Discover how patients manage the physical and emotional challenges of cancer recurrence, celebrating resilience and support.
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Editor’s Note: Pray for Mellve as he goes through a recurrence of cancer.He will be publicly sharing his cancer recurrence journey as a learning tool for others to understand the importance of follow-up. Below, is another chapter in the recurrence.
In February’s Survivors Newsletter, he shared his experience inside the 3T MRI machine, or 3 Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging machine. This month he writes about the biopsy process.The Return of the Biopsy Process Going through a second bout with prostate cancer is challenging and nerve-racking with a lot of sleepless nights while anticipating the outcome of the medical test or exam. It’s also a hardship and emotional rollercoaster for my beautiful caregiver and family as they watch me going through this burdensome ordeal.
Prostate cancer is real whether you’re going through it the first or second time around. You must try to navigate and cope with the changes the body is go through.
After only two months from the second diagnosis, my body has been going in and out of different types of medical machinery: 3T MRI, PET scan, and a CT–guide rib scan. It has been an exhausting experience as I await the medical test results.
But there are two procedures from the past I wanted to wipe out of my memory forever, the catheter and the biopsy. I understand they both play a major role in the diagnosis and healing process of disease, but both are by far the most uncomfortable procedures due to the painful discomfort and traumatic feelings they leave behind. I shake and shiver with the very thought that one of these dreadful procedures would one day come back into my life.
Well, lo and behold, due to the reoccurrence of cancer, the biopsy is back again searching areas in my rib that might be suspiciously hiding cancerous growth. This procedure is called the percutaneous rib biopsy. The doctor used an image generated by a CT scanner to insert a needle (after a small incision) in my back over the biopsy site, guiding the doctor to a precise target as it removes samples of bone tissue from the ribs to send to pathology.
This was just one of the many biopsy procedures used to determine if cancer exists in this area of the body. It was amazing to see the advancement of science right before my eyes and also a frightening experience as they numbed my back so they could insert the needle.
Ouch!! I’m happy I had some joy juice to keep me calm.
What also helped to easy my nerves were the delightful, kind-hearted and thoughtful team at BJC Hospital. This magnificent and caring group of professional workers in the Neuro Interventional South Department gave us 5-Star Service.
Special thanks to Sam and Mary for making me and my wife feel comfortable assuring us that everything was going to be okay. They went above and beyond with their kindness. No one knows what the future holds or the outcomes that it will present but it’s good to know the support is there to help you weather the storm of a medical test’s anxiety.
Now, the biopsy test results!
I received a phone call from my radiation oncologist on my rib (bone) biopsy test, the results indicated the spot on the 8th rib area that showed on the Pet-scan report was negative for any signs of cancer, which was good news and one less thing for me to worry about.
Treating bone cancer near the 8th rib area is tricky and very difficult. I should be starting radiation for the cancer in the pelvis area soon, 33 treatments along with hormone drugs. Thanks for your prayers and a special thank you to the medical team at WU who gave me, as the sign says, 5 Star Service.
The Empowerment Network provides support, education, and advocacy for prostate cancer survivors and their loved ones, primarily serving the African-American community in North St. Louis. Learn more about how they are fighting prostate cancer and join the fight.
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