Sounds great 'babe.
Once had a biopsy of my liver, it was no fun.
I had eleven in my thyroid, which I think is less painful, over three sessions, IIRC. Worse thing about needle biopsies are how long they take. It's like someone saying "Okay, I'm going to stab you with this very long hollow knitting needle. But I'm gonna stab you slow, and I need to you to remain perfectly still while I do it. Then I'm going to do it again, and then again. And after that, I'll send you a big bill."
Still beats cancer.
One of the worst things to me is listening to that needle crunch through cartilage.I was lucky that they positioned me so I didn't need to really see anything & they had a nurse holding my hand & helping me to breath throughout the procedure.
I am fortunate to be treated at Mass General, I haven't met one bad caregiver yet.
One of the worst things to me is listening to that needle crunch through cartilage.
My treatments were at Memorial in Chattanooga, which obviously isn't in the same class as Mass General but I have no complaints. Very helpful, sympathetic, caring people.
A quick update! I had a bit of a scare, a right subaxillary lymph node increased in size to 1.6CM, they did a biopsy on May 9th which showed mostly normal lymph node with rare cancer cells that were similar to my original biopsy. Given the time line of the progression my Onc felt we were seeing the drug in action, helping my immune system fight the cancer.
Flash forward, I had CT scans on Tuesday, that node is down to 1.2 CM, a cervical node went from 8mm to 5mm. The right super clavical node which started out as a 4.3 cm mass is gone, no evidence that it is returning. Btw, I read the original scans about that mass, they wanted to radiate but couldn't as it was wrapped around my juggler vein! Chemo didn't touch that node so Opdivo literally ate the entire tumor.
We did the happy dance in my Onc's office, I even got a hug And had infusion number 30 today!
Side effects? Oh yeah, hypothyroidism, mouth sores, fatigue, joint pain but it sure beats chemo. I have been on Opdivo for exactly 14 months today!
There should be cake & balloons
I have been following this thread for a long while--it came more real to me yesterday when my mother was diagnosed with Stage 4 Lung Cancer that has metastasized to her bones (discovered while she broke her hip sitting down). Age 54.
And I thought of how inspirational your posts have been, so thank you for sharing and being so determined to live your life. Hearing about the various treatments, especially immunotherapies, I am sure will be helpful as she starts asking questions. Anyways, just wanted to say thanks!
Glad to hear things are going well :^)
That's continued good news (other than the bronchitis, that is). Sweet!
Boomer, you ain't gettin' no watch.
Opdivo has been good to me & words can't express just how happy I am to still be aliveGlad to hear things are going well :^)
Yay Jean!
Must be the fever....That was kinda what I said Btw, I like the forum software changes, very nice!