I was diagnosed in April 2007 with this horrible cancer. At the time of the diagnosis I was 42 years old and the mother of 2 young daughters. I was horrified of the prognoisis and uncertainty related to CUP.
I am trying to reach out to anyone who has or knows someone that has this cancer.
I initially discovered a lump on the right side of my neck in March 2007. I visited my MD and she suggested I have an ultrasound. After the ultrasound, I had a needle biopsy. To make a long story short, I had another biopsy done wherein tissue was removed and all they could say was it was adenocarcinoma and they did not know where the cancer had originated from. So I have CUP. I had many tests performed and CAT and PET scans.
In July 2007 I began chemo treatment. Because of the location of the lymph node in my neck, I was able to feel the node reduce after two chemo treatments. My oncologist decided she wanted me to do four treatments. I completed four treatments and did not feel the lump in my neck any longer. I was then sent for neck/chest/abdomon CAT scans and a PET scan. The tests indictaed the node was reduced in size by 85% and the PET scan did night show any activity in my neck. The doctors then decided they wanted to do radiation on my neck. I had 30 radiation treatments from November-December 2007. I recently in February 2008, had neck/chest/abdomon CAT scans and nothing else showing. It does seem like I responded well to the Chemo and Radiation. I am know scheduled for another follow-up PET scan in May.
I guess at this point I feel better than I did one year ago. I discovered this last March 2007 and here I am one year later March 2008, and things seem a little brighter.
I know the statistics are not so good with this cancer but I guess so far its starting to seem more promising for me.
If anyone has any further information -- or if I can help offer any information, please feel free to correspond.
Thanks.