Advice on what this means?

Hello! I'm here on behalf of my mother. We just received the latest PET scan after her second round of treatment. Here what it is...

  1. Interval near complete resolution of multiple lymph nodes below

the diaphragm including periportal, mesenteric, and retroperitoneal

lymphadenopathy, with now FDG uptake almost equal to liver,

consistent with favorable treatment response. Marked decrease in FDG

uptake in the left supraclavicular lymph node.

  1. Mass adjacent to the gallbladder with interval decrease in size

and avidity, however with some residual hypermetabolism. Given

positive treatment response of multiple lymph node stations to

current treatment, it is difficult to differentiate whether this

hypermetabolism is secondary to infection or inflammation given

recent cholecystostomy tube placement or residual disease."

We discussed that these results are encouraging and allow for delay in future chemotherapy cycles at this time while allowing for improvement in her functional status including nutritional support. Hopefully this will lead to improvement in her sensory and motor neuropathy.

Her case with discussed with HBP surgery who opts against palliative cholecystectomy for disease consolidation. We discussed our recommendation to have her evaluated by radiation oncology for potential consolidative radiation to the residual are of FDG-avidity in the gallbladder.

She was open to this plan and we provided continued encouragement and support for her ongoing attempts to increase PO intake.

I . Interval near complete resolution OT multiple lympn noaes oelow tne aiapnragm

including periportal, mesenteric, and retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy, with now

FDG uptake almost equal to liver, consistent with favorable treatment response.

Marked decrease in FDG uptake in the left supraclavicular lymph node. 2. Mass

adjacent to the gallbladder with interval decrease in size and avidity, however with

some residual hypermetabolism. Given positive treatment response of multiple

lymph node stations to current treatment, it is di#icult to differentiate whether this

hypermetabolism is secondary to infection or inflammation given recent

cholecystostomy tube placement or residual disease. 3. New groundglass opacity

in the right upper lobe demonstrating markedly avidity, favoring infectious versus

inflammatory etiology. Recommend follow-up to complete resolution. 4.

Hyperdense nodule in the right abdominal wall soft tissue with mild surrounding

FDG avidity favoring a hematoma. Recommend close attention on follow-up. The radiology attending physician has personally

reviewed this study, and had reviewed and/or edited this written report and agrees

with it.

I'm wondering what everyone's thoughts on this is. I'm assuming it's great news, especially this this is only 2 rounds in. What what does this mean for the long term?

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u/kamon15 — 5 days ago
▲ 10 r/cancer

Folks with a stable tumor, how are you handling it?

​

My mom(44) was diagnosed with gallbladder cancer with a lymph node in the neck (not showing any visible signs, but we're attacking it with chemo anyway It's been getting me all messed up. She's currently undergoing day 2 of chemo. They don't want to do a ressection on her. Just give make her tumor stable to she can manage it in her day to day life. Turning it into a chronic illness.

I'm her oldest son (24). She has 5 of us and youngest three don't know what's happening and she doesn't want them to. Not until she's better.

Today I called her after her chemo and she told me to stop worrying so much and get some rest. Shes a fighter and she loves proving people wrong. I'm just scared to lose my mother. I wanna grow old with her. Her only known issues is her arthritis. She responded well to chemo the first time around. Tumor shrunk. But she took a 2 month break due to pneumonia and the tumor was like "oh it's over? Goodie!" And started growing by 2.2cm. I'm hoping this timer we can beat it back down and manage it long term.

My question to everyone is...what can I do? How do I navigate this anxiety? We have a goal in mind. Any chronic success stories? It's weird that it traveled so far. Thankfully not in the liver or billary tubes, and let's keep it that way. Thank you! Fuck cancer

reddit.com
u/kamon15 — 1 month ago

Stable Tumors, how are you handling it

My mom(44) was diagnosed with gallbladder cancer with a lymph node in the neck (not showing any visible signs, but we're attacking it with chemo anyway It's been getting me all messed up. She's currently undergoing day 2 of chemo. They don't want to do a ressection on her. Just give make her tumor stable to she can manage it in her day to day life. Turning it into a chronic illness.

I'm her oldest son (24). She has 5 of us and youngest three don't know what's happening and she doesn't want them to. Not until she's better.

Today I called her after her chemo and she told me to stop worrying so much and get some rest. Shes a fighter and she loves proving people wrong. I'm just scared to lose my mother. I wanna grow old with her. Her only known issues is her arthritis. She responded well to chemo the first time around. Tumor shrunk. But she took a 2 month break due to pneumonia and the tumor was like "oh it's over? Goodie!" And started growing by 2.2cm. I'm hoping this timer we can beat it back down and manage it long term.

My question to everyone is...what can I do? We have a goal in mind. Any chronic success stories? It's weird that it traveled so far. Thankfully not in the liver or billary tubes. Thank you! Fuck cancer

reddit.com
u/kamon15 — 1 month ago