Monday, March 05, 2001
I am back from the liver biopsy that wasn't. First off, we had a terrible time finding outpatient registration. My doctor's office said that the hospital would call to pre-register me and give me directions at that time. Well, they never did. So I talked to someone in radiology yesterday to get directions, and that just ended up getting us more confused. Anyway, we finally stumbled around, found someone to give us directions and ended up in the right place. A very nice gal (wearing a pink ribbon) registered me. Then a young man escorted us up to the Outpatient Treatment Center. We should have left a trail of bread crumbs. We walked, and walked, and walked.... and I said, boy, am I glad they sent an escort.... and he said that he likes the long halls - they are job security for him.... and still we were walking and walking. Just before we got to OTC, he laughed and said that besides the long hallways, they send him along with people to make sure they don't bail out on their procedure at the last minute. I told him that there was no chance of that! I've been pushing for a biopsy since we first saw this thing in October. Then he bid us farewell and let the nurses in OTC know we were there.In OTC, they had me take off my clothes from the waist up and don a fashionable hospital gown. They were very nice in setting up my IV through my port. My BP and pulse were great. Rick and I waited in OTC while mom and Rick's brother, Gary, waited in the waiting room. Finally, my escort to CT arrived and we all went down another hall. Rick was allowed to come into the CT room with me to meet the radiologist and nurse. I had a BP cuff and pulse oximeter added to my already stunning outfit. The radiologist looked at the films of the CT and MRI from last fall and came out to give his opinion. He said that the lesion is very subtle and expressed some concern about getting a good biopsy. He said that it is flat like a pancake, so while its dimensions laterally are fairly large (2 cm) it is really a difficult lesion to make sure you are getting a sample from. He said if they couldn't find it on the CT, we would try US. I told him that we had been able to image it on US in January. He said that if we couldn't get a good angle for the biopsy on the US, we would do a CT contrast. I explained to him that I am allergic to the iodine-based contrasts and that I hadn't been pre-medicated. So we hoped we could find it before resorting to that.
Rick was asked to leave and I got onto the table. I went in and out and in and out of the CT scanner. Hold your breath. Don't move. In and out. Finally they came out to tell me that they could not find the lesion at all. An US tech came with her apparatus and she looked and looked. Then the radiologist came and took over the US, and he looked and looked. Still no sign of the lesion. So...... I have to come back another day, after I've been pre-medicated. If they give you the contrast, they only have a window of about a minute to take the pictures and get the needle in it. So that will be very a exciting thing. I'm scheduled for March 13th, next Tuesday, at 10:30 am.
So, Rick and mom and Gary and I went out to lunch. When I got home, I got a call from the cardiologist about Friday's MUGA scan. My ejection fraction is up to 48%. That is sooooooo exciting! It was 49% before chemo and 40% a month after chemo. The cardiologist told me back in September that I could not expect it to improve; I could only hope to hold steady. I didn't believe that. I changed my diet; I've been working out in the pool; I've been giving my heart to God every day to do with what he will. I believed it could improve, and it did! I am so excited!
Research on pain management in cancer patients found wanting
Single women facing major stressor at increased risk of breast cancer. Study also shows no association between personality and breast cancer.
Similar Cancers Have Different Genetic Profiles
Genome Project's Likely Impact On Cancer Care: Limited In Short Term, Unpredictable In Long Term
Sensitivity of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Detecting Metastatic Disease in Breast Cancer Patients
Radiofrequency Ablation of Malignant Liver Tumors
posted by Karen Weber Monday, March 05, 2001
Tuesday, March 06, 2001
Technology Reveals Metastases in Almost Half of 'Negative' PatientsPaget's disease of the breast
posted by Karen Weber Tuesday, March 06, 2001
Wednesday, March 07, 2001
Breast MRI has high negative predictive value in high-risk premenopausal womenWomen blame stress for their breast cancer, attribute positive attitude for remission
posted by Karen Weber Wednesday, March 07, 2001
Thursday, March 08, 2001
Friends may make breast cancer more survivable - Feeling of security could reduce stress levels and improve immune function
posted by Karen Weber Thursday, March 08, 2001
Friday, March 09, 2001
Lifestyle, hormones, and risk of breast cancerDeath and Dying Grief Support - help for dealing with a terminal illness or the loss of a loved one. Check out the Peace Corner for a daily inspiration.
posted by Karen Weber Friday, March 09, 2001