• From: Alabama
  • Registered: Thu, 08 Nov 2012
  • Posts: 12

Topic: My label?

I have a question. I was diagnosed in June, had surgery in July, complications for next few months. So I never had the followup chemo. Now I am 6 mos out and oncologist says no chemo, just keep monitoring me. So what am I catagorized as? Do I have cancer? In "remission"? Have survived cancer? I don't really know what to say when people ask. I am grateful for whatever stage that I'm in right now and enjoying each day as it comes.

  • Lainy
  • Lainy
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  • From: Phoenix AZ
  • Registered: Fri, 13 Jan 2006
  • Posts: 8,213

Re: My label?

Laura, I would call the ONC and ask. You have a right to know but we would not know as I believe the Stage is based on many other components. Also ask why he did not suggest chemo. I know that after Teddy's Whipple 5 different Docs said no to chemo. They felt it would not help  because of where the tumor was located. Now this was 7 years ago and I know the staging has changed. At that time he was a IB.
Only the ONC, I believe, could answer your question.  Best of luck.

Teddy ~In our hearts forever~ATTITUDE is EVERYTHING
Any suggestion I offer is intended as friendly advice based solely on my own experience. Please consult your doctor for professional guidance.
  • eli
  • eli
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  • From: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
  • Registered: Tue, 08 Nov 2011
  • Posts: 561

Re: My label?

I always say that my wife is in remission. I never say "cancer free" or "survived cancer" because I'm afraid to jinx her.

Superstitions aside, I think that "in remission" is the most accurate way to say it from the medical point of view. There are no tests to say for sure that a patient who had resection is completely free of cancer cells.

  • Registered: Fri, 15 Oct 2010
  • Posts: 1,735

Re: My label?

Hi,
if you don't mind,the links will let you know what other members think about the situation that may be similar to you.

http://www.cholangiocarcinoma.org/punbb … 176#p65176

God bless

Please know that my personal opinion is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. If  provided, information are for educational purposes.Consult doctor is a MUST for changing of treatment plans.
  • From: California
  • Registered: Mon, 20 Aug 2012
  • Posts: 274

Re: My label?

Does anyone know what stage it is if there are only local tumors in liver and one invading the portal vein? (No distant mets).  The main liver tumor is under 4x4 mm. Possible positive local lymph nodes (not confirmed on PET, but enlarged).

Willow
  • Lainy
  • Lainy
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  • From: Phoenix AZ
  • Registered: Fri, 13 Jan 2006
  • Posts: 8,213

Re: My label?

Willow, not sure that anyone but the ONC can tell you what stage. I think that surgery or not many factors contribute to Staging that we don't know about. Come on brainiacs chime in on this.

Teddy ~In our hearts forever~ATTITUDE is EVERYTHING
Any suggestion I offer is intended as friendly advice based solely on my own experience. Please consult your doctor for professional guidance.
  • eli
  • eli
  • Legend
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  • From: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
  • Registered: Tue, 08 Nov 2011
  • Posts: 561

Re: My label?

Willow, I agree with Lainy, no one but the oncologist can tell you. They may not know it either. If the nodes are positive, it's automatically stage IVA. If the nodes are negative, the stage depends on the tumor number (T). Not sure if they can determine it accurately without "opening her up", as you said in another thread.