Trying to understand diagnostic imaging report

Radiology reports are often very difficult for non-doctors to understand….sometimes they are scary, as radiologists don’t want to miss possible cancer….the words on this seem to indicate a mass and possible liver mets….ask your doc to explain it to be sure…sometimes what looks like a mass is either non-cancerous or something else, and many people over a lifetime have small non-cancerous lesions on their liver, which are sometimes watched unless quite large.sometimes, a biopsy is needed to be sure..they can get that in a colonoscopy or other procedures. Don’t be afraid to ask docs for clear explanations ! Wishing you good luck.

I’m in total agreement, I too find it difficult to understand what the radiologist is saying, I was given a Patient Portal when I first had cancer and I remember thinking what an advantage it was to see my results before I spoke with the doctor. I’m not so sure anymore because the comments are often very confusing or too much speculation that I pick up on too much. I know that some people find it a good way to formulate their questions in advance of speaking with the doctor but the conversation rarely goes the way that you wanted it to be, someone referred to it as a gift and a curse.

It is both good and bad.
I’ve learned to pick out phrases and words that help me know what specific statements I want explained. Communication was horrible with my first oncologist! I think he literally first looked at my information while in our first appointment.
I relocated and have a great doctor now.
Read it thru, know what you want explained and never stop thinking for yourself and asking questions.

I agree. Formulating some questions ahead of visit is helpful. Unless you have questions in front of you they may not get covered during visit. A portal that allows you to chart your doctor is very beneficial.

Thank you everyone for taking your time to answer my question and for helping me with giving me valuable advise. I really appreciate it and wish you all the best to all of you

@meriannr20288, have you met with the oncologist? What did you learn? How are you doing?

I’m not a Dr., but I have been around and involved with medicine for 40 years, recently as a pt with stage 3 rectal. I got very little info from my Dr.’s. Oncology and Radiology are big business, and technicians and non-clinicians are more involved than people who understand disease and treatment.
Take your path report and look up every word you don’t understand. Get a Gray’s Anatomy text book with illustrations. This is a science project you CAN do.
Find support groups like this one, research clinical trials.gov, and ask about ALL treatment options.
Stay on top of the information and reach out to friends and family.
Sending positive and calm energy to you.

@colleenyoung
Hi thank you for replying to my message. I just started my first chemo last Monday. My oncologist says I am stage 4 because cancer has spread to my liver.

The Anal Cancer Foundation did a video summit yesterday that they plan to make available thru YouTube or their website- 2 hrs of helpful information.

@meriannr20288, how are you doing on chemo?