my last blog was about my CT scan that i had on wednesday, may 25th. since we had the memorial day holiday coming up, i was pretty confident that i would not be hearing anything until tuesday of the following week, or even later. imagine my shock and dismay when i got a phone call from the doctor's office the next day! my husband and i had one of our grandsons for the day on that thursday . we took him strawberry picking, second year in a row, and had other fun activities planned like throwing rocks into the river( his favorite activity at our house). it was good that he was there- otherwise, i probably would have folded.
the nurse told me that the radiologist had seen a " spot on my liver" and that he wanted me to schedule an MRI so that he could check it out further. i will admit that i panicked. my oncologist told me that breast cancer, when it spreads,usually goes to the chest- lungs or bones. my doctor did not mention my liver. the chest and/or bones is pretty much where thyroid cancer, when it spreads, goes to. although those darn rogue cancer cells can go pretty much anywhere they want to. i have gotten some scary phone calls in my life- too many really. one, when my endocrinologist called me at work and told me that i had thyroid cancer. then again, when same doctor's nurse called me and told me that my thyroglobulin levels were elevated( that means the thyroid cancer is in the blood stream and could possibly spread). these levels were elevated for three years, but i am happy to report that they are now down to normal.
i hastily agreed to the MRI, but then used my brain- yes i have one, even if i occasionally succumb to chemo brain. i called the oncologist's office back and requested that we just hold off on the MRI for now. i asked the nurse to repeat what she had said earlier. it seems that i have what is called a liver hemangioma. this is a NONCANCEROUS( benign) mass that is usually inherited. most people are born with this, and unless you are scanned for other beasties, you might never know that you have one. it is supposed to look like a tangle of blood vessels. there is no treatment for this, and a liver biopsy is not recommended due to possible bleeding.
i asked the imaging center to send my scan and records to my family doctor, who i have been seeing for the past 30 years. he is the voice of reason, i might add. i have an appointment with him on monday afternoon and we can discuss the findings and his thoughts on another dose of radiation. this might be a good time to inform others that the radiation in ONE CT scan is equal to what a person would receive in 500 regular chest X-rays. now if a patient really needs a CT scan, then the risk is worth the gain, you might say. but if not, then there might be better options. i also had a near maximum dose of radioactive I-131 ( a treatment dose) after my thyroid cancer surgery. it is just a wonder that i do not glow in the dark. my son told me one time that i, when we were visiting a mineral and gem museum, should not stand too near to the Geiger counter lest i set the thing off! he was probably not too far from wrong on that one.
so i have a plan of action. i am my own patient advocate. i am reading as much reliable material about the liver hemangioma as i can. one thing that bothered me though, was that the oncologist's nurse told me to" relax", when i called her the second time. o.k., i will admit to being a little upset at first. i was not rude or demanding, however. i wonder how she would take the news if she was the patient with my history?
so, i will know more of what i decide to do after i consult with my family doctor on monday. yes, what I DECIDE TO DO . i take this decision seriously, and will have as much information as possible, but in the end it is all down to me. what i feel comfortable doing, while making responsible decisions for myself, as well as my family.
to be continued.............................
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