mets 1.3 cm and .9 cm

6/17 begin 4 rounds Folfox w/Vectibix
9/17 short course radiation
10/17 rectal and liver resection LAR with coloanal anastomosis (no rectum left)
11/17-3/18 8 rounds Folfox
6/18 still NED!! Takedown
8/28/18 still NED! CEA .8 new low for me
10/18/18 colonoscopy clear
12/12/18 CEA .9 still NED!
6/11/19 CEA 1.0
12/19/19 CEA 1.0 still NED!
6/17/20 CEA 1.1 still NED!
12/15/20 CEA 1.1still NED!
12/16/21 CEA 1.2 still NED!

Rstarrg
Posts: 69
Joined: Thu Aug 27, 2015 7:25 pm

Re: Biopsy Question

Postby Rstarrg » Tue Feb 25, 2020 10:36 pm

Thanks Dave, my best to you.
Diag rectal 2a 7/27/15
Age 43
9/18/15 completed radi and xeloda
LAR Surgery 10/23/15 w/temp ileo
Started post surgery chemo (xeloda and infusions (8 total) 11/30/15
Completed 7/8 oxiplatin and Zelda
5/17/16 reversal
8/23/16 CT Scan (getting results 8/26)
Widow
Lost husband 7/14 to carcinoma unknown primary
Mother to 3 boys - 15, 13 and 11
NED 8/16, 11/16
Next scan end of 2/17


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