Please let this serve as a followup thread to my followup visit to my oncologist today
As usual, he came into the waiting room and got me himself, and we spent a full hour together. Even with a busy packed schedule, he made time to see me the same day, which I appreciate.
The best of the news, I already reported. His main quest was for evidence of pancreatic trouble or pancreatic cancer. Between the CAT scan results and the blood emzyme tests he ran, he's confident the old pancreas is not flaring up.
However, that's as far as the good news went. According to their records, I have lost 35 lbs since May 1st, with no purposed diet or exercise. He said it still an indication that there is something majorly wrong.
We spent about 20 minutes, going over the scan on a large screen. It was amazing really, he took me slice by slice, starting from the bottom of my lungs all the way down to my hip joints. He showed me my pancreas, spleen, stomach, bowels, kidneys, liver, lungs, and anything else in there. Wouldn't say it was HD quality, but pretty close. He even showed me the staples and clips left in place after my open RP, my urinary by-pass (and yes, it really looks like a piece of pipe inside me).
When he got to my bladder, he pointed out a major problem. The walls of the bladder have grown perhaps 4 to 6 times thicker than normal (even though non-functional) with ragged edges. He thinks I am at extreme risk for having bladder cancer still. It really showed up in the scan. Also, he's very suspicious of my colon area.
Here is his current game plan. When we get back from our Bahama cruise, he is setting me up with a top notch Gastro doctor (also MD Anderson), and said he would consult with him first and bring him up to speed. He said they will come up with a safe way to do a colonoscopy (never had one, and other dr's been afraid to do one because of radiation damage). He said it needs to be done, wants to know what is going on there first. Also, wants the Gastro dr. to do a full digestive workup on me, and rule out any other gastric reasons for the weight loss/appitite problem.
Once this is done, he's advising a new urologist to get a second opinion. He thinks my bladder could also be behind the problems and is still concerned why it wasn't taken out 2 years ago. He thinks it will always be problematic for me and eventually may have to be removed, and hopes due to the bladder wall thickness, that it might already be cancerous. Hoping not.
So its kind of a 2 part plan. For now, he said, eat whatever I want, whenever I have any appitite. Feels my weight loss is less of my troubles, since I still have extra padding to lose, he's more concerned about the appitite loss. Told me I was safe to go on the trip wouldn't expect me to have any kind of acute attacks while gone. Oh, did say to stay away from anything with milk in it, as getting indications that I might becoming lactose intolerant.
It was a good, heart felt visit, and he and nurse were just super with me the whole time, showing great wisdom and care of their patient.
david in sc