Retroperitoneal Sarcoma. My Dad Has It. Pls Help. I Don't Know Where To Start.

 

On 1/17/2008 laivly wrote:

Hi,

I don't know what to do to help my dad. I think he has retroperitoneal sarcoma, intra-abdominal sarcoma. I don't know where to start or if that's even exactly what he has. That's what a family friend's son (who's a surgical resident) said to look up/google.

I saw a sample scan of his abdomen area, he has a very large mass growing in there. According to his CT scan report, it's 17CM X 12 X15 IN DIAMETER. It's huge. His organs on the right side of his abdomen are displaced. You can't even see them in some of the CT scans, they are blocked by the growth.

I have no idea what to do, he just told us (my sister and brother and I) a few days ago that he had something growing inside. NONE of us knew it was this big. So I've been trying to read a little online tonight, but I don't know if it's because I'm tired, it's not making much sense to me.

I don't know what other tests he should do. He has the CT scan, Doesn't want to do a biopsy because he's afraid of the mass rupturing. What does he need to do? Can someone please help me? I am shaking right now.

 I'm trying to help my parents as much as I can with research and what not because their English is not the greatest. They immigrated here long ago, but still it takes awhile to read stuff like this. Thanks for any advice/direction you can give me. I really really appreciate it.

 

 

In 1971 I was diagnosed with a fibrosarcoma, which is soft tissue sarcoma.  I also had a very large mass in my abdomen estimated to be the size of a deflated football.  It was inoperable and I went to M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX.  They gave me chemotherapy and I was blessed with a full recovery from that cancer.  It never reocurred. I have a very unusual genetic disorder called Gardner Syndrome (FAP).  In 2005 I had rectal cancer and now have an ileostomy.  You can look up MDACC on the Internet (mdanderson.com)  Good luck and let me know if you have any questions.  Gerry