Got some news that even shocked all of the drs in Iowa City. Last Nov 3, the MRI at home showed something growing in the bone marrow of the spine at T-11 that was suspicious for cancer. Additional scans done in Iowa City in late Dec & again in late Jan showed this slowly spreading up the thoracic spine. By mid Mar the Pet Scan showed it spreading down the lumbar spine to L 1,2,3, & 4. The open biopsy in late Mar came back "non-diagnostic"; can't say it is cancer & can't say it isn't. The 2 MRIs just completed show that whatever it is in the bone marrow it is significantly reduced! There does remain 1 area of concern at
L 4 which will be scanned again in about 3 mo. Nobody can figure it out but dr says 1 thing is certain & that it is not cancer of ANY kind because cancer does not go away without treatment. Radiology, orthopedics, & the oncology center have never seen anything like it & simply put she said, we have no explanation. All of this bone marrow stuff is completely separate from the extreme deterioration of the discs, bone, etc in the lumbar area that is causing all of his pain & mobility issues. There is no surgery to fix it; at this time it is a matter of trying to manage the pain with physical therapy & pain meds.
The major problem we are facing at this time is the Crohn's which has been acting up. Gastro dr told us he needs the Remicade but the cancer is a problem. The internist says if next wk's colonoscopy shows the Crohn's activity approaching where it was 2 yrs ago he may have to take a chance by going back on the Remicade as he was going into organ failure last time. The lymphoma dr says if he goes back on Remicade it is almost certain the lymphoma will return & says absolutely do not do it. I then asked her what do we do if we get to the point where we are looking at possible organ failure again. She said, well it isn't going to do much good to avoid cancer if the Crohn's is going to kill you. First we have to see how bad it is next wk & then lymphoma dr said she would consult with gastro dr to try to figure out how best to get the Crohn's under control without opening the door for cancer.
L 4 which will be scanned again in about 3 mo. Nobody can figure it out but dr says 1 thing is certain & that it is not cancer of ANY kind because cancer does not go away without treatment. Radiology, orthopedics, & the oncology center have never seen anything like it & simply put she said, we have no explanation. All of this bone marrow stuff is completely separate from the extreme deterioration of the discs, bone, etc in the lumbar area that is causing all of his pain & mobility issues. There is no surgery to fix it; at this time it is a matter of trying to manage the pain with physical therapy & pain meds.
The major problem we are facing at this time is the Crohn's which has been acting up. Gastro dr told us he needs the Remicade but the cancer is a problem. The internist says if next wk's colonoscopy shows the Crohn's activity approaching where it was 2 yrs ago he may have to take a chance by going back on the Remicade as he was going into organ failure last time. The lymphoma dr says if he goes back on Remicade it is almost certain the lymphoma will return & says absolutely do not do it. I then asked her what do we do if we get to the point where we are looking at possible organ failure again. She said, well it isn't going to do much good to avoid cancer if the Crohn's is going to kill you. First we have to see how bad it is next wk & then lymphoma dr said she would consult with gastro dr to try to figure out how best to get the Crohn's under control without opening the door for cancer.
