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what to expect
Most of you know my story, but just a quick backstory….Mama was diagnosed in July, had RC in Aug., spread to nodes found in January, she made the decision for no chemo. In January, they told us that they didn’t see anymore mets (other than the nodes) but they were probably just too small. anyway, she goes back in April and I think she has opted to get more scans just to see where things stand. I know eveyone is different etc, but when they do start to find mets, where do they ususally show up first, second, etc? I know it is impossible for anyone to tell me what to expect, but just knowing kind of how things went for others would help. Thanks for your continued support!!
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9 Replies
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Hmmmm….actually I’m not sure. I heard aortic and assumed that was near the heart. I will surely find out. Thanks Pat
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found this…not sure what to do with it? http://clincancerres.aacrjournals.org/cgi/content/full/7/1/23/F4
Are you sure of the location of the lymph node is in the chest as the aorta goes from chest down the trunk….it could be abdominal aortic involvement?
Pat -
Thanks Karen. One of her affected lymph nodes is in her aortic area and two in her pelvic area which I thought was odd. So, to me (absolutely no medical sense…just reasoning) it seems that since it had gone from the pelvis to the chest, it may have spread somewhere in between. Did that make a bit of sense? Also, since one was in her aortic area, that it might affect the lungs? I don’t know. I’m just a teacher….not a doc ;)
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Juliann,
yes, of course it could have spread…what I have noticed with my husband is that wherever the cancer was seen in the last scans that is where we have seen growth. Not necessarily more spreading…
Karen
Caregiver for my Wonderful Husband Angelo, who has Metastatic Bladder Cancer.Life isn’t about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain.
Hi Karen, yes Dick’s lung tumor was TCC. However we are nervous since his Mother died of lung cancer that metastasized to the brain. I though it was somehow connected to how all the blood goes through the lung to get oxygenated. But we were told the same thing that TCC rarely goes to the brain. It seems like playing with 20 sided dice and that random throws will determine where a new site will turn up. Julie
Volunteer Coordinator
ABLSC
Thanks you guys. I know I am asking the impossible. I know I shouldn’t even worry about it until the time comes, but that seems impossible. The cancer is in her lymphatic system, so I guess it could go anywhere. So, it has been almost 3 months since her last scan and no chemo. I try to think positive, but realistically I know it has probably spread. Would that be your general feeling as well?
Hi Julie,
Yes it is true that lung cancer can spread to the brain, but it is rare for TCC (Transitional Cell Carcinoma) to spread there. Is this the cancer that your husband has? It does happen…but the chances it will spread elsewhere are greater. I did alot of research on this actually because I had a friend who’s cancer spread to the brain (a different type of cancer) and I watched what she went through. I was very concerned that this may happen with my husband…but I was told by many Dr.’s the odds are in his favor that will not be where it would spread.
Caregiver for my Wonderful Husband Angelo, who has Metastatic Bladder Cancer.Life isn’t about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain.
I get the impression from Dick’s oncologist that the mets might show up anywhere. It is also likely that they will show up again in his lung as that is where the first one is. I do know that lung tumors often go to the brain. So far he there is no evidence of lymph node involvement. I guess the way cancer spreads is either through the lymph system, the circulation system or direct contact.
I expect the scans will give the Dr. information about the mets so they will know how to keep her comfortable. Julie
Volunteer Coordinator
ABLSC
Julieann,
Hi…It is hard to say how fast this cancer grows and spreads…in some it seems like it spreads like wild fire, in others it is a very slow progression…From the research that I have done the most common sites where bladder cancer tends to spread (Metastasize) are:
Lungs
Liver
Kidneys
Bone
Lymph NodesThere are cases where it spreads to the brain, but they are actually rare with TCC. anyway…
Remember that there are members of forum who like my husband and Bob (Clara’s husband) that are coming up on the year mark since diagnosis. I hope that you have alot more quality time left with your mom…
Warmly,
Karen
Caregiver for my Wonderful Husband Angelo, who has Metastatic Bladder Cancer.Life isn’t about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain.
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