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Cancer cells found after surgery
I was diagnosed with cancer on the tail of my pancreas. 5 months chemo, 15 radiation treatments and surgery on Oct 27. Had my post op visit and was informed pathology found cancer cells in the duct. I see the surgeon on the 9th. Can I demand surgery to remove the cancer they missed on the first surgery? Please, any advice would be appreciated.
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@carfbuch
You are correct that surgeons cannot visualize circulating cells during a surgery.
@akrhodes7320
As a nurse familiar with OR procedures both on my patients (in recovery room) and myself for several surgeries, yes, tissue samples are sent to Pathology from OR but that in no way has ever been guaranteed to be the final pathology report to my years of experience.
Final pathology report can take up to ?a week.
If something is v unusual the samples may be sent to other locations for extra opinions by specialists in the focus area —> think various cancers - brain, bone, abdominal organs, etc.
The sample taken and examined during surgery even by pathologist is best explained as a “rough” look. Later they will do various thin slices, use dye stains, etc, different technical equipment.
Does this help explain it?
And sadly, sometimes more cancer cells are found and the patient may need to return for further excision etc. Not uncommon in melanoma skin cancers also.
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2 ReactionsBy the way, one of my grandkids had a brain tumor removed a few years back. First the pathology came back as a Glioblastoma multiforme (hope I spelled that correctly). But then as the tumor was examined more closely it was determined to be something more unusual though pathologists weren’t sure. So then all the path results were seen by about 4 different places across the US who had even more extensive research and experience with potential tumor - probably took 5-6 weeks for a concurrent decision. Turns out it was a form of tumor usually seen in young patients and not adults her age.
So it can be a journey from discovering a tumor to actually learning what it’s all about and how best to treat it…
@akrhodes7320 My husband had a Distal Pancreatomy in July 2024. Surgeon said they got all of the Cancer. He also told us that the Cancer was in 14 of the 20 Lymph Nodes that he removed. He also told us that they got clean margins .
I never understood from the beginning how he could say that he got it all when it had already moved into the Lymphatic System. How could he possibly know that it was not in any other lymph nodes ?
Well, Pathology Report came back that they did not get clean margins. I was told that there is a pathologist in the operating room checking but then everything gets sent out to another pathologist who double checks everything and writes up the report.
Not only that, but the Cancer was in other lymph nodes in my Husband's body as well as all
through his lungs. Stage 4 before he even had the surgery.
I honestly don't blame anyone and neither does he. He had a really tough time recuperating from the surgery but I think the fact that they removed what they did has certainly given him a lot more time than he would have had.
Oncologist put him on Palliative care right away so he has not had any treatment at all. Once he recovered from the surgery and all of the initial setbacks, he has been living mostly a normal life. He does get pain in his abdomen, back and stomach quite a bit but it has been manageable . No cancer in his Liver yet which is a blessing.
Wow. I don’t know what to say. I do feel certain that at some point before summer I will have issues similar to your husbands. Your husband has a great attitude I pray you have many years left together.