New ct scan results

Aimeth,
Bob had 10 radiation treatments to the pelvic area, the treatments were on each side and just below the belly button. During this same time, he had 5 treatments to a L rib that had started hurting.
We then waited two months for another PET scan (since the radiation is supposed to continue working). There was some significant shrinkage in the tumor on the bladder wall and the rib did stop hurting.
By that time, a R rib was causing pain and the lower back pain continued which has been a factor all along. 10 radiation treatments were then given to the lower back and to the R rib. After another two months Bob had a PET scan.
We received the report last week. It seems that his reports show very little change at all, some increased activity. He has been able to cut back on the pain medicine some but now is having pain in the left shoulder and down to the elbow. If that has not improved real soon I will be calling the dr. about that.
He has little blood clots in his legs and I understand that cancer patients get blood clots easily. Taking a daily shot for 30 days and will then see the oncologist again.
No other treatments are being given at this time; another PET scan will be done on Feb. 27th.
I sometimes think that some people would say that Dr. Wallace is not very agressive but I saw how the four chemo treatments affected Bob and I really do not think he could take a lot even though it has been mentioned that he might have to take some more in the future.
Also, after each series of radiation, Bob would just feel so bad, have harsh chills, tired. Just not really able to do anything for awhile.

It looks like cancer is a wait and see game....

Best of luck and please keep us posted.
Clara

Aimeth,

My husband is on CMV (similar to the MVAC but doesn't have the adriamycin)his bone and CT Scans are scheduled for next week..We are obviously hoping to see an improvment. We may try cisplatin, gemcitabine and taxol too. There have been good results with this combo. As far as the Radiation goes we were told it can help alot with the Bone Mets but they cannot use it "extensively" in the pelvic region because it can really damage the other organs.

Karen

So the radiation is to keep the tumor under control maybe some reduction? And for how long can they give radiation in that area? Once the radiation is done, in your cases what is the next step?

Thank you for sharing your experiences with me.

Aimeth

Chemo did not seem to help my husband.

He had two cycles of radiation; the first to the pelvic area and a left rib, the second to the lower back and a right rib.

The radiation to the pelvic area shrunk the bladder tumor quite a bit but there never seems to be much change on any of his PET scans, if anything, some increased activity each time.

Clara

Hello -- MVAC was my first chemotherapy and it did not work for me either. Then, I received radiation and it did significantly shrink my bladder tumor. I wish you and your husband well. mssmr

Hi to all,

My husband just finished his second cycle of MVAC this past Thursday and we did a follow up ct scan this past Monday to see if it is working or not. We went to see the Dr. today to go over results and it ends up that it did not worked.

We can't believe that he had to go through that horrible ordeal for nothing. In fact the tumor is actually a bit bigger, 6 cm. There was a question of a lymph node that appeared to be enlarged and that is still the case but they are not sure whether it's cancer or not, but is a possibility.

We all decided to move forward with radiation and try to get control of this monster that keeps growing inside of him regardless of months and months of chemo. We started back in June, 4 cycles of cysplatin/gemzar and then moved on to MVAC.

So my question is, is there anyone out there with similar situation. When chemo doesn't work them WHAT? What will stop it from spreading?

Thank you, Aimeth