Spleens, Spleens, Spleens everywhere spleens!

DUDE! I just got back from my Hemo and he said they found TWO MORE SPLEENS! This time growing off my pancreas! is this possible? I have already have three surgeries, two the past 8 months, getting rid of the previous 7 spleens I have grown! Can they EVEN grow on the other side of your body? I have never heard of this before?! They want to take these ones out too before my Rituxan wears off in March. I am starting to worry about these surgeries, they do not seem to be helping at ALL! My poor body has soooo many scars from they surgeries, I am not sure what to do. I asked my doctor is I could sell my spleens to people who need them because they obviously work great but he didn't go for that . Advice would be grately appriciated!

Yes, it's possible to have multiple spleens, although it's more like splenic tissue and not really a spleen. Splenic tissue can grow back after splenectomies.

In most cases that I have witnessed here, having two or three surgeries does not help in the long run anyway. I can think of only two instances where it did help. Splenectomies don't work for a lot of people, so I don't get why doctors think they have to keep operating on people...surgeries are risky. If you don't think the surgeries are helping, don't do it. At least get another opinion first.

Did you get any rise in counts at all after the first surgery?

Yes my first surgery was in 2000, I didn't drop for four years. I seem to only drop after I deliever babies. I think my body just hasn't got over my twins birth in 2010 because I have had them drop every 6 months since then once the rituxan wears off. How many times will a doctor let you do rituxan in a row? I have been through 5 sets of treatments since 2010. I really don't want to go on the NPLATE, not sure what is better, the surgery or the NPLATE. Plus this tissue they have just found is on the other side of my body. Doctor said they missed these ones because they are growing on the left side of me, not the right? How on earth can tisse grow that far away...?

Hmmm. You've done Rituxan five times?

Check this out: meds.queensu.ca/medicine/deptmed/hemonc/anemia/hjolly.htm

I don't know if they would be able to check you for the Howell-Jolley antibodies and determine if the splenic tissue is doing any harm.

Accessory spleens are extra spleens that grow in the uterus when the baby is forming. Splenosis is where bits of splenic tissue have broken off during splenectomy and regrown. The pancreas is right beside the spleen so not altogether surprising that it should grow there.

A laparoscopic splenectomy is done by freeing the spleen from its blood supply, putting it in a bag, mushing it all up and sucking it out of the body. It is however very fragile and if there are any problems getting it into the bag, bits can break off. It sounds like your surgeon had problems and lost lots of bits.

It is interesting to note that those who have had a ruptured spleen before a splenectomy, often have splenosis and do better in terms of fewer sepsis and clotting episodes than those who have a clean splenectomy. So you have a second chance to decide whether you think the risks of living asplenic are worth taking.

Good luck whatever you decide.

Ann wrote: It is interesting to note that those who have had a ruptured spleen before a splenectomy, often have splenosis and do better in terms of fewer sepsis and clotting episodes than those who have a clean splenectomy. So you have a second chance to decide whether you think the risks of living asplenic are worth taking.

That is a very good point which I also wanted to mention, but didn't.