Latest Test Results...

Mel, my Dad has had stents in both ureters for over a year and a half. One was put in to stop a leak and the other to take care of a blockage from scar tissue in the ureter. He has them changed out by an interventional radiologist about every 4 months. The first stents were placed from the back through the kidneys (I think) but all changes of stents since the initial placement are done through his stoma. It takes about 15 minutes to change them out and Dad says it is really no big deal to have it done. His urologist is trying to talk him into getting "year-long" stents which only have to be changed out once a year.

Just thought I'd let you know that, at least for my 82-year-old Dad, stents are no big deal. They are a MILLION times better than nephrostomy tubes! I'm glad your Dad's bones are stable and hope they can knock out whatever is in the lymph nodes. Please keep us posted.

Hello Everyone,

My father had his latest PET and CAT scans last week. My mother called today for the results and a nurse told her there were "mixed results". When asked what that meant exactly, she didn't want to go into details over the phone and said the doctor would call her back. Of course, this made us even more nervous.

The doctor called back and said that the bones are stable but that it is now in the lymph nodes of the lungs. My mother asked if he now had cancer in his lungs and the answer to that was no, it is just in the lymph nodes. My question is, WHAT EXACTLY DOES THAT MEAN????

So, the dr. wants him to try and come in this week to talk about the results and he wants to start chemo again right away. My father is supposed to go to the hospital on Wednesday to see if they can put stents in so that he can have the nephrostomy tubes out. (the last test showed there was still a blockage)

Please add us to your prayers that this week goes well. I don't know how much more my mother can take. She is exhausted and is running ragged.

Thanks for listening...any advice is always appreciated.

Melissa