Cat scan lesions

Karenb1

I have a question. On the last cat scan on 12/5 ther were small lesions, with the largest being 10mm. The oncologist says she will do next cat scan on 2/22 on the same day as round 12 of chemo. So, my question. Is, dont they usually keepcdoong chemo until all spots/lesions/nodules are gone? Had 40% reduction on both previous scans.

cwitt

I’m chemo for life so each oncologist is different but yes I would think you would keep going until no evidence of disease.

JaneA

Everyone is different. They may want to confirm that the lesion is cancerous - is it a lung nodule? I had 3 spots in my lungs, but my oncologist believed that only the biggest one was cancer. She took my case to the tumor committee, and the radiology oncologist agreed with her and said that he could do SBRT radiation on that lung met. So I had chemo for 6 cycles, pelvic radiation towards the rectal tumor, the SBRT radiation for the lung met, and then I had my surgery. I still had six positive lymph nodes so I had 6 more cycles of chemo. My scans have been clear ever since.

So as you see, treatments vary by whether it's colon or rectal - the chemo is the same - but the sequence of events can be very different.

Karenb1

It is in the Peritoneal.
Cat Scan says: Peritoneal nodularity along the left paracolic gutter measures slightly smaller from 11 mm to 8 mm. Peritoneal lesion in the left midabdomen is also decreased in size from 20 mm to 10 mm. Nodular lesion anterior to the bladder is stable at 6 mm. No new peritoneal lesions identified.

and that was on 12/4, so she will do another on 2/22 to see how it looks.

It had decreased from 2.6cm (or 26mm) to 10mm on the largest spot and the next spot from 1.6cm(16mm) to 8mm and from 12mm to 6mm since starting chemo.

I just don't want them to stop chemo to early...

Thanks for the feedback.

Hoping and praying for them to find NOTHING on the next scan...

po18guy

Scanning identifies masses. It does not determine whether or not they are malignant, and being a snapshot of a moment in time, cannot determine if they are growing or shrinking. Indeed, some masses are clusters of necrotic material, which is dead cancer cells which have yet to be eliminated. For this reason, they are watched over time.

Karenb1

We had the cat scan this morning and the oncologist said the lesions on the liver have grown, they are still tiny, but have grown (around 6mm). The other lesions on the peritoneal flap remained the stable this time. She is changing them to cyramza and CPT-11 from Avastin and Oxaliplatin. Will stay on Leucovorin and Fluorouracil. Praying this will stop the growth... not what we wanted to hear today. Will start new regiment on Monday.

Jayne

Hi Karenb1 - hoping this new regiment does it's job. We are praying along with you.

Bug

Karenb1, I’m very sorry the news didn’t go the way we wanted. I’m sending very best wishes that the new drug cocktail will take care of things. Hang in there.

alivenwell

They can remove sections of liver. It grows back. If your Oxaliplatin treatments work that would be great. Once treatments are completed, you may want to manage a way to get rid of neuropathy. You might ask your doctor about a good diet and vitamin regiment for that. I was told to take vitamin B6 and D3. Eat dark leafy greens when you can go on a normal diet. Nuts are recommended like the Mediterranian diet. Again, it's an individual choice.