Truth is stranger than fiction. NEW UPDATE.

Hi, My name is Rebecca Peterson Morsching. Seven years ago, I was living at the farm in Fort Ripley. During my stay there, I'd felt different sensations in my left chest/ribcage or shoulder blade area, I thought for sure it must have been a tumor growing, and that's what I told the doc when I made an appointment. They gave me a mammogram, said I'd passed that test, and sent me on my way. As life went on, we moved to Barnum; I'd still felt the same weird sensations during this time. So, two years ago, I made an appointment to be seen for the same discomfort. This time the doc had me wear a heart monitor for three days, and that test was OK. Next, he gave me a CT scan, which was also apparent. At the end of this appointment, the doc gave me a sheet of paper with local therapists' names and phone numbers. Maybe he thought it was all in my head or stress.

Fast-forward to a month ago. One day I was getting ready for the day, and while looking in the mirror, I realized that the jugular veins on either side of my neck looked oddly pronounced. So, I asked hubby if he thought it looked strange, and he agreed I needed to have it checked.

On June 12th, while sitting in yet another doctor's office. I explained my discomfort over the past seven years, and I now have protruding veins in my neck and forehead. This new doctor immediately gave me a chest x-ray and called me in to view the results, revealing a large mass pressing against the Vena Cava Vessel and constricting blood flow and air.

"FINDINGS: Globes are symmetric. Parotid glands are negative. Submandibular glands are symmetric. No cervical adenopathy is identified. The thyroid gland is homogeneous. No flow-limiting stenosis of the carotid arteries.

There is a large right upper mediastinal suprahilar mass measuring 5.5 x 7.2 x 6.6 cm with extension to the thoracic inlet on the right. There is right hilar adenopathy. The mass narrows the superior vena cava with some flattening series 2 image 35. Irregularity anteriorly is present series 2 image 34 cannot exclude some direct invasion. No pulmonary embolus. Heart size is normal. Remainder the lungs show small subpleural nodule right lower lobe series 3 image 72. No effusion"

Then the doc said that I needed a stint put in this vessel. So, I went to St. Lukes in Duluth to see a surgeon. When I got there, he looked at me while viewing my charts and said. "If I put a stint in, you could very well die on the table." or "If I do put it in successfully, this tumor will grow all around it." He said, "why are you here when you haven't even had a biopsy?"

Me; "Um. I don't know."

He then gave me a biopsy, which revealed that it's small cell lung cancer and has metastasized into the liver. We agreed to start chemo the following week on Tues, Wed, and Thurs and someone would be in touch with me on Monday and give me time and locations to start chemo. On that Monday, I waited for a phone call, text or something to tell me about chemo the next day. I finally called them, and they didn't even have me on the schedule for chemo. All this waiting (in my mind) is becoming a life-and-death situation for me.

After a few phone calls and face-to-face interaction with the hospital staff, I had my first series of chemotherapy on Aug 9, 10th, and 11th, and three MRIs later on Aug 11th.

My latest appointment was on Monday, 8/15/22, at St. Lukes with the oncologist, and the MRI's findings are as follows:

1. EXAM: MR PELVIS WO W CONTRAST

FINDINGS: No sacral metastatic lesion is identified. MRI was performed with sacral protocol. Two lesions in the left iliac bone are partially shown at the medial wing measuring 26 mm and near the crest, measuring up to 22 mm. Probable lesion in the region of the right ischial tuberosity partially imaged. A lesion at the left posterior acetabulum and left ischial tuberosity are partially imaged measuring up to 25 and 37 mm respectively.

2. MRI Brain With And Without Contrast

FINDINGS: There is no acute hemorrhage, mass effect or midline shift. Gray-white matter junction is normal. There is no acute restricted diffusion. Corpus callosum and craniocervical junction is intact. (WHEW! at least I've got good brains)

3. EXAM: MR LUMBAR SPINE WO W CONTRAST

FINDINGS: There is a large T1 hypointense lesion replacing the left portion of the L1 vertebral body in maximum dimension 3.5 cm. The posterior cortex appears intact. No pathologic fracture is shown. A lesion within the vertebral body at T11 is partially shown.

IMPRESSION:

1. Large lesion at the L1 vertebral body is presumed to represent osseous metastatic disease. A lesion at T11 is partially imaged and also suspicious for metastatic disease.

2. Left iliac bone lesion partially evaluated and compatible with metastatic lesion.

3. No acute pathologic fracture or significant lumbar spinal canal narrowing.

4. Metastatic disease in the liver is partially imaged and better assessed on prior studies.

Dictated By: Nicholas Milanovich 8/12/2022 8:26 AM

Edited By: SS 8/12/2022 9:54 AM

The "plan" is more chemo and possible radiation. My doc also mentioned a drug used for Osteoporosis and that being injected with may help with bone cancer.

I have been in touch with the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. They have all of the necessary information to view my case and decide If they'll give me an appointment or not.

I've also started a homeopathic protocol while waiting for these doctors to make a move.

I know this all sounds horrible, and it is, but I got this.

Oh, and with a little bit of help from my friends.