This is not unusual. The imaging field of the CT scan is larger than the area of interest, in your case the kidney. The entire field is viewed and examined by the radiologist and often other things...
Hi! Welcome to this site! This is a great place for information and support. Lobular neoplasia, or lobular carcinoma in-situ (LCIS) is not considered a cancer, but is a precursor or a marker for...
My father had a similar situation following open heart surgery. It took a total of four surgeries to get the hole to close after two years. The doctors in Florida had also given up, but my brother...
To answer your question about the wound seeping fluid: this may be a sign of infection. As long as there is infection present the wound will not close. Has the doctor taken a culture of the fluid?...
Dear MK, Please accept my deepest sympathy! My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family! Frayda...
Hi! Just want to give you some food for thought regarding reconstruction. I had bilateral mastectomies with reconstruction 10 years ago (all covered by insurance). There may not be a medical reason...
It seems to me that you have enough family history to warrent some concern. Genetic testing is not something to fear; it provides valuble information. Being well informed helps us make important...
Hi Lori! Your post made me smile as I remembered Mel. She was with us in Myrtle Beach and was so upbeat even though she was really sick! All this pink stuff reminds me of our PPE (pink pony express)...
Angel, The black staining is superficial and can be removed by a cleaing from your dentist or dental hygienist. For the sensitivity of the roots, you should use the mouthwash, ACT, which is available...
This is purely an educated guess ( I am a dental hygienist) but there is nothing I am aware of with chemo agents to permanently stain the teeth. There are certain antibiotics that are known to stain...
Hi Janice, It seems you and your doctors have formulated a plan! Tests and treatments will become a full time job forthe next 6 months or so. This journey will take you down a bumpy road and you will...
Hi Janice, I think seeing my story may be helpful. Back in the spring of 2000, I entered an experimental program for screening "high risk" woman for breast cancer at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer...
Hi Janice, The only thing I can add is my own experience with DCIS. My mother died from breast and ovarian cancer three years ago and my sister has been battling Stage IV breast cancer for the last...
Hi Gail! If your insurance paid for the original reconstruction and your doctor can document that the implants need replacement, they should not dictate the type of reconstruction. It will probably...
Unfortunately there is not much that you can do. Your doctor can request a review, but he will have to document that the service he provided was more complex that the routine procedure that the...
Hi Di! It is very fortunate that your surgeon was able to run interference with that extraction! As you may remember, my dh is an oral surgeon and we have been dealing with bisphosphonate related jaw...
Hi Lori! Sorry you are have more problems! Just want to give you a little advise about the parotid stone. Remember, my dh is an oral surgeon; we see salivary gland stones all the time. You want to...
Hi! I am not Stage IV either, but my sister is with similar mets to the lung and pleural lining. She had been on the same drugs you have been on without much success. Her newest regimen is xeloda and...
Hi! Just want to let you know that there are new protocals for screening high risk women for breast cancer. Anyone who has a mother or a sister with breast cancer may be considered high risk. These...
Hi Trish, Welcome to our board! We have a saying around here: don't worry until you know there is something to worry about ! That said, the radiologist is doing his job to want to follow this up in...
I had expanders and then saline implants 8 years ago. I don't know if things have changed since then, but I have been very happy with my results. The expansion took place over about 6 weeks; every...
Hi! Welcome to our board. Your sister is lucky to have your support! There are many drugs that are used to fight metastatic BC (mets). Many oncologists think of mets as a chronic disease that can be...
Starrnr, what is the"last ditch" med you referred to? I had to stop mtx two years ago due to lung complications and I've been off nsaids because of vascular problems. I am also running out of options...
Congratulations, my friend! May you have many more years of continued good health! This is a good reason to celebrate: have lots of fun dancing this weekend! L&H, Frayda...
Hi Gwen! I am so sorry you and your family have to go through this! I know how difficult it can be for the family. I lost my Mom last year to breast and ovarian cancer and my sister is now losing her...
It has been my experience that I always took an NSAID (non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug) such as ibuprophen, mobic, daypro, etc. in addition to mtx and plaquenil. Over time, the nsaids would become...
It is a good thing that you are staying on top of this! They will probably call you back for additonal views and an u/s. There are new recommendations for screening "high risk" breast cancer patients...
I am so sorry to hear about Vicky! My thoughts and prayers are with her family. Thank you for letting us know. Frayda...
Hi! Welcome to our board! First I want you to take a deep breath. We have a saying around here to try not to worry until you know there is something to worry about (easier said than done!). Yes, I...
Lori is correct: they found invasive and non-invasive cells in the biopsy, which may have led the doctors to do the MRI because they suspect there is more than one tumor. Non-invasive cells are DCIS...
Hi! There are several different lung problems associated with RA, depending on how long you have had it and what meds you have been taking. The rheumatologist won't be able to treat the lung problem;...
Hi! I am a dental hygienist and my husband is an oral surgeon; there is no need to pre-medicate for routine dental work for mtx. I have been on mtx for over 12 years. I have had several surgeries...
Hi Tammy! I was in a similar situation 3 years ago. I know how hard it is not to worry, but it is not time yet! There are lots of things it could be other than cancer. A pulmonary specialist should...
I have been on Plaquenil for over 20 years and have not had any vision problems related to the drug. I do go to the opthamologist 2 to 3 times a year for visual fields; he has told me the plaquenil...
I think staying within your insurance at this point is a good idea. A biopsy can be done anywhere, and NYU is a great place. Once you know what you are dealing with, then there will be decisions to...
Hi Cathi! It's great to see your post! Sending hugs and positive thoughts your way! L & H, Frayda...
Hi! Welcome to our board! I was treated at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center ( www.mskcc.org ). The breast center is located at 205 64th St. They have several great breast surgeons; I was...
I had the first implant replaced about 4 months after the original. Right from the beginning, the right implant had problems: it swelled up twice the size as the left side and took a really long time...
Hi Martha! Welcome to our board! I had a bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction (expanders/implants). The reconstruction definately added to the recovery and amount of discomfort. I have also had...
Hi, Gail! I did have to replace an implant, twice! Insurance paid both times. I think they are obligated because it is related to mastectomy reconstruction. Dealing with insurance companies as a...
Ellen, I think Dr. Love was misquoted. I didn't hear that broadcast, but have heard other doctors that refer to metastatic breast cancer as incurable, but controlable for a long time. The longer we...
Congratulations on a benign report! FYI, the presence of "atypical hyperplasia" is exactly what you said: an abnormal increase in the number of normal cells. This is sometimes used as an indication...
Erin, what is MTX lung? I just completed treatment for atypical TB which my docs were guessing was attributed to long term MTX use, but hadn't seen this before. Since I was diagnosed a year and a...
Hi! I just completed an 18 month course of antibiotics for an atypical form of TB called micobacterium avium intercellular (MAI). It takes a long time to incubate (about 3 weeks) so it takes longer...
Hi! I had been on mtx for over 12 years. It was doing a great job controling my RA. Several times over the course of treatment my liver enzymes became elevated and had to go off the mtx for several...
Congratulations on your remission! I don't think there is a specific forum for your question and the best place to get an answer would be your oncologist. I can offer an opinion based on some...
Congratulation, my friend! Glad to have shared the journey with you! Wishing you many more years of health and happiness! L&H, Frayda...
Hi Tammy! Yes, I have Barrett's Esophagus, too. It is erosions of the lining of the esophagus near the stomach attachment caused by the acid reflux. There is a higher risk of developing esophageal...
P.S. Before this MAI infection, I was also being followed for multiple small lung nodules that was found on a routine CT for follow-up for breast cancer. They had remained unchanged for 2 years....
Hi! I have been on MTX for over ten years and last year I developed an atypical TB called MAI (mycobacterium avium intercellular). This is a noncontagious form of TB that you get from having a...