Yesterday afternoon, we went to an appointment with Mark's surgeon (Dr. Askenasy) to find out the results of the biopsy and plan for the actual surgery.
The doctor came in and sat down and said, "Well, good news today!"
First, the rectal cancer responded beautifully to the treatment; the MRI showed significant shrinkage. Unfortunately, to be sure that all the cancer has been removed, they'll still remove most of his rectum and create a new one from his colon.
Then he explained that the biopsied area was a schwannoma, a benign tumor in his nerve sheathe. This is the 2nd schwannoma identified in this whole cancer mess, and there are 3 more areas where there are suspected schwannomas (1 in his groin and 2 in his leg). In contradiction of my understanding last week, this one actually grew over a cm since the last measurement; schwannomas do not respond to radiation or chemotherapy.
Because of the location of this tumor (on the psoas muscle) and the speed at which it's growing, the doctor said he wants to take it out when he performs the rectal resection surgery to remove the rectal cancer. This means that he might not be able to perform it robotically after all, and Mark might have a pretty intense incision in his abdomen.
In addition, because this is the 2nd confirmed schwannoma with 3 more suspected and we have diagnosed rectal cancer and skin cancer (this was last May, and was a simple squamas cell carcinoma that was removed completely at the dermatologists office), Dr. Askenasy wants him to see a genetic oncologist.
I sat there for a minute and finally said, "Okay, what's the good news, then?"
"The good news," he said, "is that it was a schwannoma, not a sarcoma. Because a sarcoma that close to his ureter would have meant we had to take the sarcoma, the ureter, and the kidney as well as a lot of other tissue around it. And I was really afraid it was a sarcoma because that's what we usually see in this area. I was praying that it was only a schwannoma."
I honestly felt like I had been sucker punched. I had no idea that this little area of "increased activity" posed so much risk to my husband. At the same time, I was so relieved that I hadn't been eaten alive with unnecessary anxiety for two weeks. And I felt a little angry that we hadn't understood the seriousness of the risk in the first place. Which took me back to remembering that understanding the risk wouldn't have changed our behavior or the outcome.
Overall, I am relieved and grateful. We do have a really excellent team of doctors, and I'm so glad that the tumor was only a schwannoma. After we finish the treatment for the rectal surgery, including the schwannoma on the psoas muscle, Dr. Askenasy will refer us to a colleague of his to deal with the schwannomas in his groin and thigh muscle.
Our next appointment is on Feb 25 with his oncologist. We will plan for chemotherapy after the rectal surgery including duration and dosage.
The doctor came in and sat down and said, "Well, good news today!"
First, the rectal cancer responded beautifully to the treatment; the MRI showed significant shrinkage. Unfortunately, to be sure that all the cancer has been removed, they'll still remove most of his rectum and create a new one from his colon.
Then he explained that the biopsied area was a schwannoma, a benign tumor in his nerve sheathe. This is the 2nd schwannoma identified in this whole cancer mess, and there are 3 more areas where there are suspected schwannomas (1 in his groin and 2 in his leg). In contradiction of my understanding last week, this one actually grew over a cm since the last measurement; schwannomas do not respond to radiation or chemotherapy.
Because of the location of this tumor (on the psoas muscle) and the speed at which it's growing, the doctor said he wants to take it out when he performs the rectal resection surgery to remove the rectal cancer. This means that he might not be able to perform it robotically after all, and Mark might have a pretty intense incision in his abdomen.
In addition, because this is the 2nd confirmed schwannoma with 3 more suspected and we have diagnosed rectal cancer and skin cancer (this was last May, and was a simple squamas cell carcinoma that was removed completely at the dermatologists office), Dr. Askenasy wants him to see a genetic oncologist.
I sat there for a minute and finally said, "Okay, what's the good news, then?"
"The good news," he said, "is that it was a schwannoma, not a sarcoma. Because a sarcoma that close to his ureter would have meant we had to take the sarcoma, the ureter, and the kidney as well as a lot of other tissue around it. And I was really afraid it was a sarcoma because that's what we usually see in this area. I was praying that it was only a schwannoma."
I honestly felt like I had been sucker punched. I had no idea that this little area of "increased activity" posed so much risk to my husband. At the same time, I was so relieved that I hadn't been eaten alive with unnecessary anxiety for two weeks. And I felt a little angry that we hadn't understood the seriousness of the risk in the first place. Which took me back to remembering that understanding the risk wouldn't have changed our behavior or the outcome.
Overall, I am relieved and grateful. We do have a really excellent team of doctors, and I'm so glad that the tumor was only a schwannoma. After we finish the treatment for the rectal surgery, including the schwannoma on the psoas muscle, Dr. Askenasy will refer us to a colleague of his to deal with the schwannomas in his groin and thigh muscle.
Our next appointment is on Feb 25 with his oncologist. We will plan for chemotherapy after the rectal surgery including duration and dosage.
I think of Mark and all your family daily and keep you all in my prayers. Love and prayers for everyone.
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