my spouse (48) was Dx'ed in 2006 with 'urethral' cancer, however the pathology is mullerian clear cell adenocarcinoma where they feel the primary was the connective tissue between the vagina and the bladder.
Surgery radically resected the bladder, urethra, vagina, and also found positive Lymph nodes, which were resected as well. clean margins everywhere. She went through 6 rounds of Carboplatin and Taxol, followed up with IMRT targeting remaining peritoneal lymph nodes.
for 2 years she's been getting clean checkups, until Wednesday.
She was complaining of back pain, so her Onco had a PET/FDG performed.
It returned several metastatic bone lesions on ribs, skull, spine, arms, and hips, as well as 2 neck and groin positive lymph nodes, and a lesion on the rectus adominus muscle.
We have not gotten any indication from the cancer center whether or not this is treatable or not, although they seem very concerned to start RadT on the vertebrae for Pain Management. We are assuming biopsies will be performed, but probably not until later next week.
I'm trying to get statistics/data on the situation (my spouse is very fatalistic, I need to get facts in front of her beyond the MD's prognosis)... Given the number of distant metastaces, I'm trying to understand if chemo/radT is the primary or adjuvant treatment, or if we must bite the bullet and expect only pallative alternatives at this point.
Any help in pointing to where I can get survival data on distant recurrances from Primary Peritoneal/Vaginal Clear Cell carcinomas would be very appreciated
-Jeff