1. < Pancreatic Cancer

Interesting case of new lesions, pain, but decreasing CA19-9

Posted by marienewland @mnewland99, Dec 23, 2024

Yesterday I went to ER with intense and acute pain in my right side. After CT&US it was found that my previous lesion in liver of 0.9cm which received SBRT radiation in October was now 4x5.7 cm and presented itself as “vague” or “subtle” inferior hepatic lesion but couldn’t be distinguished on US. I had a US because a CT showed possible edema in gallbladder. Also, a new 2.4cm lesion occurred next to the existing lesion. I just received news last Friday that my CA19-9 had decreased from 16 2 weeks ago to 8. This is weird as my tumor marker has been a very good indicator for me in the past. My monocytes yesterday were quite elevated from 2 weeks ago. My oncologist has already gone out of country for holidays and won’t be back for a few weeks. I plan to get a PET scan to verify any new cancerous activity. Also, I might be taking chemo this week and adding cisplatin back into my chemo mix if PET scan is positive. Does this scenario make sense to anyone? My husband thinks maybe the radiation I received in October may have te ei ed scarring and that’s what the scan shows as subtle or vague. But the intense doesn’t in my mind validate his guess.

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marienewland | @mnewland99 | Dec 23, 2024

Intense pain I meant to write.

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joiedevivre | @joiedevivre | Dec 23, 2024

Radiation to a new tumour for my sister-in-law at her stomach caused some inflammation and infection and therefore pain. If that happened to you, your markers should have shot up. Do go get a PET scan done quickly. I hope ER gave you something for the pain.

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2 replies
marienewland | @mnewland99 | Dec 23, 2024
In reply to @joiedevivre "Radiation to a new tumour for my sister-in-law at her stomach caused some inflammation and infection..." + (show)
@joiedevivre

Radiation to a new tumour for my sister-in-law at her stomach caused some inflammation and infection and therefore pain. If that happened to you, your markers should have shot up. Do go get a PET scan done quickly. I hope ER gave you something for the pain.

Jump to this post

Yes I did get some hydrocodone-acetaminophen for pain that I will use sparingly as I don’t like to take medication like that unless I don’t have a choice. My radiation was in October, and my pain just started so I’m not sure if it’s related. Thank you for your advice and I hope your sister in law is doing ok now.

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gamaryanne | @gamaryanne | Dec 24, 2024

My guess is that an MRI will be ordered for the liver and gall bladder .

MRI seems to be the confirming test for that area. I am in a clinical trial but scans are showing conflicting impressions. I attribute this, somewhat, to different radiologists reading and writing their impressions. My “home surgeon” has only one radiologist interpreting scans he orders. Difficult week to have alarming results.

Could it be your gallbladder? Right side pain…

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2 replies
joiedevivre | @joiedevivre | Dec 24, 2024
In reply to @gamaryanne "My guess is that an MRI will be ordered for the liver and gall bladder ...." + (show)
@gamaryanne

My guess is that an MRI will be ordered for the liver and gall bladder .

MRI seems to be the confirming test for that area. I am in a clinical trial but scans are showing conflicting impressions. I attribute this, somewhat, to different radiologists reading and writing their impressions. My “home surgeon” has only one radiologist interpreting scans he orders. Difficult week to have alarming results.

Could it be your gallbladder? Right side pain…

Jump to this post

My husband’s surgeon and oncologist can read the same PET scan differently. And the radiologists (a good number work in the hospital where we get the PET scans done) can each find different ‘bits’ and shadows in my husband’s body. Fortunately none are bright which would have suggested active cancer cells. All I can say is our cancer journey is all the more difficult because of this.

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1 reply
marienewland | @mnewland99 | Dec 24, 2024
In reply to @gamaryanne "My guess is that an MRI will be ordered for the liver and gall bladder ...." + (show)
@gamaryanne

My guess is that an MRI will be ordered for the liver and gall bladder .

MRI seems to be the confirming test for that area. I am in a clinical trial but scans are showing conflicting impressions. I attribute this, somewhat, to different radiologists reading and writing their impressions. My “home surgeon” has only one radiologist interpreting scans he orders. Difficult week to have alarming results.

Could it be your gallbladder? Right side pain…

Jump to this post

They saw a “giant” 4x5.7 lesion (but this must be a tumor?) and a new 2.5cmlesion next to it on the liver and those can cause pain?I got a PET scan today but won’t get results until Thursday and my oncologist is in India until mid January.0 it’s bad because I’m feeling very nauseous and weak and in pain and I’m trying not to let my kids know how bad it is though they are there are new lesions and that we don’t know their origin yet. I wish you the best on your trial and have a very Merry Christmas!

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gamaryanne | @gamaryanne | Dec 25, 2024

I hope your children are with you and a wonderful distraction. Also hoping they aren’t expecting you to entertain them 24/7!
I am near you visiting my son’s family just south of Irvine. Fortunately you do have a beautiful day to sit outside for some fresh air! 💜

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1 reply
marienewland | @mnewland99 | Dec 26, 2024
In reply to @joiedevivre "My husband’s surgeon and oncologist can read the same PET scan differently. And the radiologists (a..." + (show)
@joiedevivre

My husband’s surgeon and oncologist can read the same PET scan differently. And the radiologists (a good number work in the hospital where we get the PET scans done) can each find different ‘bits’ and shadows in my husband’s body. Fortunately none are bright which would have suggested active cancer cells. All I can say is our cancer journey is all the more difficult because of this.

Jump to this post

In my case not being lit up bright but seen done where else like the USendoscopy meant they were very small. The ones seen a year ago on my abdominal peritoneum never grew!

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marienewland | @mnewland99 | Dec 26, 2024
In reply to @gamaryanne "I hope your children are with you and a wonderful distraction. Also hoping they aren’t expecting..." + (show)
@gamaryanne

I hope your children are with you and a wonderful distraction. Also hoping they aren’t expecting you to entertain them 24/7!
I am near you visiting my son’s family just south of Irvine. Fortunately you do have a beautiful day to sit outside for some fresh air! 💜

Jump to this post

Cooking for the holidays has always been my thing and this year was NOT going to be an exception! I did give up making my homemade rolls so that my son could take me to mass and that was the perfect gift for me! my daughter and her boyfriend who live nearby came over to eat and exchange gifts and then did the cleanup of kitchen so it was a perfect day for me even though the pain is nonstop now. I fell asleep or passed out shortly after eating and never woke up until hours later and will get my PET results today. Yes, MRI emepuld have been a good choice but my dr is out of country and I dint leave my care to a nurse practitioner. I’m seeing the radiation specialist on Monday who did my MRIdean so maybe he’ll have some good options to recommend. You are my hero!!! Traveling to meet your son in Irvine!! I wish you the best in your care.

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