Blog Entries for mssmr

Susan - Delayed Diagnosis, Part II

rosssm@hotmail.com — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 23:10:46 +0100

One year ago today, I had a 75 gram bladder tumor resected. The diagnosis was apparently tricky and I saw terms such as sarcoma, sarcomatoid variant and carcinosarcoma on various reports.

I asked the urologist �Is it survivable.� He looked down and didn�t say a word �
Not the �no� I was dreading nor the �yes� I wanted to hear. Then he said I should go to a major cancer center for treatment and I got the impression that meant a r/c.

Since then, I have had chemotherapy [...]

Susan - Delayed Diagnosis, Part II

rosssm@hotmail.com — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 17:32:35 +0100

Well, since last I posted to this part of the forum, a lot has happened, actually --less to do with my treatment (though there is news there, too) than with reasons to live "beyond expectations."

I do have an appointment set up with a metastatic bladder cancer specialist at MD Anderson for March. In the mean time, I'm trying to get caught up with non-cancer medical issues, teeth, blood pressure, etc. I continue to feel well, generally,
but it is hard not to panic [...]

Susan - Delayed Diagnosis, Part II

rosssm@hotmail.com — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 10:22:23 +0100

I'm just wanting to add something that I wrote to another user of this forum a little while ago. Writing the more painful (delays, bad news) parts of my story
has been hard for me. I find it hard to do because I do think I "should have could have" been smart and assertive enough to have gotten a diagnosis before my cancer got to be the mess it has been at and since my late diagnosis. I do not like to feel stupid, disrespected, etc. any more than other folks do. I need t [...]

Susan - Delayed Diagnosis, Part II

rosssm@hotmail.com — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 17:59:46 +0100

Hello all -- My husband and I went to see my medical oncologist today.
As I gathered from reading the CT scan report, there appears to be many
lesions in my liver and nodules in my lungs. One of each are pathologcial
size. Due to some issues with comparability with past imaging, it is hard
to see if my disease is basically stable or progressing. The Dr. said
that it is quite a bit of disease, though, and concurred with my going
for a consultation over at M.D. An [...]

Susan - Delayed Diagnosis, Part II

rosssm@hotmail.com — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:26:02 +0100

To read the most complete version of my story, please read Part 1 as well as this part, Part II.

Here, I am writing a continuation after CT scan has shown more lesions, growth in
at least one liver lesion, and a possible lesion in a new location (with follow-up
testing recommended.) This while receiving Genzar and Taxol. Also, yesterday I
had a turbt (and am at home, with a catheter.) I don't know the exact dimensions of the calsified tumor removed, but it was a lo [...]

Susan - Delayed Diagnosis, Part II

rosssm@hotmail.com — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 16:20:55 +0100

01-29-08 Results of recent CT Scans

I talked to my nurse on the phone, not so good a way to get results. I think I'll call back and ask to pick up a copy of the report today. I did hear that my largest liver lesion had grown from 4.0 to 4.9 CM since November. And it sounds as if I have more lung nodules than before. I am confused about what to do now. My urologist wants to do cystoscopy on TH and I am also scheduled to see my medical oncologist that day. One thing has to b [...]

Susan - Delayed Diagnosis, Part II

rosssm@hotmail.com — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 13:41:36 +0100

In January 2007, the bleeding became continuous. I went to my present primary care doctor and was told that I should take antibiotics and see if it improved. I called back when the big clots started coming but was told (by a nurse) to just keep my regular appointment. I didn't get to that appointment because I had to go to the hospital with "frank bleeding." I got a referral to a urologist while hospitalized and had a tur after being transferred to a hospital repaired enough [...]

Susan - Delayed Diagnosis, Part I

rosssm@hotmail.com — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 13:40:26 +0100

Susan - delayed diagnosis
A volunteer at my church helped me find WebCafe and its forum. My bladder cancer has spread to my liver and lungs, maybe a bone. i was supposed to have a radical cystectomy this month (Dec. '07), but we cancelled it after the MRIi report. Now, I'm getting chemotherapy (taxol and genzar). MVAC didn't work for me. Radiation did shrink my primary tumor.

I am told my case is "difficult" because of the late stage of discovery/tur/d [...]