More cancer for my friend

My friend is going to her cancer surgeon Friday. Another positive node indicating colon cancer.  18 months ago she was cancer free. Her sister died three weeks ago with Mets... widespread. She died of renal failure prior to treatment.

It breaks my heart.


Follow up. I went with my best friend/ cousin to see the surgeon today. The biopsy confirms adenocarcinoma. A 4 cm tumor. The location cannot be pinpointed so she is having an MRI this afternoon. The location is either at the head of the pancreas, the Duodenum or possibility  being attached to the vena cava. Once it is located the doctors, the surgeon, her oncologist and consulting with her daughter ( she is a vascular surgeon) A determination will be made regarding surgery first or chemo therapy first.

She and members of her family have tested positive for Lynch Syndrome... this is indicative of hereditary cancer, especially colon. Very strong history of cancer in her family.

If it is pancreatic or duodenum tumor a Whipple procedure would be indicated.

It is an epidemic.

Let us know what the MRI shows, Joani. Hoping for the best. So sorry for your friend and everyone suffering from this terrible scourge of mankind.

Thank you

joani, so sorry but wish nothing but the best for your friend, a tragic situation.

knothead wrote:joani, so sorry but wish nothing but the best for your friend, a tragic situation.

Thank y’all so much. It broke my heart when she asked if she was going to die .

Thank y’all so much. It broke my heart when she asked if she was going to die .

I hope she will find peace in her journey. It is a difficult challenge she faces.

It is!

It's so sad that we're losing people close to us. One of my oldest tennis buddies is in a rehab facility now. His body is just falling apart. 5 spinal surgeries and a couple were botched. We won the city championships. But now he can barely walk with a walker. I sure hope your friend improves. But i guess we all are goners.

Joanimaroni wrote:It broke my heart when she asked if she was going to die .

Ohhhhhh....there are no words.

And how did you ever reply?

PkrBum wrote:But i guess we all are goners.

No "guessing" about it, of course. No one gets out alive.

The surgeon and oncologist have reviewed the scans and spoke with my cousin the vascular surgeon ( daughter) I will go with her to see the surgeon tomorrow for their decision. The tumor is too close to Vena Cava. Options will be explored regarding chemo, radiation and possible transfer. They are contacting M D Anderson.

Referral in process to MD Anderson. Records, scans and slides sent out today. The tumor is in the vena cava and duodenum.
The decision will be for immo or chemo therapy hoping to shrink the tumor to an operable size.
She will have a port put in this coming week. When the referral date is confirmed I will take her to Houston and her daughter will fly down. She is flying in tonight.

Going for the port 5:30 am Monday!

Best wishes..!!

They are contacting M D Anderson.

A tremendous decision. Your guidance and comfort helping the patient is deeply appreciated by your friend. It is so important with cancer to get to the research facilities. Anderson is the best cancer center in America. Our lives are a wonderful journey which ends, but the joy is the friendships and family ties one shares during our very short lives. Good deeds beget good deeds, and our very civilization is defined by our compassion for our fellow man.

The best of both....friends and family. Her ex husband and I are cousins but my friend and I are like sisters. We have always been Called “ aunt “ by our respective kids.

I'm glad for you that you have such a special friendship, Joani, but sorry for the perhaps very difficult road ahead.

Thanks, Sea, for your words of wisdom. We definitely reap what we sow, and oftentimes I don't think I've done enough sowing.

Joanimaroni wrote:Referral in process to MD Anderson. Records, scans and slides sent out today. The tumor is in the vena cava and duodenum.
The decision will be for immo or chemo therapy hoping to shrink the tumor to an operable size.  
She will have a port put in this coming week. When the referral date is confirmed I will take her to Houston and her daughter will fly down. She is flying in tonight.

Heard from M D Anderson the same day. Appointment made for Nov. 30 I spoke with her surgeon this morning when we went in for her port surgery. He and the oncologist want the appointment sooner. Got it moved to Nov. 20... not soon enough so we are working with the liaison to make it sooner. The open communication with M D Anderson is impressive.

That's good to hear.

PkrBum wrote:That's good to hear.

Ditto! Fingers and toes crossed for early appointment and effective results.

I don’t think they can get her in sooner unless they a cancellation.

I remember so well that one of the very hardest things about having cancer was all the damned waiting, which only exacerbates tension and worry. Sorry she (and you!) are having to deal with all this.

RealLindaL wrote:I remember so well that one of the very hardest things about having cancer was all the damned waiting, which only exacerbates tension and worry.  Sorry she (and you!) are having to deal with all this.

Because she has Lynch Syndrome a genetic mutation she has routine scans this was picked up and the repeat 3 months later showed an active tumor. Her sister, by the time she was symptomatic, it was too late.