I live in a city with two cancer centers. One is NCI designated, the other is not. My referral came from a doctor who works in the hospital system of the non-NCI cancer center, so all of my treatment was done there. The standard of care is the same whether you use an NCI designated hospital or not. ...

Get it checked out. My surgeon removed my ovaries and fallopian tubes during my LAR because they "didn't look right." Pathology came back as ovarian cancer. I am now monitored by a gyn oncologist in addition to my medical oncologist.

Great info - thank you so much. Though I was unclear about my stats. My GI who did colonoscopy said it was large and 5-6 cm long. I understood it to be the length of the polyp - not that far from anus. I will have to ask how far it is because I’m sure that matters. I was told this afternoon by a ca...

I recommend you see a board certified colorectal surgeon. The pelvis is a very delicate area to have surgery performed in, so you want someone specially trained performing that surgery. I just finished treatment for rectal cancer, as you can see in my signature. Feel free to ask anything.

A word of advice on diet and, by extension, bowel movements. First of all, enjoy whatever you want to eat now. Once you have surgery, you will be limited on what you can eat. Plus, once adjuvant chemo starts, you may lose your appetite. I lost my appetite and everything tasted like wet cardboard. Ea...

I was diagnosed with rectal cancer on February 21, 2017. I am just so glad that I have the medical team that I do. I credit my primary care physician with saving my life. Just remember, our treatment is a marathon, not a sprint. It can be downright exhausting. Take time for rest whenever you can, an...

I never had scanxiety until recently. I had a CT scan last week. My oncologist called me yesterday to tell me that my thymus is enlarged and she wants me to go for a PET scan. I'm nervous as hell about the PET scan.

That is no different than having to put off chemo due to low blood counts. I had to put off cycle 5 for one week, and cycle 6 for two weeks due to my blood counts. It should not have a negative effect on her treatment.

My oncologist called me today with the results of the CT scan I had last week. Everything else looks good, but my thymus is enlarged. She said that she has seen this before in patients that have had pelvic radiation, because their blood counts don't rebound as quickly. My blood counts have been cons...

thanks for your response. I private messaged you regarding this. If you are local to Winston-Salem, can I suggest that you join us at the GI Wellness Support Group at the Novant Derrick L. Davis Cancer Center? We meet the second Tuesday of every month from 6pm - 7:30pm in the Resource Room. The nex...

I saw Dr. Manthy when my surgeon was away on vacation and I REALLY disliked him! He hurt me so badly that I cried and begged him to stop the exam but he did not. I made a complaint with the hospital. I also had a friend who had surgery with him and did not have a good outcome. My colorectal surgeon...

Have you seen a pelvic physical therapist? I started seeing one before my reversal and have continued seeing her after. She has given me massage techniques and exercises that have helped me cut down from about 15 times a day to an average of 3 or 4 times a day.

dallasdog wrote:Anyone in North Carolina have a good recommendation. Not sure I want to go with current surgeon. Thanks.

Where in NC are you? I'm near Winston-Salem and highly recommend my colorectal surgeon, Dr. Nicolas Robinson at Novant Health's Colon and Rectal Clinic.

I am a water treatment plant operator .... Just a question about water quality testing. Do you test for nitrogen and pesticide residues in your water treatment plant? Is there a problem with groundwater contamination where you live? https://www.pipestonestar.com/articles/well-testing-available-soon...

I would also think it depends on if it is a happy marriage. Unhappy marriages cause loads of stress. You can say that again. My husband was not supportive at all, even leaving the hospital during my LAR. He walked out on me right as I started adjuvant chemo. It was like a weight had been lifted off...