Note: This is a copy/paste from the post I just put up on Face Book. It’s difficult to write these updates and not forget things so it was easy to just paste it here.
On Thursday I got a call from my gastroenterologist saying the needle biopsy was benign but he doesn’t think it’s benign. He has actually seen it and was the first to detect it. He’s worried that we are not getting the full picture and might be lulled into thinking that all is okay. He really thinks it’s malignant. He said go ahead and see the oncologist today while I wait for the authorization to see a surgeon. His feeling is that the more eyes on my case, the better; another doctor may have had a similar case.
Today, the oncologist was also stumped and could only recommend either another biopsy, this time with an arthroscope as that will give them a better and bigger tissue sample even though it will be more invasive than the needle biopsy I had last week.
The tumor is on my right side and many of you will remember that I had a serious surgery two years ago during which a very large fluid filled cyst was removed from my right ovary. The tissue removed was biopsied and came back as borderline malignant. None of the current doctors had done a full health history so they didn’t know this. I felt it was relevant because both instances involved my right lower abdomen.
Once I explained all of that to the oncologist, he was able to access my records from two years ago and found that the growth two years ago was a “serous tumor” which he said are almost always benign. So now his theory is that the current tumor is also a serous tumor (not a misspelling) but is probably benign. So he wants me to stop worrying about it for now until we get the next biopsy which will hopefully give us a more complete picture of what is going on. So while I have some surgery coming up, it might not be a horrible thing. The tumor has to go so we can biopsy it and see what it is and also to prevent it from spreading to other organs and/or becoming a worse kind of tumor with a higher incidence of malignancy.
The oncologist is also going to try to present “my tumor” before his “tumor board” which meets Tuesday (the 11th). The tumor board is an opportunity for oncologist to present a case which is unusual or difficult and try to get input from other top surgeons. It’s up the hill at Oregon Health and Science University, a teaching hospital. So maybe that will help shed light on it!
So I wait some more. Hopefully I will hear from the surgeon and get to schedule that soon.
Thank you for your continued support. I cannot tell you what a huge difference it has made. It’s a very wonderful feeling to know that I have so many people to lean on. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!
Wasted Days And Wasted Nights 
This sounds very encouraging. On the one hand, it’s good that the doctors are so thorough. But it could very well be connected to other problems and not be the threat that had us all scared.
LikeLike
Corina it is reassuring to hear that so many doctors are on board to finding out exactly what this tumor is and continuing to investigate it. I hope they are correct in their assumption that it is benign, and hope the necessary surgery , though not easy, will allow you to move forward and away from this health problem. Keep the faith. ❤
LikeLike
It sounds like you have doctors who care about, and that is very important. I pray for good results in the end run for you.
LikeLike
Sounds like a case for cautious optimism. I’ve had a couple of friends with a similar situation, and it’s alarming due to the fact that serous tumors—like anything basically fluid-based—grow quickly, and therefore often look malignant when they’re not. Fingers crossed that this is the case for you, and that the solution is as easy as possible.
LikeLike