If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the
FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to
register or
login before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.
| 19 JUN 2007 at 3:30am |
Randy-JAJourneyman
Posts : 1351
Joined: 11 OCT 2002
Location: US
Status : Offline | Anyhow, last Monday we go to the doctor's for the results of my son's scans. He's been doing great, put on weight, been excercising and is back to work. Plus he feels great. But I just knew in my heart that we were about to get f'ed over again as that seems to be my life story. I'm not kidding when I say that, I really just knew.
So of course the doctor tells us that the cancer that was treated by the chemo is gone, but that there is some cancer near the bottom of his spine in an inoperable place. Starts with the first we need to try and opearte if possible and then do radiation or maybe just radiation without the operation as the chances for the operation are slim. As everyone else was too upset to ask any questions, I asked the doctor if it is possible that the spot is just maybe scar tissue (this happened to me after my lung cancer, they told me that I had cancer again and after I argued with them that I didn't they finally admitted after bloodwork, etc. that I had a lot of scar tissue in my chest from the surgery and radiation which is why I now have respiratory problems). So I also ask, "Well, why don't we just wait and see what happens? If we keep on top of it, then if does start to spread we should know right away." To which he tells me that this is not a good idea, it moght not respond to chemo again, etc. Worse case scenario stuff.
Finally the doctor suggests that we see a specialist (Which I found kind of surprising as the cancer doctors in Pittsburgh are supposed to be the best in the world) the doctor who worked on Lance Armstrong. The doctor is located in Indianapolis (here is where it gets really spooky, that very morning before we left for the doctors, I was on the internet checking out a game convention someone suggested I should go to. So I showed the website for the convention to my son and said, "We should go to this, it looks like the old days of the E3 and it's only a five hour drive to the convention and we've never been to Indianapolis before." My family all think this was some sort of cosmic sign)
So two days later we're still waiting for the doctors to call back with the info on when we need to be in Indy, etc. The call finally comes and the doctor has suggested that we just Fed Ex all test results to him and he will get back to us. On Friday we get a phone call from the doctor in Indy, he says that yes there is something there, but instead of operating or doing radiation, let's just wait and see what happens. Maybe nothing will ever happen, but to be safe Randy has to have blood work done at least once a month and PET Scrans/MRIs every other month to keep on top of this. So in other words, we are kind of in limbo right now hoping that nothing happens, but waiting for something to happen. Could be months, could be years, could be never.
|
| 19 JUN 2007 at 4:21am |
Lady KestrelGuild Master
Posts : 4036
Joined: 27 SEP 2004
Location: US, NJ
Status : Offline | Thanks for the update, Randy. Let's hope it's never. Hugs and good wishes to Randy, Jr.
"Where is the fountain that throws up these flowers in a ceaseless outbreak of ecstasy?"
-Rabindranath Tagore
|
| 19 JUN 2007 at 5:17pm |
ValGuild Master
Posts : 3464
Joined: 2 OCT 2002
Location: US
Status : Offline | OMG, that is so weird and strange and weird. I hope it is scar tissue and nothing bad ever happens....
We can be heroes, just for one day.
|
| 19 JUN 2007 at 6:31pm |
TechnoSpikePrivate Detective
Posts : 581
Joined: 26 APR 2005
Location: PT
Status : Offline | Best wishes to your son, you and the rest of your family, Randy
|
| 19 JUN 2007 at 9:34pm |
InieJourneyman
Posts : 856
Joined: 27 OCT 2002
Status : Online | I totally agree with Val, this is too weird! But scar tissue isn't that uncommon in these circumstances. I'll keep my fingers crossed!! All the best to you and your family, Randy! It must be really awful dealing with all this. Waiting (with this kind of anxiety) usually takes a lot of time to get "used to". But it's good to hear Randy Jr is feeling better. I'm impressed, back to work and exercising!
|
| 19 JUN 2007 at 10:21pm |
karlaAdministrator
Posts : 2588
Joined: 27 JUL 2003
Location: US, Close to the Edge
Status : Offline | You, Randy Jr. and the rest of your family remain in my thoughts and prayers, Randy. Let's hope the worst is over!
|
| 19 JUN 2007 at 11:07pm |
SirDaveGuild Master
Posts : 4940
Joined: 17 OCT 2002
Location: US
Status : Online | Originally Posted By Randy-JA (19 JUN 2007 3:29am)
So in other words, we are kind of in limbo right now hoping that nothing happens, but waiting for something to happen. Could be months, could be years, could be never.
Having been through this with a family member and in other cases more generally, I am a big 'my glass is half full' fan and from that point of view I'm glad that you got information from the 2nd physician that gave what I would call a better and in some ways more positive perspective for you (than the info from the first one). That can mean a lot. Also, I am especially glad that you got a 2nd opinion- the fact that there are such different views in complex cases (like this) as to what the evidence means & what needs to be done is not something most of the lay public is aware of, but it is, in fact, the rule, not the exception. Unfortunately, physicians tend to say things as if they are telling you 'what is' rather than 'what their opinion is'.
One thing I would suggest considering given the feeling of limbo you are in is possibly have a face-to-face sit down appointment with the Indy physician if you felt comfortable with his demeanor on the telephone. Since you've probably got even more questions now since the phonecall, you might come away from a sit-down with him feeling a lot better about where things stand. If that doesn't seem like something that would be helpful then even consider a 3rd opinion. If this the same type of situation as Lance Armstrong's then there are physicians who specialize in only that sort of thing at centers such as MD Anderson, UCLA etc.
Hope none of this sounds presumptious; just info from tactics I've used myself.
The future ain't what it used to be!
|
| 19 JUN 2007 at 11:10pm |
HelenGuild Master
Posts : 3436
Joined: 12 OCT 2002
Location: US
Status : Offline | My God, I am so sorry to hear that you have to live in limbo like this.
On the one hand it may never do anything, so thats good, but then on the other hand it might, not good. :-/
And this has got to be so stressful to have to go thru this month after month waiting for the other shoe to drop...or not.
I know I stress waiting for the results everytime I have to get bloodwork and an ultrasound, and thats only twice a year.
Im really sorry to hear this and pray to God they will somehow be able to find
out for sure that its nothing. And I cant even imagine how you must feel, its so much harder when its your child going thru something like this. :'(
I am keeping you and your family in my prayers.
Helen
|
| 19 JUN 2007 at 11:25pm |
Terry PenrodGrand Inquisitor
Posts : 6693
Joined: 16 OCT 2004
Location: US, Texas
Status : Offline | .
I so hope the mass turns out to be nothing more than harmless scar tissue Randy - and in the meantime, at least your son is feeling good, looking good, being active and generally able to enjoy life. He is also obviously surrounded by lots of love and support from those closest to him.
For whatever time any of us has on this earth, every day we can count those blessings is a really good one.
Cheers, Terry
|
| 20 JUN 2007 at 12:48pm |
alkis21Schattenjger
Posts : 2112
Joined: 23 OCT 2002
Location: GR
Status : Offline | Best of luck Randy, I hope everything turns out well for you.
|
| 20 JUN 2007 at 2:36pm |
| Deleted User | It IS scar tissue!
Do not be afraid what MIGHT be wrong.
I could tell a story here about how my wife was nearly been aborted from our daughter, just because the doctors didn't see anything.....yet. So on that day I demanded an extra test, because I couldn't believe my wife wasn't pregnant after 7 years going through hell. And 9 month's later, there she was.
So, you're right to follow your instincts, Randy.
Doctors don't know everything.
Good luck, man.
I will pray for you, bubbah.
|
| 20 JUN 2007 at 3:00pm |
kateSorcerer Apprentice
Posts : 245
Joined: 20 FEB 2007
Status : Online | sometimes i think doctors don't know what there talking about, it seems sometime to drag things out to make more money and scare you to death, i've been shaking all over and they have tried to put me on anxiety meds and guess what i'm still shaking , so i got on the internet and looked up my symptoms and i think i might have lyme disease, i' m scared, what if its not, but i really will pray for your son, don't always go with want the doctor says find one that really whats to get to the bottom of things, and instead one that whats to make your son go through things when there never was anything wrong. my daughter got pnemonia and we all had it but her white blood count was low, so he said to come back in two weeks, the longest two weeks of my life, and before i left after he told about her blood count i asked him what else could cause this and he said possibly bone marrow disease so i got on the internet and looked up pnemonia and it said that your white blood will sometimes drop because pnemonia drains your system, so two weeks later i find out her levels are normal, i found a new doctor too. good luck to your son, if he believes in getting better the mind can do wonderful things, wish you well randy
|
| 20 JUN 2007 at 6:46pm |
SirDaveGuild Master
Posts : 4940
Joined: 17 OCT 2002
Location: US
Status : Online | Originally Posted By kate (20 JUN 2007 3:00pm)
sometimes i think doctors don't know what there talking about, it
Sometimes it may seem that way, but far more often they are simply human trying to do their best. Trying to figure out what's going on with someone whose symptoms could be a dozen or more different things (not to mention how difficult human communication is in the first place when people are trying to tell their doctor about their symptoms). Add to that the fact that when you think of it, isn't it better to have a doctor who is sure of himself/herself and willing to make the tough decisions and judgments, even though sometimes, as is almost inevitable with complex cases, he/she may not get it quite right (which is why it's good to get 2nd and even 3rd opinions)? I'm only mentioning this to clarify that I think Randy's got very good physicians. After all, the first physician suggested contacting the 2nd physician which is pretty classy.
The future ain't what it used to be!
|
| 20 JUN 2007 at 8:49pm |
MissBSchattenjger
Posts : 2217
Joined: 15 OCT 2002
Status : Online | Doctors will ALWAYS give you the worst case scenario, even if that means they leave you hanging with many questions and few answers. They are TRAINED to do this in order to avoid lawsuits. And it doesn't hurt that they look like heroes if things turn out okay. Keep that in mind. Trust me, I've been a nurse for nearly 14 years now.
My name is Bethany and I'm the daughter of Gamergal/Michelle.
|
