I have Cancer :/ -- now not so great, new nodule 3/18/25

[BiPolarBear 483]

21 hours ago, jerryskids said:

Thanks!  Quick update:  Nodule was surgically removed two months ago; they had clean margins.  CT scans yesterday showed a "lump" at the suture point which the radiologist thought looked suspicious.  Most likely it's scar buildup (like granuloma) since it is a weird coincidence location, and it is hard to believe something went from nothing to 9.5mm in two months.  But a PET scan would answer this question, so that's what I'll mostly ask about.  

Wish me luck!   

     Wishing you the best of luck!!

[jerryskids 6,711]

Thanks all!

Meeting went well.  Doc pushed back on the PET scan because scar tissue, in growing quickly, could glow on the scan similar to cancer, so it wouldn't provide any conclusive info.  Plus the CT that accompanies the PET is low-res.  So the plan is to do another CT in 6 weeks, and see if it has grown.  If not, probably not cancer and we'll just watch it.  If so, we'll probably do the PET and determine treatments as indicated.

A few bits of good news, should we go down that latter (not preferred, obviously) path.  One, the analysis of the tumor they removed in April showed that it was more receptive to Keytruda than the previous sample 4 years ago, and Keytruda worked well then.  So Keytruda should be viable, and we would probably try that without chemo first.

Also, there are new treatment options, also monoclonal antibodies like Keytruda.  One is something called Erbitux (cetuximab), and another is a study for a promising drug called petosemtamab, which basically enhances the capabilities of Keytruda (he said he can get me into the study).  So we would have options.

Anyway, it's likely scar tissue/granuloma, and I'm going to act like that's the case until I learn otherwise.  

[artista928 22]

Best wishes to you!

[supermike80 1,877]

2 hours ago, jerryskids said:

Thanks all!

Meeting went well.  Doc pushed back on the PET scan because scar tissue, in growing quickly, could glow on the scan similar to cancer, so it wouldn't provide any conclusive info.  Plus the CT that accompanies the PET is low-res.  So the plan is to do another CT in 6 weeks, and see if it has grown.  If not, probably not cancer and we'll just watch it.  If so, we'll probably do the PET and determine treatments as indicated.

A few bits of good news, should we go down that latter (not preferred, obviously) path.  One, the analysis of the tumor they removed in April showed that it was more receptive to Keytruda than the previous sample 4 years ago, and Keytruda worked well then.  So Keytruda should be viable, and we would probably try that without chemo first.

Also, there are new treatment options, also monoclonal antibodies like Keytruda.  One is something called Erbitux (cetuximab), and another is a study for a promising drug called petosemtamab, which basically enhances the capabilities of Keytruda (he said he can get me into the study).  So we would have options.

Anyway, it's likely scar tissue/granuloma, and I'm going to act like that's the case until I learn otherwise.  

Hey Jerry. Im admittedly not up to speed on treatments, prognosis etc.  Is this a fairly good diagnosis?  Hoping for the best man.

[jerryskids 6,711]

4 hours ago, supermike80 said:

Hey Jerry. Im admittedly not up to speed on treatments, prognosis etc.  Is this a fairly good diagnosis?  Hoping for the best man.

It's mostly good.  Perfect would be nothing on the scans.  Occam's Razor says that the spot is scar tissue related.  But, you never know.  I'm also quite heartened to learn that if it is more cancer, the Keytruda should be an effective treatment, and/or some of these new treatments.