The begining

For years I thought that I had an ulcer. Maybe I use to. I have had occasional bouts of intense pain in the abdomen sending me to the emergency room or urgent care.

2-19-08 After having moderate abdomen pain I go for checkup at Dr. Johns, my regular care physician. After a blood test he refers me to Dr. Mills, a gastroenterologist.

3-13-08 Appointment with Dr. Mills. He wants to do an ultra sound to look for gall stones which he suspects could be causing the pain. He sees in my records from Dr. Johns that I had an ultra sound done in 2004 that was clear.

3-14-08 Ultra Sound on abdomen. Spots on my liver. Dr. Mills wants to do CAT Scan. No gall stones at least.

3-20-08 Have CAT SCAN done at Metro Lab. Phoenix Diagnostic. I had to pick up a kit the day before the scan. I got three quart size bottles of white goo that looked exactly like Elmer’s glue. I got the choice of “Berry or Vanilla” flavored. I chose berry.

4-10-08 Biopsy at Good Sam for lesions on my liver found with CAT Scan.

4-14-08 Cancer Day. Dr. Mills calls with bad news about biopsy. The tumors in the liver are Carcinoid. I took some satisfaction in the fact that at least this is supposed to be a “Rare” cancer.

4-23-08 Appointment with Oncology Doctor Michael Roberts. Confirmed Carcinoid tumors in liver. They moved there from somewhere else. Where is the primary source of cancer? About 50% of the time (according to my reading) the primary is in the intestines. To find the primary and see the extent of all tumors I will have to have an Octreoscan. A $7000 test where they inject you with radiation that is attracted to the tumors.

May 12, 2008
Experienced my first Carcinoid syndrome symptom of Flushing. I started to get nauseous then real hot, broke out in sweat. Quite unpleasant but did not last too long, a few minutes.

Octreoscan has three parts:
May 15 receive injection of nuclear isotope, first scan.
May 16 The long scan it is supposed to take one and half hours, it actually took nearly 4 hours.
May 22 final scan.
I suffered with terrible claustrophobia each time, I decide I need to be sedated for any kind of close scans. I know I can not do an MRI while conscious. The thought of having a MRI even unconscious gives me the willies.

May 29, 2008 Appointment Dr. Roberts we get the report of Octreoscan.
Calcified tumor in lower abdomen, probably the primary, not 100%. Two suspicious nearby lymph nodes. Again confirm those in the liver.

Treatment:
Monthly shot of Sandostatin.
Stint thru liver directly to tumor for chemo therapy. Consult with Dr. Palestrant, the radiologist that will do the treatments.

June 3, 2008 First shot of Sandostatin, one sore butt cheek.

June 6, 2008 Appointment with Dr. Palestrant.