Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Radiology Reports

My wife and I met with my primary care doctor after the holiday weekend and we were given printouts of the radiology reports and we discussed what the next steps would be.

The findings were that, indeed, I did have sigmoid adenocarcinoma and the tumor and some lymph nodes would need to be removed by a surgeon.

The reports also indicated a couple of minor incidentals, but were thought to be nothing to worry about and we were referred to a surgeon.

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Primary Care Doctor

It was not a very good weekend for me or my family as we didn't know what would be happening next. We had an early appointment with my primary care Doctor first thing after the holiday weekend.


He gave us printouts of the radiology reports and discussed what was probably going to happen next. The reports indicated that indeed I did have Sigmoid Carcinoma and would need surgery and then some kind of chemotherapy.


The findings on the reports also indicated that I had "moderately severe descending diverticulosis" and that some lymph nodes showed signs of possible cancer. There was also mention of some incidentals that showed some FDG uptake in my tonsil pillar area believed to be scar tissue from a very old surgery (tonsilitis) and a low density lesion in the liver was probably a hepatic cyst and no focal lung, liver, spleen, pancreas or adrenal FDG uptake.


I was then referred to a surgeon and oncologist.

Friday, May 23, 2008

PET and CT Scans

Within a few days, I was back at the hospital's radiology department for the subject scans. Approximately one hour after drinking something to help show certain areas in the scans, I was brought to the scanning lab.

The equipment used for the scans was very similiar to an MRI machine. For one of the scans, I was given an IV of F-18 FDG for imaging procedures.

This was right before the big Memorial Day (summer kickoff) weekend and I was told that the reports would be read by the next morning.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Colonoscopy

I had a colonoscopy in late May, 2008. When it was over, I asked the nurse while she was taking out the IV if everything went okay. She told me that I "might" need a little surgery and the Doctor would be in to speak with me.


In a few more minutes, my wife and the Doctor came in and he told us that he saw a mass (tumor) that was too risky for him to even try to take out and recommended surgery. He said that he had biopsied it, but he has seen enough of these to believe that it is cancer.


He went on to say that we needed to act fast on this and immediately had his office arrange for PET and CT scans. He also put a "clip" on it, so the surgeon could tell exactly where it was located (in my sigmoid colon).