Martin from Macedonia - Dx Jan 2015

ASPS patients post updates here, including tales of success :)
Bonni Hess
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Re: Martin from Macedonia - Dx Jan 2015

Post by Bonni Hess »

Dear Martin,
Thank you once again for your faithful updates and sharing of invaluable anecdotal information. I am so happy that the expert review of your scans confirms stable disease, as well as the apparent non-ASPS diagnosis of your liver lesions :-). We have had a couple of other ASPS patients on this Board ( Mario from Arkansas and Todd from Wisconsin) who have had similar experiences with suspected liver mets which appeared to be just benign lesions which ultimately did not increase in size during a lengthy time period. Unfortunately, neither Mario nor Todd's mother have posted updates for quite awhile so I am unsure of their current disease status and the status of their liver lesions. You could possibly try to contact them through a private message on this Board by locating their names on the Personal Updates topic. You and your doctors are to be commended for your vigilance in closely monitoring your disease with complete and closely reviewed scans. My only comment and concern is that I personally feel that scans should be done with contrast to ensure the most accurate scan results in determining if there are any new mets or increased growth of existing mets. I understand that there are concerns about the use of oral contrast because of the possible negative effect on the kidneys, but we have always felt that the benefits outweigh the risks, and when Brittany drinks oral contrast, we make sure that she drinks plenty of water to offset the effects on her kidneys. How often will you be having scans and when are your next scans scheduled?
Take care dear Martin, know how deeply appreciated your faithful information sharing is, and keep in touch as you are able.
Sharing the great joy and relief of your very good scan results with much happiness, and reaching out to embrace you with happy hugs, healing wishes, and continued Hope,
Bonni
MartinBube
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Re: Martin from Macedonia - Dx Jan 2015

Post by MartinBube »

Hi Bonnie,

Thanks for your advises and I'll try to contact the members that had similar cases hoping that they will reply.

Regarding the scans I'm on a 4 months schedule at the moment. Next is in February.

About contrast until now I've done CT and MRI with contrast. This last time I did MRI Head, Chest, Abdomen and Pelvic with contrast and CT of chest with no contrast as the radiologist said she does not need it to see if there is something. However I had all the contrast IV until now. Now sure which is the one that Brittany is taking orally. is this the same as IV, because if it is I will ask here also since I might take it much better that the one that they give IV.
I had very bad reaction on the one from the CT and that is why I tried to avoid it this time, but I might do it in February just in case.

thank you Bonnie for your nice words and wishes and very best you Brittany and your family
Bonni Hess
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Re: Martin from Macedonia - Dx Jan 2015

Post by Bonni Hess »

Hello again dear Martin, Regarding your question about Brittany's scan contrast, the only scans that she takes oral contrast for is her abdominal/pelvic CT's. However, since she is now having abdominal/pelvic MRI's instead of CT's to prevent concerning CT radiation exposure, all of her scans are done with IV contrast. Thankfully Brittany tolerates the IV contrast much better than the oral contrast liquid which always caused her nausea, gastrointestinal problems, and abdominal pain. I am so sorry that you had a bad reaction to your IV contrast for your chest CT and am unsure what the resolution is for that. I remember that one of our former Board members, Amanda, also had negative reactions to IV contrast. I Hope that the coming months will find you feeling well and that your four month February scans will show continued stable disease. Take care dear Martin and keep the Board updated as you are able. With special caring thoughts, healing wishes, and continued Hope, Bonni
rachelve
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Re: Martin from Macedonia - Dx Jan 2015

Post by rachelve »

I know of someone who was able to have IV CT contrast despite prior allergic reactions by taking steroids and benedryl prior to the scans. Just FYI in case the need every comes up when you absolutely have to use IV CT contrast in the future. Obviously, this is something you would have to discuss with your doctor, though.
MartinBube
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Location: Skopje, Macedonia

Re: Martin from Macedonia - Dx Jan 2015

Post by MartinBube »

for sure I would take it in consideration. Thank you
MartinBube
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Re: Martin from Macedonia - Dx Jan 2015

Post by MartinBube »

Hello everyone,

I hope all of you enjoyed the Christmas holidays and spent wonderful times with the people you love and forgot for a moment about ASPS.

I wanted to ask if some of the people that had the primary removed from upper body meaning not the legs, did someone do Leg Scan on MRI or something?

Since yesterday I'm feeling some pain in my knee so I'm just being cautious whether I should seek MRI scan?
D.ap
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Re: Martin from Macedonia - Dx Jan 2015

Post by D.ap »

Good afternoon to you Martin :D

Really great to hear from you .

I know that u requested folks that had upper body primaries to respond but I'm chiding in anyway

You had a bone scan back in February right ?
Have you been jogging more lately as well?
With the location of your surgeries I would guess that your knees sometimes get to feeling sore as the back is very much a part of the transference of weight to the knees.
Healing and trauma could make you favor weigh that you put on your knees and cause pain maybe ?

If you can get a scan ok'd , I would perform an MRI.

Have you followed up on your liver spots lately or how often are scans being scheduled ?
Our family had a beautiful holiday. Thanks for asking :)

Knee link-

How Can I Prevent Knee Pain?
Knee pain can be hard to prevent, because it's often caused by an accident. But there are still some precautions you can take to reduce the risk of a knee injury:


Stop exercising if you feel pain in your knee.
Always increase the intensity of your workout gradually.
Stretch your legs before and after physical activity.
Use kneepads to prevent bursitis, especially if you have to kneel frequently.
Wear shoes that fit well and offer enough support.
Keep your thigh muscles strong with regular stretching and strengthening.

http://www.m.webmd.com/pain-management/knee-pain-causes
Debbie
Olga
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Re: Martin from Macedonia - Dx Jan 2015

Post by Olga »

Hi Martin,
Ivan's primary was in the right arm and as a part of the check ups his legs are only scanned during the yearly bone scan.
But in more than 12 years Ivan's fight with ASPS, he had few episodes in his legs with pain when he had to investigate the cause, and of course a possible ASPS metastasis was always a concern and needed to be ruled out. His oncologist knows him very well and she also has two grown up boys who are very active in sports, so she would always suspect the sport related trauma first. He had scans of the legs ordered by her or by other specialized drs who were consulted re. pain, and he even had a knee surgery to remove a tiny piece of the bone chipped from an old volleyball related trauma going back for 10+ years. He also had been found to have a bone structure abnormality in his ankle.
The bone metastasis pain would not go away if you used cold packs and advil, it usually increases with the time.
Olga
D.ap
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Re: Martin from Macedonia - Dx Jan 2015

Post by D.ap »

Hi Olga and Martin

Would a xray do justice to the knee detail to see at this time to see what is causing pain?
I can't imagine Martin that you have arthritis :roll:

Or if need be should an MRI be performed? I guess the knee cap would need more detail so MRI would work the best?

Deb
Debbie
MartinBube
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Location: Skopje, Macedonia

Re: Martin from Macedonia - Dx Jan 2015

Post by MartinBube »

Hi Debbie and Olga

I do jog regularly only this last week I stopped since it was very cold and I caught little bit cold. So I started some exercise at home.
I did my last bone Scan end of February/March this year.
My next body scan is in February and I'm not sure whether I should do another bone scan or leave it for now.

My liver cyst subject, after my last scan I went to a liver specialist to look at. His answer was that they are no cyst and no mets. This guy is THE specialist for that and is also very respected university professor so only thing left is to see it again on the next scan.

beside that due to other reason I had colonoscopy done on Monday with anesthesia, which thankfully was all good. Before that I had no pain whatsoever, after that the pain started. I did not asked whether someone hit me by mistake or twisted my leg when they moved me from one bed to another.

Anyway I do believe that the pain is reduced today compared to 2 days ago so I hope it is nothing serious. However I will follow up on it
D.ap
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Re: Martin from Macedonia - Dx Jan 2015

Post by D.ap »

Good morning ( here) and good day Martin

Great news on the scope results !

Looks like the enema etc prior to the colonoscopy can cause electrolyte imbalance .
More specific to leg cramping though.

I would stay with your bone scan in February as you would have a broader scan performed that way. Your whole body not just your knee.

The link-
The question posed by patient

"After drinking the colonoscopy prep can that cause leg pain or cramping in the legs. I just had a colonoscopy yesterday. I'm concerned."

Dr. Magdy Shaaban
Board Certified, Hematology and Oncology
35 years in practice
214K people helped

"After drinking the colonoscopy prep can that cause leg pain or cramping in the legs. I just had a colonoscopy yesterday. I'm concerned.
Leg cramps: answer is yes. preparation may cause drink a lot of juice "


Source: HealthTap, https://www.healthtap.com/topics/can-a- ... d-leg-pain
Debbie
MartinBube
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Location: Skopje, Macedonia

Re: Martin from Macedonia - Dx Jan 2015

Post by MartinBube »

Hi everyone,

I'll have a meeting tomorrow with my oncologist regarding scheduling the scans in begging of February.

I've been doing them every 4 moths since February last year.

Do you believe that moving to 6 month is a good decision or I should continue to 4 months at least for 3 years?

I'm thinking of moving this scan from Feb to April. and than the next in October, so twice per year. but on the other hand not sure if that is the right way to continue. Maybe at least till end of 2016 to continue the 4 month schedule
Bonni Hess
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Re: Martin from Macedonia - Dx Jan 2015

Post by Bonni Hess »

Happy and Hopefully Healthy New Year dear Martin :) I Hope that this finds you doing well and feeling good, having enjoyed a wonderful Holiday season with family and friends, and having a good start to the New Year. Regarding your question about scan scheduling, I personally think that you should continue with a four month scan schedule since you were just diagnosed a year ago and it is important to initially closely monitor this unpredictable disease for a couple of years to try to ensure that there is adequate disease stability to warrant less frequent scans. If you have read my innumerous posts on this Board, you know that I am a very strong advocate for vigilant, adequate, and appropriate scans as one of the most effective weapons to help fight and manage this very challenging disease. This is of course my personal opinion based on my fourteen and a half years of ASPS experience and extensive research, observations, and networking. Others on this Board may have other opinions and advice to offer. Take care Martin and keep in touch as you are able. With special caring thoughts, healing wishes, warm friendship, and continued Hope, Bonni
MartinBube
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Location: Skopje, Macedonia

Re: Martin from Macedonia - Dx Jan 2015

Post by MartinBube »

Thank you very much Bonnie,

Happy new year to you and your family. Hopefully I wish all of us here to have one calm year and stay in good health.

I agree with you and I'm continuing with the 4 moths schedule for now
MartinBube
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Location: Skopje, Macedonia

Re: Martin from Macedonia - Dx Jan 2015

Post by MartinBube »

Hello everybody,

I would like to let you know that with great relief after my latest scans 2 weeks ago my results are clear as before.

I did CT on the chest but without contrast since I can not tolerate it and MRI of pelvic and Abdomen. I did not did Brain MRI since the last one I did in end of September.

I've asked the radiologist that if necessary I would still do the CT with contrast but she said for now is OK and she is able to see any change on the chest without the contrast. Anyway I will do the next one with contrast just to be sure.
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