Second Opinion

Wow, what a day! Kevin and I saw another oncologist from a different practice today.(I was looking for one that practiced at Kennestone because Kennestone has a more advanced cancer center). After reviewing the pathology report and speaking to the pathologist while we waited, he does not agree at all with the first diagnosis. If this is the type of cancer he believes it is, it is much less aggressive and can be treated much more conservatively. For now he wants to start with a 24 hour urine collection. If he sees what he thinks he will with this, my next step is simply a colonoscopy. Yes it is still stage four but the prognosis is so much better. He is advising not to rush into chemotherapy. (So glad I didn't get all my hair cut off as I had planned!) My prayer has been to see Vann's 18th birthday and praise God, I just might. I am still travelling to Vanderbilt next week and am anxious to see what they think. Thank you all for your constant prayers.
Love,
Darlene

Diagnosis History

This whirlwind has all happened since the second week of January. After four to five months of having mild stomach aches one or two days out of the month, I went to my primary care physician to get checked for a gall stone. When Dr. Ujjin saw the ultrasound he raised the concern of metastatic disease because of seeing liver lesions. Next came the CT scan which revealed twenty tumors in the liver and small suspicious areas on the lung. The oncologist is still not concerned with these stating that everyone probably has scarring and lesions on their lungs.
My next step was a liver biopsy which tells the doctor where the cancer originated. (If there had been breast cells in the liver tumors it would be metastatic breast cancer, colon cells in the liver mean metastatic colon cancer,etc.). Kevin and I saw the doctor Tuesday and she revealed the cancer to be a very rare form of skin cancer called Merkel Cell Carcinoma. It is already stage four since it has metastasized to the liver. The only course of treatment she has to offer is chemo therapy to hopefully shrink the liver tumors. I am still very strong and healthy and would not know any of this was happening if not for the doctors opinions. We are all working on getting me a referral to Vanderbilt and M.D. Anderson. Next week is a second opinion here locally and a PET scan to try to locate the skin cancer(Not visible to us or the doctors). We are so blessed by our friends, family and co-workers. Everything you do is a huge help and we truly feel wrapped in your prayers.

Whats Going On With Darlene

Darlene has been dignosed with Merkel Cell Carcinoma...correction, Darlene has been MIS-diagnosed with Merkle Cell.

http://www.merkelcell.org/