Urachal Cancer Survivor

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RE: Urachal Cancer

by MC2012 on Thu Jun 21, 2012 02:40 AM

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On Jun 13, 2012 1:04 AM KMKontario wrote:

I was diagnosed with Urachal Adenocarcinoma in April 2011.

In May 2011 I had a partial cystectomy.  Margins were clear, but I was refered to an oncologist as a precaution.  Durning routine testing, they found that I had mets in my lungs.  I did 6 rounds of chemo, cysplatin and 5FU.  My oncologist considered my cancer stable and I took a break from the chemo.

In May 2012 during a routine CT they found something on one of my ovaries.  My oncologist send me for an ultrasound where it was confirmed that there is an 8 cm tumor on my right ovary.

My oncologist wanted to start me back on chemo immediately.  I told him that I want the tumor removed.  He told me that they do not normally remove mets.  My concern is that it grew to this size in a matter of 3 months and we all know that chemo is not always effective on our kind of cancer.  I do not understand why they can't take it out when it is on a part of my body that I really do not need.

I am getting a second opinion.  I have an appointment to see a gyno-oncologist as well as a radiation oncologist.

I would welcome any advice from others who are dealing or have delt with this type of cancer.

my Aunt had a mass in her ovary. Her GYN-oncologist decided it would be best to do complete hysterectomy. I know that the mass she had on her ovary was large and was giving her discomfort. After hyst, she was referred to oncologist and he is doing her chemo.

RE: Urachal Cancer

by MC2012 on Thu Jun 21, 2012 03:00 AM

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I passed on the advice for my aunt to cut her hair short.She went with a very cute style that everybody complemented her on. I must admit the new style made her smile. A few wks later,she decided to shave it all. It made the process a lot easier on her and her kids.For now, she doesn't want a wig. She prefers using scarves. Thanks to all that have been so helpful in offering advice and their stories. God bless

RE: Urachal Cancer

by MC2012 on Thu Jun 21, 2012 03:19 AM

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On Jun 05, 2012 7:25 AM mos1502 wrote:

Hi MC2012,

When I first started chemo my hair was past my shoulders in length, so when I first noticed that I started losing my hair I decided to get my hair cut short. When I was making the appointment at the hairdressers I explained what was happening and made sure that I got my regular hairdresser and that I was in the salon on my own, so they let me have my appointment at the end of the day when it had closed, which was a great help as it was rather upsetting at the time, but I brought a freind with me which I was grateful for. But although it was upsetting I felt it was something I had control of and it was my decision to lose the hair and not the chemos. So if your aunt can go and get it cut as short as she is willing to go even if it means going to the hairdressers a couple of times, rather than doing it in one sitting, if she feels it would be to upsetting, but I found that once it had started it was a pretty quick process. Has your aunt decided on a whether or not to be fitted with a wig? I went for a fitting about two weeks later, I chose my wig and went to collect it a week later at which point they shaved what hair I had left extremly short, they gave me a number one all around which was rather shocking at the time, but it turned out for the best as it made the hair loss far less noticeable and made I didn't have to worry about it. But I didn't lose it all completely it just thinned more in place generally arond the  back and sides. Even though I got fitted for the wig it was more for wearing when going for a meal or special occasion rather than every day wear, other than that I wore hats and scarves. But never at home, because at the end of the day if I couldn't be my trueself in my own home, where could I?

I hope it helps but just having you by herside with your encouragement and support she will be fine and will get through it.

Thanks for your kinds words.

RE: Urachal Cancer

by MC2012 on Thu Jun 21, 2012 03:56 AM

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My aunt this week had a week off of chemo. Tomorrow she goes for her second Pet scan. I stay as positive as I can as I know the support helps her. Im asking for prayers that her Pet Scan will show improvement.

RE: Urachal Cancer

by lindsay2 on Thu Jun 21, 2012 04:00 AM

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MC2012 Your Aunt and Family are in my prayers! Thank You for excepting me :)

RE: Urachal Cancer

by MC2012 on Thu Jun 21, 2012 04:03 AM

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Thank you for the prayers. Keep me updated on your mother. I will keep y'all in my prayers. We all know that prayer is powerful!

2 1/2 Year Urachal Adenocarcinoma Cancer Survivor

by vtoole on Tue Jun 26, 2012 01:43 AM

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My husband was diagnosed with urachal adenocarcinoma 2 1/2 years ago at the age of 58. It was basically Stage 4. We went to a Dallas urological oncologist - who was a surgeon - on the advice of my husband's long time internist in Dallas. We were in such a state of shock and had no idea what the right thing to do was, so we simply followed his advice. My husband went in for multiple MRI's CT scans, etc. and it was decided that he should have a partial cystectomy with a resection. My husband did well after surgery - for a few months  - and was back at work after a couple of weeks; but we then began to notice an enlarging of his stomache for no apparent reason (his surgery was in January and the physical changes began in May - so 4 months). We kept returning to the surgeon and asked what could be happening. He "poo - pooed" us saying it was "post surgical changes." I had done exhaustive research online for this type of cancer and suggested the cancer had metastasized. I asked the doctor about the possibility of follow up chemo as indicated by MD Anderson trials in Houston. Again we felt "poo-pooed" and were told by this doctor, "Chemo doesn't work for this type of cancer and is brutal." We made contact with MDA and eventually my husband agreed to see the MDA's doctor in July - we waited 2 months too long, in my opinioin. Long story short, MDA told us that it appeared that my husband's disease had progressed and that we needed to consider systemic therapy which Dr. Rathke Seifert of MDA had "discovered" as the only possible chemo treatment at this point. Our doctor at MDA, a partner with Dr. Seifert, has been an incredible man and has saved my husband's life. My husband underwent 6 rounds of a grueling chemo regimen - Cisplatin, Gemcidibine, Fluoricil (F5) and Leucovorin - every three weeks that lasted from a Wed through the following Tuesday 24 hours a day round the clock. After two rounds of this grueling treatment, 6 weeks, our doctor did not like the results - no evidence of the cancer receding on the CT scan, so he started my husband on a drug approved by the FDA for colon cancer. (Someone on this message board has already mentioned that this urachal adenocarcinoma cancer cell is very similar to the colon cancer cell). The doctor added this drug, Panumitab, to the next 4 chemo treatments. Although my husband lost 30 pounds during the process of the 4 1/2 months of this grueling treatment, and seemed that he was waning quickly, he had a remarkable response to the addition of this drug, and after the next 3 months, the CT scan showed a recession of the cancer on his peritoneum. (After the surgery, it appeared the cancer had spread to his peritoneum and his lungs.) The doc wanted to continue the chemo therapy for an additional 12 months, however, my husband felt that he would not survive any more of these grueling treatments. So, his doc agreed to simply use the colon cancer drug. He has continued this treatment for the past 1 1/2 years every 3 weeks at MDA. His last CT scan showed no sign of the cancer anywhere. Soon, our doc will give him a "chemo holiday" and will follow him for any signs of cancer recurrence. In the mean time, my husband gained all of his lost weight back, has continued working full time and was able to be at our son's graduation from college this past December. Our lives have returned to a sort of "normal" and it has been a blessing to have found this doctor at MDA. It appears that only 37 - 50% of people survie this cancer for 5 years. Most die within the first 1 - 2 years. Our hope is that this "incurable" cancer will have been somewhat disabled by  a two year course of this colon cancer drug. If anyone is out there who wants hope, this is your hope. My husband was a "goner" according to MDA's doctor 2 1/2 years ago with a wing and a prayer that he might respond and get a 6 month remission/reprieve before the cancer would return. It's been 2 1/2 years and he is alive and living life.

RE: Urachal Adenocarcinoma

by vtoole on Tue Jun 26, 2012 03:22 PM

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Are you speaking of CA 125? If so, it is normal as long as it is lower than 35 or 40.

RE: Urachal Adenocarcinoma

by MC2012 on Wed Jun 27, 2012 03:40 AM

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Tomorrow my aunt goes to get her Pet Scan results after 6 treatments of chemo. From my understanding this is when she will find out if the combination of chemo will show positive results. If y'all could just say an extra prayer tonight for my aunt,our family will be grateful.Thanks again....

RE: Urachal Cancer

by mos1502 on Wed Jun 27, 2012 08:21 AM

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On Jun 13, 2012 1:04 AM KMKontario wrote:

I was diagnosed with Urachal Adenocarcinoma in April 2011.

In May 2011 I had a partial cystectomy.  Margins were clear, but I was refered to an oncologist as a precaution.  Durning routine testing, they found that I had mets in my lungs.  I did 6 rounds of chemo, cysplatin and 5FU.  My oncologist considered my cancer stable and I took a break from the chemo.

In May 2012 during a routine CT they found something on one of my ovaries.  My oncologist send me for an ultrasound where it was confirmed that there is an 8 cm tumor on my right ovary.

My oncologist wanted to start me back on chemo immediately.  I told him that I want the tumor removed.  He told me that they do not normally remove mets.  My concern is that it grew to this size in a matter of 3 months and we all know that chemo is not always effective on our kind of cancer.  I do not understand why they can't take it out when it is on a part of my body that I really do not need.

I am getting a second opinion.  I have an appointment to see a gyno-oncologist as well as a radiation oncologist.

I would welcome any advice from others who are dealing or have delt with this type of cancer.

Hi KMKontario,

Your story is so similar to my own I was first diagnosed in 2009 and had a partial cystectomy also with clear margins, my belly button was then removed 3 months later as a precaution but it was all clear. I wad having check Ups every 3 months then in the November of 2010 I was diagnosed with Mets to both my lungs so I commenced my chemo journey. It was also noted that I had growths on each ovary, they left them alone and kept an eye on them over time it was noted that the one on the left was starting to wrap itself around the tube from my kidney to my bladder so they decided to operate. So after 19 cycles of chemo I asked for a bit of a break as the mets on my lungs have been stable for a while, which my oncologist was happy enough with.

 As I am writing this I am at home recovering from my operation 11 days ago where they removed my ovaries and most of my uterus. I am doing really well and the gyno-ocologist is very happy with the outcome and we are just waiting for the results in the next couple of weeks, before I start back on my chemo. I hope this helps and best of luck with everything. Take care

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