CT Reads

I went in for a CT not too long ago because Im just not feeling "right". Anyway, the first thing that bugged me, well ticked me off, is that within the read I was called "persistently obese" and the doc (who im sure has a fat phobia) made more than one reference to that fact and then added a disclaimer of sorts that said that due to that fact he could not properly view the study. WHAT? Now, this same guy has read several of my cts and Ive had enough. First of all, scar tissue does the same thing and I have loads of that. Second, Im not that fat. And is that any of his business? One of these days I will (in the course of my job) have to call him and Im going to love it because that will mean that he is in the hot seat.
My question to you all is this- when I looked at the CT films (yes, I looked) I saw many white spots that I had not seen before on other cts. They are all over- no pattern. They are not surgical clips.
Has anyone seen their pictures and if so, did the cancerous spots show up bright/white?
I have an early december appt with the gyne onc and I will rest better once I have seen him and he reads the film. He will see things if they are there to be seen. But I was just curious as to what a recurrence might look like.

Thanks
Melissa

By Milashka
Posted October 28, 2009 at 1:38 pm
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I am sorry you have such a bad experience.

I have never heard that fat hinders the CT scan. I have heard though that scar tissue does NOT show on CT scans.

Re white spots - you saw them on the images - what does it say in the report?

By melf
Posted October 28, 2009 at 1:57 pm
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The report says that the pocket of fluid I had is gone (surgery), I have a hernia, no major change in the lungs and thats about all. Except for the disclaimer.
I really shouldnt think about this until the onc looks at it- I know that. Im just nervous about it and the spots (and they are larger) are scattered randomly about- even in the lungs which he said were clear. How can they be clear when they weren't there before?
Mel

By Cheryl4Teal
Posted October 28, 2009 at 2:30 pm
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First Mel Ive never heard being "fat" makes them harder to read. im larger , and they have no trouble seeing mine. I think hes got a fat phobia. I dont remember if that means anything even though my place gives me a copy I choose not to view it, I guess I feel im not a professional so I wait.
They must feel its ok if thats what the pathologist is giving as the answer. Id speak to your doctor about it , if your worried. It could be something non cancerous, scar tissue? Maybe something non cancer.
I too have a hernia. Unless it hurts or botheres you , and its not strangulated , my docotr advised me to leave it alone.
I would just ask questions Mel , and I admit hes was rude.

By Shearaw
Posted October 28, 2009 at 4:08 pm
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Hi All,

I hope that this post doesn't offend, as I don't want anyone to think that I am making a statement about their weight.

I found an article in The Washington Post online that discusses the difficulties with reading images from heavy patients. It seems as though there is an associated risk of false positives, that show up like those white spots that melf described. Here is the link for folks to read and use the info as you will. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A61039-2004Dec13.html

By Milashka
Posted October 28, 2009 at 4:09 pm
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If the white spots were something of significance, it would have (should have) been noted that on the report - so at least that's good!

By lifeisgrand
Posted October 28, 2009 at 4:44 pm
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I think so too. Even a doctor who is a jerk as a human being has to report what he sees to the best of his knowledge. But if you're still not comfortable I would ask your doctor to at least take a look at the films.

By melf
Posted October 28, 2009 at 6:32 pm
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Guess im getting ancy- I need to find a way to relax and just ride it out.
Shearaw, I was nto offended in the least. It was an interesting article. I had heard of this in the past and it makes perfect sense to me. However, when one is fat it just hurts to hear it and I dont think that it needs to be mentioned and especially not more than once.

Thanks All- my curiosity is certainly going to get me in to trouble!!

Melf

By Jennali
Posted October 28, 2009 at 11:57 pm
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I understand your feelings, melissa. I know I am overweight, but I sure as heck hate to see it in print! Once I had an exam at a walk-in clinic...forget why I was there..and I snuck a peek at my chart. (I know I didn't have to sneak, but I felt like I did). Anyway, the doc had put for my abdominal palpation "obese but normal." Ugh.

I have never seen my films from my scans, but I would like to. Just never got around to asking the doc to let me see them.

There is a good bit of evidence that being overweight, especially with abdominal fat, puts us at higher risk for recurrence. Even though I know that, I am finding it difficult to shed the pounds. I had lost weight after surgery, but promptly regained it plus 10 pounds after I finished my first chemo. I need to exercise, but my heel spurs make walking difficult for any distance. I think hubby and I need to go swim.

Best wishes,
Jenn
IIIC survivor since Nov 26, 2007

By Rose2
Posted October 29, 2009 at 12:34 am
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Sheasaw...in regards to your comment and article. I have been concerned about my weight. I keep gaining and gaining. today when I went for my chemo treatment...I gained some more weight. And so...I had alot of time to think about this during chemo.

I kept thinking it is from the steroids. But now today the Lord brought to mind that alot of it is just "fat" and I am concerned. I was in shock...after the Dr weighed me. He did not say a word. But had told me 30 pounds ago that he was concerned about my weight. And he wanted me to loose some pounds.

I have read many articles like the one you posted. And being overweight does contribute to cancers.

That being said......I need to try harder to loose some with weight. Any suggestions.
I just keep putting it on!!

Now back to Mels questions. Mel I hope you get the answers you need. I am praying for you. Dr Kushner is so good.....He will have answers for you.

I have been thinking about making an appointment with him too. My Ca125 is still going up, despite chemo. A little at a time.

By Shearaw
Posted October 29, 2009 at 10:01 am
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Rose2, How I wish that I had the answer to all of our weight issues. (I wrote about my own in another one of the recent discussions on weight.) First of all, while we are on chemo we already have so many stressors that it is just not fair to mentally flog ourselves. For myself, I have never been able to lose weight unless I was mentally motivated and ready. I am an "apple" body type who can pack on the abdominal pounds with the best of them. Also, in my mid 50s I came to terms that it was my everyday diet that needed changing, not just a temporary change. So, I really had to think about making changes that I was happy with sustaining, rather than huge reductions. Lastly, I had to accept that my weight loss would be very slow, as was my weight gain. It took me nearly a year to lose my first 15 lb!

What works for me? I eat up to 5 times a day. I drink two extra large cups of herb tea every morning, plus one in the afternoon, and one in the evening. I started this habit during chemo, as I am not a good water drinker. I use whole grain breads and pastas. Once I got used to the fuller bodied taste of them, I found the white stuff to be bland and unflavorful. I also felt full eating less of the whole grain products. My breakfast is either yogurt with fruit and nut/seed topping, or oatmeal with fruit and a little milk, or a fruit smoothie that has whey powder added for protein. My lunches are often a small portion of dinner leftovers, or salad-in-a-pocket. I've replaced most snacking with fresh veggies (I am the carrot queen), and unsalted or lightly salted nuts, sometimes mixed with dried cranberries. For dinner, while I cook more standard fare that my husband will eat, I inject more veggies, so that my own plate has very little meat and more veggies and whole grains. If I have dessert, it is fruit. Sometimes, I buy small containers of ice cream, and serve it to myself in a very small prep dish. A taste is good enough! We almost never have cakes and pies in the house. The only occasional cookies are shortbread, which I found helpful during chemo. The only candy is hard butterscotch, because it is not my favorite :-). Well, every now and then some dark chocolate sneaks in.

When I eat out, I almost always order fish or chicken, baked, broiled, or sauteed, but never breaded and fried. And I try to order dishes that come with veggies I like, especially salad. Since portions are usually huge, I always plan on taking home half for one or two lunches...it stretches the treat. If we have to stop for fast food, I just get a very basic burger with condiments and a large decaf coffee. I steal a few fries from hubby, otherwise I'd eat an entire order! Sometimes I can't resist dessert, and I will order it and only eat a few bites. I figure it is no more wasteful to not finish, than to needlessly eat it. When I go out with the girls we order one dessert to every 3-4 people and keep passing the plates around.

For me, a rigid do and don't diet makes me feel deprived. I just try to make mostly healthy choices at each meal and in the supermarket.

I also have been exercising quite a bit, except during my present Doxil regimen. I aimed for 5 days a week, either walking weights, cardio class and yoga. I enjoy them all. I really miss it. Since I have several friends who work out, I am motivated to get back to that asap.

Again, I wish I had a miracle weight loss plan. Then I'd tackle a cure for OvCa! Alas, I do not :-(

By melf
Posted October 29, 2009 at 10:49 am
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thanks Rose- I gained yet another pound yesterday...and I didnt do anything bad. I feel that this is so out of control and it's bugging the dickens out of me. I am sitting here sweating due to the lack of hormones and I know that I cant even think that I will "sweat" even an ounce off! and Monday is weigh in at WW again. And they make you weigh- one cant just go to the meetings. You MUST weigh. Give me a break. I think thats a stupid rule but it is someone's rule none the less.
Yoga- I have alaways wanted to do yoga. However now Im afraid that my legs would cramp up so badly and once on the floor I would not be able to get up! Then there's the outfit...what does one wear to do yoga these days?

Mel

By pegart
Posted October 29, 2009 at 1:35 pm
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I am not fat, but that is because I have to think about what I eat all the time. i am not quite 5' tall. I eat in moderation anything I like but just small portions. I do not eat between meals and make myself stop when I feel full. it takes about 20min to feel full so I eat slow. I find when I eat too much I imediatly put on the pounds. I don't at desert, but sometimes I will take a tiny portion just for the taste. I am not trying to preach, but I really do have to fight not to gain weight. there's no where to put it but out on me. Hope this helps

By Mom82
Posted October 29, 2009 at 7:15 pm
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Shearaw, your diet is very healthy!
As for Butterscotch - replace it with a high quality dark chocolate (min 70% cocoa - no milk) which is one of the anticancer foods.

Chocolate contains an abundance of polyphenols, a small square of dark chocolate has twice the polyphenols content of a glass of red wine and the same amount as a cup of green tea.
Daily consumption: 1 1/2 ounces or 40 grams

By Shearaw
Posted October 29, 2009 at 10:54 pm
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Mel- It seems to me that you are doing a good thing at WW. You must not beat yourself up over this. The weight will come off in good time.

As for yoga, one wears any comfy knit shirt and pants. Nobody cares what you can do or look like, as everyone is focused on their own efforts. When I started, I was in terrible shape - no strength or flexibility. I started in a chair yoga class that had very little floor work. Most instructors will pay special attention to beginners, emphasizing that you stay within your own comfort level, including modifications and props to help you. The stretching you will do will be great for countering cramps. I encourage you to find a beginner, gentle, or chair yoga class and give it a two month try.

Mom82, I couldn't replace the butterscotch with dark chocolate. I have very few candy pieces in a week. But, dark chocolate in a drawer just calls to me all of the time. It is one of my favorite food groups! I would have no willpower. I do treat myself with it on occasion, tho.

By lifeisgrand
Posted October 30, 2009 at 9:30 am
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This has turned into a rather interesting thread. A few years ago one day I decided that it was time for me to take off some weight. I had a definate goal in mind as my 50th birthday was coming up. I joined an online weight loss forum (myfooddiary.com). It was here that I logged in every morsel of food that I ate. By doing so I became very aware of the value (and caloric value) of the things I was eating. When you see it all laid out in front of you then it is easier to make changes, to choose the healthier stuff and eliminate that bad or at least minimize the poor choices. I will say that at first it is a real job to lose weight. It takes constant awareness and motivation to keep at it over the long haul but eventually it becomes second nature as to what is healthy and what is not.

Shearaw has some very good tips on how to eat right. A very important one is to move from the 3 big meals a day to 6 or more smaller meals. Make the things you eat count. Balance out your carbs with some protein. And drink at least 8 oz of water a day to help keep your body hydrated. When we don't drink enough our bodies hang onto all the fluid it can hold in reserve.

Mel... I know you're doing the best you can and while getting the support of a group like weight watchers is a good thing in normal times it seems like it has added more stress than good for you. We have unique needs when we find ourselves with cancer and I believe it makes it all the more important to improve our diet more so for our health than our outward appearance. Have you considered asking your doctor to refer you to a dietitian who can work with you one on one. Also if you think yoga sounds like a good exercise starting point, why not try an at home video instead of a public class then work your way up to joining a class as you feel more confident.

The other thing is the scale... our bodies fluctuate in weight all the time. Just the other day I got out of bed and the scale told me I was 157.8... ouch I said. So after taking my kids to school I came home and took a 30 min walk, had some breakfast, went to the bathroom and took a shower. After that my weight was 154.8... more like it I thought! My recommendation would be to use your clothing as a measure of your weight. Try weighting in once a week instead of every day. You don't see instant results from dietary and exercise changes but if you are consistent you will see changes over time. To step on the scale every day (okay let's be honest, every time we pass it) just adds to our pain and sends us straight to the cookie jar. If it has become all consuming for you then have someone hide it from you until your weight in days.

By Shearaw
Posted October 30, 2009 at 3:10 pm
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Good point about weighing in only once a week! That is key for me during the holiday season. I have a little mental game that works for me during the six weeks of eating frenzy between Thanksgiving prep to New Years Day. I weigh in on the Monday before Thanksgiving. That number stays my target weight for the holiday season. I always have that weekly Monday weigh in in mind when I am tempted during the weekend's offerings. It helps me moderate (but not deny myself) my choices. As I tick through each week I realize the few weeks left to get through. It's only a mind game, but don't we all try little mind tricks to help us get through chemo and some of the other aspects of our OvCa lives?

By lifeisgrand
Posted October 30, 2009 at 5:00 pm
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Monday as weight in day? You're brave! I always consider Thursday the best weight in day. That gives you a chance to undo the past weekend before you head into the next one :)!

By melf
Posted November 2, 2009 at 2:12 pm
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WW meetings are on Mondays as well- tends to keep me more honest through the weekends- my worst time. Today Im down a few...wonder how long this is gonna last this time around!?
mel

By lifeisgrand
Posted November 2, 2009 at 2:20 pm
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Don't doubt yourself :)... the loss can last if you keep doing the things you did right and recognize the things you've done wrong. Don't beat yourself up just move on when you make bad choices and try to find ways to reward yourself for the right choices. Change takes a while to make a habit, you've just got to get more consistent and it will happen. Here's a smile :) for you! Keep up the good work.

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