Denzie help me understand

[lovey100]

Can you explain what I’m seeing?

[Denzie Moderator Volunteer]

Remember, I’m not a doctor. I answer from what I learned from the patient perspective.

If you haven’t heard from your doctor call and light a fire under them. Your doctor can answer better. If I understand this right the cancer has encroached on your pericardium, the sac that surrounds the heart. The fluid that is building up as a result is compressing the heart and it’s ability to pump properly is impaired.

It’s called a pericardial effusion. I experienced one. Mine grew so fast that I had surgery on it within 12 hours of being admitted to the hospital. They had to drain the fluid from around my heart and biopsy the fluid.

Fortunately for me there were no cancerous cells in my fluid. They created a hole at the bottom of my pericardium so fluid could run into the body cavity if it built up again. I don’t know if they do that if the fluid has cancer cells.

What size was the paramediastinal mass at the last CT?

[lovey100 in reply to Denzie]

They compared the size from a January 2020 tuner size and when I had my last Ct in August this year it was like 2 cm. I left a message for nurse and she never called me back, I’m on treatment now, in fact I have gemzar on Wednesday and I have been in it weekly since September, what you said makes sense and I’m going full speed on Wednesday to see my dr, not sure if he will come out of his office but I’m sure the fluid building up is most likely cancerous I bet a stronger chemo needed to shrink it

[Denzie Moderator Volunteer in reply to lovey100]

You’ve grown so much as a self advocate. It’s been a pleasure to watch you grow and assert yourself. So proud to know you

Please let us know what you’ve learned

[lovey100 in reply to Denzie]

Seriously you are a godsend... I pretty much can tell I need stronger chemo then genzar to shrink the mass that’s pressing on me and I’ll do it, no biggy, could be worse and could be in spreading to like other organs and I’m stable so I’m good!! Thanks for helping me understand verbiage and sharing your experience, strength and hope! Love you Denzie

[Denzie Moderator Volunteer]

Checking in to see what you’ve learn d from your doctor. Do you have a new treatment plan?

[lovey100 in reply to Denzie]

I’m still on my weekly treatment of chemo and my dr has reached out to me and I’m scheduled for a phone appointment tomorrow by the nurse practitioner but he read the ct report I’m sure and never changed anything so I’m assuming nothing grew since they compared it to a year old scan or I’m sure my oncologist would of strengthened the chemo treatment??? We will see what’s said tomorrow and I will share. Thanks for askng