An Afternoon of Phone Calls.....

Dr Tanaka Call Back after meeting with Dr. Khatri

Wednesday September 25, 2008

3pm

Dr. Tanaka called back to inform me that he talked with Dr. Khatri and he does not want to perform the surgery yet. Dr. Khatri informed Dr. Tanaka to schedule a colonoscopy for me to see if I have any tumors in my colon.

Dr. Khatri wants to rule out the idea of the inflammation in my intestines which would cause inflamed lymph nodes. This would explain my 8 tumors.

So Dr. Tanaka ordered a urgent colonoscopy


UC San Diego called with the Results of my Blood Work

Wednesday September 25, 2008

3:45pm


I received a phone call from Debbie from UC San Diego Morse Cancer Center in San Diego.
Debbie called to let me know that my blood work that was taken when I was down there had come back. Debbie told me that she and Dr. Lowy are concerned about the blood test results.

My Chromogranin A (CgA) blood test was a 69.
Normal levels are 50.

The Chromogranin A test looks for an enzyme that a neuroendocrine tumor releases -- if this enzyme is released, it could mean that the cancer has spread

This causes concern because this test is my tumor marker. An elevated level of my tumor markers is not a good thing!

Most of my tests have been normal or slightly elevated (44, 46, 48), but it has never been 69.
Dr. Lowy and Debbie recommended that I get a CT scan in the next 2 weeks and redo all of my blood work again ASAP.

Debbie from UC San Diego ordered the tests for me at the UC Davis Cancer Center


Dr Tanaka Call Back.

Wednesday September 25, 2008

4:35pm


I explained to Dr. Tanaka about what Debbie from UC San Diego had told me.
Dr. Tanaka told me that he was concerned and this changes a few things.
He explained that this is a good indication that the cancer might have spread in my body.

Dr. Tanaka ordered all of my cancer blood tests again, including Chromogranin A, Liver Panel, Sernatin, etc.

My colonoscopy was also ordered