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Melanoma mets to small intestine
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Melanoma mets to small intestine

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Melanoma mets to small intestine

  • Post
    • August 23, 2015 at 2:21 pm
    Randy437
    Participant

      Are CT scans as effective in finding mets in the small intestine as they are in any other area of the body?

    Viewing 11 reply threads
    • Replies
        • August 23, 2015 at 6:29 pm
        jpg
        Participant

          Are you have symptoms like vomiting, constipation.  sometimes the scan can't see them. so be sure to tell your doctor.  I insisted on this and sure enough I had a tumor blockage and removal. Now doing well.

          • August 23, 2015 at 6:29 pm
          jpg
          Participant

            Are you have symptoms like vomiting, constipation.  sometimes the scan can't see them. so be sure to tell your doctor.  I insisted on this and sure enough I had a tumor blockage and removal. Now doing well.

            • August 23, 2015 at 6:29 pm
            jpg
            Participant

              Are you have symptoms like vomiting, constipation.  sometimes the scan can't see them. so be sure to tell your doctor.  I insisted on this and sure enough I had a tumor blockage and removal. Now doing well.

                • August 23, 2015 at 9:37 pm
                Randy437
                Participant

                  So how was your tumor discovered?  CT? Camera? PET scan?  I'm negative on symptoms except for mild anemia.  CT and colonoscopy are negative. 

                  • August 24, 2015 at 3:01 pm
                  jpg
                  Participant

                    Finally from CT scan after symptoms of block, vomiting etc.  Are you losing weight for no explained reason? You need to discuss this worry with your doc.

                    • August 24, 2015 at 3:01 pm
                    jpg
                    Participant

                      Finally from CT scan after symptoms of block, vomiting etc.  Are you losing weight for no explained reason? You need to discuss this worry with your doc.

                      • August 24, 2015 at 3:01 pm
                      jpg
                      Participant

                        Finally from CT scan after symptoms of block, vomiting etc.  Are you losing weight for no explained reason? You need to discuss this worry with your doc.

                        • August 23, 2015 at 9:37 pm
                        Randy437
                        Participant

                          So how was your tumor discovered?  CT? Camera? PET scan?  I'm negative on symptoms except for mild anemia.  CT and colonoscopy are negative. 

                          • August 23, 2015 at 9:37 pm
                          Randy437
                          Participant

                            So how was your tumor discovered?  CT? Camera? PET scan?  I'm negative on symptoms except for mild anemia.  CT and colonoscopy are negative. 

                          • August 23, 2015 at 10:43 pm
                          BrianP
                          Participant

                            Randy,

                            In my experience it can be tough to find mets in the small intestines with a CT.  Mine was eventually found with a PET.  Do a search for "Blood in stool" and you will find a thread where I chronicled my experience with finding the mets in my small intestines (4/11/2013). 

                            Brian

                             

                             

                            • August 23, 2015 at 10:43 pm
                            BrianP
                            Participant

                              Randy,

                              In my experience it can be tough to find mets in the small intestines with a CT.  Mine was eventually found with a PET.  Do a search for "Blood in stool" and you will find a thread where I chronicled my experience with finding the mets in my small intestines (4/11/2013). 

                              Brian

                               

                               

                              • August 23, 2015 at 10:43 pm
                              BrianP
                              Participant

                                Randy,

                                In my experience it can be tough to find mets in the small intestines with a CT.  Mine was eventually found with a PET.  Do a search for "Blood in stool" and you will find a thread where I chronicled my experience with finding the mets in my small intestines (4/11/2013). 

                                Brian

                                 

                                 

                                • August 24, 2015 at 3:33 pm
                                CHD
                                Participant

                                  I too was told CT is not as good at finding mets in the colon/intestinal areas.  I think there is some evidence that capsule endoscopy is a better study for this. 

                                  • August 24, 2015 at 3:33 pm
                                  CHD
                                  Participant

                                    I too was told CT is not as good at finding mets in the colon/intestinal areas.  I think there is some evidence that capsule endoscopy is a better study for this. 

                                      • August 24, 2015 at 7:58 pm
                                      pookerpb
                                      Participant

                                        My husband's melanoma removed from his leg in 2008 came back to small intestine in 2014. He had terrible stomach pains off and on for almost a year. He had colonoscopy and endoscopy several times and doc kept telling him he had mild gastritis. After several trips to ER and no relief, we discovered it was after he eats certain meals it would happen and would be excruciating for up to 4-6 hours. He lived on crackers and oatmeal and basically any food that was water soluble.

                                        Long story short I made sure that next doctor we moved onto knew that he had history of melanoma and that doctor said that he could do the camera endoscopy. There are so many folds in the small intestine that a blockage could so easily be missed as a colonoscopy can only reach so far.

                                        The camera found there were two masses that were almost completely blocking the lower intestine. This caused anemia for months and monhts due to slow blood loss, and he had severe vomiting when the mass got big enough to not allow much to pass through.

                                        Hope this helps. CT never found it, and PET scan wasnt offered, so the camera was the next step.

                                         

                                        • August 24, 2015 at 7:58 pm
                                        pookerpb
                                        Participant

                                          My husband's melanoma removed from his leg in 2008 came back to small intestine in 2014. He had terrible stomach pains off and on for almost a year. He had colonoscopy and endoscopy several times and doc kept telling him he had mild gastritis. After several trips to ER and no relief, we discovered it was after he eats certain meals it would happen and would be excruciating for up to 4-6 hours. He lived on crackers and oatmeal and basically any food that was water soluble.

                                          Long story short I made sure that next doctor we moved onto knew that he had history of melanoma and that doctor said that he could do the camera endoscopy. There are so many folds in the small intestine that a blockage could so easily be missed as a colonoscopy can only reach so far.

                                          The camera found there were two masses that were almost completely blocking the lower intestine. This caused anemia for months and monhts due to slow blood loss, and he had severe vomiting when the mass got big enough to not allow much to pass through.

                                          Hope this helps. CT never found it, and PET scan wasnt offered, so the camera was the next step.

                                           

                                          • August 24, 2015 at 7:58 pm
                                          pookerpb
                                          Participant

                                            My husband's melanoma removed from his leg in 2008 came back to small intestine in 2014. He had terrible stomach pains off and on for almost a year. He had colonoscopy and endoscopy several times and doc kept telling him he had mild gastritis. After several trips to ER and no relief, we discovered it was after he eats certain meals it would happen and would be excruciating for up to 4-6 hours. He lived on crackers and oatmeal and basically any food that was water soluble.

                                            Long story short I made sure that next doctor we moved onto knew that he had history of melanoma and that doctor said that he could do the camera endoscopy. There are so many folds in the small intestine that a blockage could so easily be missed as a colonoscopy can only reach so far.

                                            The camera found there were two masses that were almost completely blocking the lower intestine. This caused anemia for months and monhts due to slow blood loss, and he had severe vomiting when the mass got big enough to not allow much to pass through.

                                            Hope this helps. CT never found it, and PET scan wasnt offered, so the camera was the next step.

                                             

                                          • August 24, 2015 at 3:33 pm
                                          CHD
                                          Participant

                                            I too was told CT is not as good at finding mets in the colon/intestinal areas.  I think there is some evidence that capsule endoscopy is a better study for this. 

                                            • August 26, 2015 at 2:59 pm
                                            kpcollins31
                                            Participant

                                              The tumor in my small intestine was found very easily by PET/CT… I had no symptoms at the time it was discovered. Bowel resection surgery was done in early Feb 2014 to remove the section of intestine with the tumor – fortunately, I have been NED ever since. The surgery was tough but bearable – just under a week in the hospital. Worked from home for a week and then went back to the office. Was able to get back to the gym about 6 weeks post-op and I am in better shape now than when I went in for the surgery.

                                              My next scans will be in November so praying they remain clear.

                                              Kevin

                                              • August 26, 2015 at 2:59 pm
                                              kpcollins31
                                              Participant

                                                The tumor in my small intestine was found very easily by PET/CT… I had no symptoms at the time it was discovered. Bowel resection surgery was done in early Feb 2014 to remove the section of intestine with the tumor – fortunately, I have been NED ever since. The surgery was tough but bearable – just under a week in the hospital. Worked from home for a week and then went back to the office. Was able to get back to the gym about 6 weeks post-op and I am in better shape now than when I went in for the surgery.

                                                My next scans will be in November so praying they remain clear.

                                                Kevin

                                                • August 26, 2015 at 2:59 pm
                                                kpcollins31
                                                Participant

                                                  The tumor in my small intestine was found very easily by PET/CT… I had no symptoms at the time it was discovered. Bowel resection surgery was done in early Feb 2014 to remove the section of intestine with the tumor – fortunately, I have been NED ever since. The surgery was tough but bearable – just under a week in the hospital. Worked from home for a week and then went back to the office. Was able to get back to the gym about 6 weeks post-op and I am in better shape now than when I went in for the surgery.

                                                  My next scans will be in November so praying they remain clear.

                                                  Kevin

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