Health | Mesothelioma | Cancer » Ct Scan

i do run on

admin — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 23:42:56 +0000

The echocardiogram was fine, the doctor found nothing unusual when she examined me, my butt is sore today from all the biking, the technician got the vein on the first try before the ct scan, I will have results in about a week, I got to go on a great walk with my sister today, my kids and spouse have just left on a two night canoe trip and this evening, I am going out for a grown-up dinner.

Life. Is. Good.

nothing new going on here

admin — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 11:52:08 +0000

Just got my CT results from a very up-beat sounding nurse.

No change.

I have not begun to appreciate how relieved I am.

Updated: I have a new post, The Metastatic Cancer Patient’s Guide to the CT Scan in 16 Easy Steps up at MyBreastCancerNetwork.Com.

really random news

admin — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 01:48:05 +0000

1. According to an article in the Globe andMail, women and men respond very differently when they are on the recieving end of an apology:

“Women who are starved of an apology for rude or hurtful behaviour suffer an increase in blood pressure which can raise the risk of a heart attack or stroke, a study found,” The Daily Telegraph reports. “But those who hear a well-timed ‘sorry’ calm down more quickly, with their blood pressure returning to normal 20 per cent faster, the research showed. Conversely, a man’s blood pressure takes 20 per cent longer to recover after an apology – suggesting men become more worked up after hearing an admission of guilt.”

2. My sister sent me an article from the CBC web site this morning, about a colossal cookbook typo with the subject line “Oops.” I’ve made some pretty big errors by not proofreading properly but this tops it all.

3. My friend, O. posted a story to Facebook today, with the headline “Woman with parrot perched on face arrested after throwing inhaler.” Note to self: Don’t throw an inhaler while a parrot is standing on your face. You will be arrested.

4. I’m still waiting for my CT scan results, which could be why I’m letting myself be distracted by all this silliness.

More About Purpose

admin — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 11:12:58 +0000

I tried to leave the cancer world, at least as much as I could while still seeing an oncologist regularly and being tested for cancer every three months. I tried not to focus on cancer, to go back to my “normal” life, but I learned the hard truth of surviving cancer, we never really go back to our “normal” before-cancer lives.

I’d also had to explore and redefine my faith. I never believed there could be no God. I have a mind that loves science. I can’t believe there is not an intelligent designer of life as we know it. A scientist calculated the odds of life being the result of random chance at 1 in 10 to the 40,000 power…about the odds of “having a tornado tear through a junkyard and form a Boeing 747 jetliner” (Sir Fred Hoyle speaking at the British Academy of Science). I loved the book The Science of God, written by a Jewish physicist with a PhD from MIT.

I was raised Christian, but still explored and compared other religions, I was never good at doing something just because I was told to do it. In the end, many years ago, I became a Christian. My earlier experiences in churches made me uncomfortable, so for many years I did not attend a church. My best place to worship still is not in a church, but amid beautiful trees and wildflowers and lakes, where I am surrounded by the works of my intelligent designer. That’s the first place I went when I received my cancer diagnosis, the place I go before every CT scan, the place I go when I am afraid or feel alone.

Faith puts a twist on a cancer diagnosis, though. Cancer doesn’t mean a potential ending to your life, your life is eternal. You never die, just change locations. And we will all someday cross the death threshold, so we don’t really “beat the odds” by surviving, the odds are a terminal fate for all of us. I wanted only two things after my cancer diagnosis. To raise my kids to adulthood, to not abandon them, and to make whatever time was left in my life meaningful. I wanted my life to make a difference. That’s all. No more retirement plans. No more plans to live to old age.

I recently read a book by Mark Batterson that I loved. He put into words what I think now;

“I am not convinced that the date of your death is the date on your gravestone. Most people die long before that date. We start dying when we have nothing to live for. And we don’t really start living until we find something worth dying for” (Wild Goose Chase).

Lots of people live to an old age long after they’ve died inside. In another book of Batterson’s he cites research presented that indicates “the greatest human fear is having lived a meaningless life”. I believe that’s true.

A few years after my diagnosis, I came into contact with others diagnosed with appendix cancer who were told, as I was, that there was not available treatment. They were told they were terminally ill. People who wanted to live long enough to raise their kids, like I did. People who didn’t know how to find and read medical literature. I felt it was wrong of me, as a medical professional who could locate, read and understand medical literature and who had read almost all of the medical information published about appendix cancer, not to share what I knew. I was a nurse, I had made a career of being the go-between in the medical community. I had a career educating patients about their disease and translating medical information into layman’s terms for the general public. As a medical professional and one of the afflicted, I was perfect for the job of educating and supporting newly diagnosed appendix cancer patients.

I didn’t know how to communicate with all of those diagnosed with a rare cancer who were spread out all over the world. The Internet seemed the only way. I hated the idea of putting my personal information on the Internet. I never gave even friends medical information or direction outside of my work environment. I never let strangers know my medical credentials. I’d always made a point to keep my name and photos off of the Internet. I wasn’t very Internet savvy and had no clue how to design a web site.

But I signed up to take an 8 hour evening class in beginning web site design at a local high school. I couldn’t afford the software for the class, so for the first time ever tried out EBay and found it for $35 (my first financial dealing online with a stranger, something else I’d sworn not to do).

The rest of my life changed forever with that decision.

Guest Post # 2: Mom’s reponse to son’s scholarship essay

admin — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 07:02:46 +0000

I think I am so much more emotionally sensitive than my son has ever been. The essay he wrote for this scholarship and for a college application struck me as very thoughtful in its almost winding perusal of our ancestors and their experiences as compared to what we face today in our own lives.

My son is my only child, and I still do not know if he is truly worried about my prognosis. He holds so much in and for the most part, we are opposites many ways. I do not hold in my emotions on a daily basis, but Will seems to do this, funny thing is though, he may not even FEEL the level of emotionality that I do. This essay he wrote over a year after my diagnosis; told me for the first time, that he was concerned about perhaps losing me to cancer sometime soon. I have not told him the gory details of how aggressive the signet ring call cancer is known to be, but is it really aggressive for every patient? I don t think anyone knows. I love him so much, I will assume it is NOT aggressive in my case.

For now, I will be satisfied if my CT scan from 2 days ago tells us nothing is growing large enough to be seen, and to get him on his way to college- on his adventure to further his survivor genes, much as our ancestors did. I hope and pray with all my being to see him graduate, and have more of our descendants this will be what keeps me going and surviving too.

Lisa Laws, age 51, Apex NC

Whew!!!!

admin — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 10:26:36 +0000

I got my CT scan results back, they were fine, no cancer. It was a long 36 hours waiting for the result, especially in light of the slightly elevated tumor marker, but I’ve had to wait longer before. So I feel so relieved…and glad that I can not do another CT scan for a year.

Thank you to the many of you who sent prayers and good thoughts my way, they were very much appreciated.

BENIGN MESOTHELIOMA – What is Benign Mesothelioma?

admin — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 16:52:59 +0000

Definition:

A noncancerous tumor of the pleura (lining of the lung and chest cavity).

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Nonmalignant mesothelioma is usually a localized tumor that affects men more frequently than women. The tumor may grow to a large size and compress the lung, causing the symptoms of shortness of breath.

Symptoms:

chroniccough

shortness of breath

chest pain

Signs and tests:

A physical examination reveals the clubbed appearance of the fingers.

Tests that may show benign mesothelioma:

chest X-ray

CT scan of the chest

open lung biopsy

Treatment:

Surgery is indicated for a solitary tumor.

Expectations (prognosis):

The outcome is expected to be good with prompt treatment.

Complications:

Pleural effusion (fluid escaping into the membranes around the lungs) is a complication.

Calling your health care provider:

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if you notice a chroniccough or other signs of mesothelioma.

Prevention:
There is no known prevention for this very rare disorder.

Biopsies in The Diagnosis of Mesothelioma

admin — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 15:37:11 +0000

A biopsy is performed to diagnosis some medical conditions, including cancer. A physician will remove a piece of tissue, which is then sent to a pathologist. The pathologist will look at the tissue under the microscope, and may perform additional tests, to determine if there is disease in the tissue.

Patients may need a biopsy after a mass was seen on physical exam or radiological imaging. Biopsies may also be performed when other laboratory tests are abnormal, such as blood counts or Pap smears. A biopsy may be needed to diagnosis a variety of different conditions, including infection, inflammatory diseases, or cancer.

The types of biopsies include:

Fine needle aspiration – A small needle is inserted into the tissue, and cells or fluids are removed. This type of biopsy removes the smallest amount of tissue. Fine needle aspirations are commonly performed for thyroid or breast masses.

Incisional biopsy – This type of biopsy removes a slightly larger piece of tissue to allow the pathologist to have a larger specimen to examine. A larger tissue sample is necessary in some cases to determine if disease is present. Often the physician will use a CT scan or ultrasound to help them locate the tissue they want to biopsy. Incisional biopsies are taken of the breast, prostate, or outer portion of the lung.

Excisional biopsy – In this procedure, the surgeon is attempting to remove the entire diseases tissue. Excisional biopsies are performed with general or local anesthesia because a larger incision into the skin and tissue is necessary. In addition to making a diagnosis, the pathologist will look at the borders of the excisional biopsy to be sure that they are clear of disease. If disease is present at the borders of the biopsy, it may mean that the tumor was not entirely removed. In this case the surgeon may decide to perform an additional procedure to remove more tissue.

Endoscopic biopsy – This type of biopsy if performed with the help of a fiberoptic endoscope, which allows the physician to visualize internal organs without making a surgical incision. This type of biopsy is commonly performed on the gastrointestinal tract, bladder, joints, chest cavity and abdominal cavity.

Punch biopsy – Dermatologists perform punch biopsies of skin lesions. A small cylindrical punch is taken of a rash or mass on the skin.

Bone marrow biopsy – This type of biopsy involves the insertion of a needle into the bone, commonly the hip, with removal of an aspiration of cells and a cylindrical piece of tissue. Bone marrow biopsies are used in the diagnosis of diseases of the blood and bones.

A physician will choose the correct type of biopsy to view the abnormal tissue. Some masses, such as thyroid nodules, can frequently be diagnosed with a fine needle aspiration. Others, such as lymph nodes and breast masses, require more tissue. Patients will be made as comfortable as possible during the procedure. This may involve local anesthesia, general anesthesia, or drugs that will cause sedation and relaxation. Fine needle aspirations and some incisional biopsies can be performed in the doctor office.

The results of a biopsy may be available the following day. In some cases, the pathologist has to perform special tests that require more time in order to provide a diagnosis. In this case, it may take several days or longer to get the results.

Sometimes a biopsy does not provide enough information to determine the diagnosis. If this is because of an inadequate amount of tissue in the original biopsy, the physician may want to perform another biopsy. If a fine needle aspiration or incisional biopsy shows a malignancy, it may be necessary to perform an excisional biopsy to remove the tumor. Some chronic conditions may require repeated biopsies to monitor the health of the patient.

Pericardial Mesothelioma

admin — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 11:20:44 +0000

Pericardial mesothelioma is the least common form of a mesothelioma. Only around 5% of mesothelioma cases are pericardial. This type of mesothelioma affects the pericardium, which is a membranous lining that surrounds the heart, providing both support and protection to the organ.

Asbestos and Pericardial Mesothelioma

It is well known that asbestos fibers inhaled into the lung are the cause of pleural mesothelioma, which affects the lining of the lungs. However, the means by which asbestos causes pericardial mesothelioma is not well understood, although it is believed that asbestos fibers may travel from the lungs to the heart via the bloodstream.

Once asbestos fibers are lodged in the membranes surrounding the heart, they cannot be eliminated by the body. These fibers then begin to cause changes in the pericardial membrane. While the exact nature of these changes is not completely understood, it is known that these changes eventually lead to uncontrolled growth of cells in the pericardial layers, causing malignant mesothelioma tumors to form. As malignant cells grow in the pericardium, the membranes thicken and become filled with fluid, putting pressure on the heart and causing a variety of symptoms.

Symptoms of Pericardial Mesothelioma

The rarity of pericardial mesothelioma has made it difficult for specialists to determine a specific set of common symptoms. The following symptoms often indicate a cardiac condition, but further tests are required to confirm a diagnosis of pericardial mesothelioma.

Chest pain

Irregular heartbeat

Heart palpitations

Shortness of breath

Pericardial Mesothelioma Diagnosis

Diagnosis of pericardial mesothelioma is problematic, as the nature of these symptoms is relatively non-specific, in that they can appear as a result of several other cardiac conditions. Diagnosis will involve reviewing an individual’s medical history as well as assessing their current medical condition.

Chest x-rays, a CT scan or an MRI scan may all be used to diagnose pericardial mesothelioma. However, to confirm the diagnosis and to determine whether the point of original of the cancer is the pericardium or another area, a biopsy must be performed. This involves removal of fluid or tissue from the pericardial area, and testing of this tissue or fluid for the presence of malignant mesothelioma cells.

Treatment of Pericardial Mesothelioma

Unfortunately for most people who are diagnosed with pericardial mesothelioma, by the time symptoms of the disease appear, the cancer has progressed to a stage where conventional treatments are largely ineffective for anything other than providing temporary relief of symptoms. The difficulty of diagnosing pericardial mesothelioma at an early stage means that the long-term prognosis for most people with the disease is very poor. The average patient survives just six months post-diagnosis.

In rare cases, the disease may be diagnosed early enough that surgical procedures may provide some benefit. If pericardial tumors are small and have not spread to the lungs, chest wall or lymph nodes, radical surgery may successfully remove most cancerous tissue; however, such surgery is very risky due to the proximity of the heart.

For most people with pericardial mesothelioma, palliative treatment is the only option. This may include a procedure called fine needle aspiration, which removes excess fluid from the pericardium to relive pressure on the heart. Radiation therapy may be used to kill cancer cells and reduce the size of tumors, but this procedure is dangerous, as the heart and lungs themselves may be damaged. Currently there are no chemotherapeutic options for this type of mesothelioma.

Health | Mesothelioma | Cancer » Ct Scan

i do run on

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Whew!!!!

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Biopsies in The Diagnosis of Mesothelioma

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Pericardial Mesothelioma

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