Well, today I have an MRI at 12:30.  I think I’ve had around 15-16 MRI’s total in my life so far.  The majority of them were on my brain.  I probably need to get another one, last one was in 2008.

Ok, back to the original point. I have a MRI today on my right thigh, around femur area to look at soft tissue mass. I don’t mind having an MRI done, they don’t bother me. The results of the MRI on the other-hand is what I am concerned about.

I know there is a mass there already, and needs to come out. I doubt the doctor would want to leave it there at this size if it is benign.  The mass if benign could be a neurofibroma or a nerve sheath tumor/schwannoma.  The mass being vascular means a blood supply and once mass goes from the non-vascular stage to vascular stage, it can grow indefinitely.

This MRI will show better detail then the ultrasound, which should give a better diagnosis.

Am I prepared for the results? Yes and No.

No, being that I don’t want to go through this right now.  I know surgery will have to be involved, and then there is the recovery period.  This will be added to my previous list of surgeries, that I’ve already had done.  The surgery could be fairly simple or little more complex with removing surrounding tissue, and if nerves are involved.

On Monday I was called from UMMC that I have a MRi scheduled on May 20.  That is good news, at least I will have an MRI done before the June 5 appointment. I was hoping to see the doctor sooner but this evens it out.  She will have a chance to look at the scans and get a better picture of the mass.  Then there will be a game plan laid out hopefully on what to do next. Especially if doesn’t look so friendly.

A biopsy is probably in the picture.  I didn’t want to jump the gun and get a biopsy right away from doctor’s recommendation at the clinic after the ultrasound results.  I am not a doctor but know enough(to be dangerous. ha) but didn’t want to rush into a biopsy.  The mass could be related to a pheochromocytoma(really rare if paraganglioma) and didn’t want to put at risk if it was something not supposed to be biopsied.  I know with my health I need a specialist to look at this instead of paying $1300 for evaluation and biopsy, Then most likely referred somewhere else after that, it is better to have it all done at one place.

I talked to friends, and was told I should get an appointment with the orthopedic oncologist to look at the soft tissue mass, since they are more experienced and the person I should be seeing to deal with this.

I will post more updates at they come.

 

Also, praise the Lord I was able to call and get the appointment with the Orthopedic Oncologist.  I called the office and requested an appointment and told them the diagnosis.  I thought they would say oh you need insurance before you can get an appointment.  They asked after they put me down for June 5.  I was told I might be able to get an earlier appointment but was put down for this date to be in the system.

On May 6, I thought I should drop of a CD for the doctor to review, instead of waiting till June 5 for her to look at the images.

 

I meant to start this blog a couple weeks ago, but here it goes.

I first noticed this bump on my thigh, near femur area in January. I forgot to notify a doctor when I was at the NIH in January, it slipped my mind.  The next time I had the chance to tell a doctor was in March but I canceled the appointment with the endocrinologist because I didn’t see a reason to go because I just had complete blood work done and scans of my chest, abdomen and pelvis.  I was good no signs of anything and blood work and other tests were within normal ranges. Also, the previous week I had just had oral surgery done to remove a molar and wisdom teeth, and had the follow up a day before that scheduled appointment.  I didn’t see a reason to leave from work again to go to it because already had schedule to do other things that day.

I finally decided to get the bump checked out, and I had lost my voice most likely due to allergies, so I sounded horrible that day.  I called to see about getting into UMC to get it checked out but after about an hour trying to talk in my hoarse voice it was no go.  I was told go to MEA then get referred over here.  So, I went back to work then back out within the hour to MEA to get it checked out.

They looked over it, I had an XRAY done and it is not bony.  I needed further testing. I was called back after I left for an ultrasound appointment the next day (4/23/2013) at Southern Diagnostics.

I was surprised the ultrasound only lasted 2 minutes for $300, which is quite expensive for the time.  The price most likely included the radiologist to evaluate the images.  I remembered to get a copy on CD from being familiar with testing. I also wanted to review the images.

Well, the images of the mass didn’t look like a cyst, which would be totally black, fluid filled.

The results from the radiologist being 4.5 x 2.7 x 3.1 cm  vascular, solid mass within the thigh musculature and differential diagnosis being soft tissue sarcoma.