Sigmoid colon cancer: surgery done and still waiting
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Montrealer
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Sat May 19, 2007 12:24 pm
- Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Sigmoid colon cancer: surgery done and still waiting
On May 3rd, my dad had his tumour removed from the sigmoid colon. Oncologist revealed that the size of the tumour was 4 cm long. Our surgeon seemed very optimist right after the surgery, but never told us about the stage of the cancer. It's been 3 weeks and we are still waiting for results from pathology. I am very worried. Does anyone know how to determine the stage of cancer?
My dad waited for two months before he could have his surgery, does that mean his case isn't important or advanced? I find that my dad's procedures are somehow different from other "survivors" from this forum:
-colonoscopy
-biopsy
-chest x-ray
-blood test
-c t scan
-2 weeks later, surgery.
Also during CT Scan, they found out some cysts in his liver, but while he had the surgery, the surgeon didn't find anything apparent.
Please, I know i should wait for results, but I want to get an idea of what we should be expecting...
Luckily, we've got the best colorectal surgeon here...
Anxious daughter,
Thank You So Much!
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northern lights
- Posts: 127
- Joined: Tue Mar 21, 2006 10:48 am
- Location: Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
Hello Montreal,
I grew up in St. Hubert!!! You should have the path results by now. I am in Yellowknife and it only took about 5 days. Even if the surgeon is not available, the nurse should at least be able to give you the staging.
As far as the sequencing goes, I wouldn't worry about that. The tests all served a purpose. The Chest X-ray and CT scan was to look for metastasis, the blood test to check the CAE level, which is a colon cancer marker in the blood. It is really good to have this before surgery, because the doctors will monitor this all the way along.
The surgeon should have also sent a report to your family doctor, so that might be another avenue to follow. I don't know if the medical world has improved in Quebec, but it seems to me everything just took longer there. Keep pushing though, it is worth it.
There are some CC support groups in Montreal. You can check out this site: http://www.ccac-accc.ca/
Sharon
I grew up in St. Hubert!!! You should have the path results by now. I am in Yellowknife and it only took about 5 days. Even if the surgeon is not available, the nurse should at least be able to give you the staging.
As far as the sequencing goes, I wouldn't worry about that. The tests all served a purpose. The Chest X-ray and CT scan was to look for metastasis, the blood test to check the CAE level, which is a colon cancer marker in the blood. It is really good to have this before surgery, because the doctors will monitor this all the way along.
The surgeon should have also sent a report to your family doctor, so that might be another avenue to follow. I don't know if the medical world has improved in Quebec, but it seems to me everything just took longer there. Keep pushing though, it is worth it.
There are some CC support groups in Montreal. You can check out this site: http://www.ccac-accc.ca/
Sharon
Diagnosed Stage III Jan 06. Completed Treatment Oct 06. NED Dec 06,
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Montrealer
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Sat May 19, 2007 12:24 pm
- Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Hi northern lights!
Im so happy to receive some advices from you. Out of coincidence, the one treating my dad's colon cancer is the president of http://www.ccac-accc.ca.
Thank You, it is very appreciated!
Im so happy to receive some advices from you. Out of coincidence, the one treating my dad's colon cancer is the president of http://www.ccac-accc.ca.
Thank You, it is very appreciated!
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Monique
Hello,
Although Northern Lights pretty much summed things up, I thought I’d give you my two bits, as I’m also a canuk. As with your father, I too was diagnosed with sigmoid cancer. Following a colonoscopy, where doctors discovered a tumour that had almost totally blocked my colon, I received a CT about a week later. The CT scan picked up two lymph nodes, which looked inflamed (and later turned out to be cancerous).
The CT scan was rushed, as was the surgery, ten days later, due to the size of the tumour (6.8 centimeters), as well as the fact that it had appeared to have penetrated the colon wall (it had). Following my surgery I had to wait over two weeks to receive my results. As two lymph nodes were, in fact, infected, I received chemotherapy (Folfox) five weeks following my surgery.
I remember that waiting for the results of the pathology was extremely worrying. In answer to your question, the stage of colon cancer is determined by the invasiveness of the tumour, lymph node involvement, and whether or not the cancer has metastasized. For instance, I was graded as T4 N1 MX. A year later, what was originally thought to be metastasis in my lungs is likely benign nodules, however, I’m still being monitored. My oncologist now categorizes me as a stage IIIB. As with your father, I also have some liver cysts. Apparently, liver cysts are very common. I hope I’ve been of some help.
Best wishes,
Monique
Although Northern Lights pretty much summed things up, I thought I’d give you my two bits, as I’m also a canuk. As with your father, I too was diagnosed with sigmoid cancer. Following a colonoscopy, where doctors discovered a tumour that had almost totally blocked my colon, I received a CT about a week later. The CT scan picked up two lymph nodes, which looked inflamed (and later turned out to be cancerous).
The CT scan was rushed, as was the surgery, ten days later, due to the size of the tumour (6.8 centimeters), as well as the fact that it had appeared to have penetrated the colon wall (it had). Following my surgery I had to wait over two weeks to receive my results. As two lymph nodes were, in fact, infected, I received chemotherapy (Folfox) five weeks following my surgery.
I remember that waiting for the results of the pathology was extremely worrying. In answer to your question, the stage of colon cancer is determined by the invasiveness of the tumour, lymph node involvement, and whether or not the cancer has metastasized. For instance, I was graded as T4 N1 MX. A year later, what was originally thought to be metastasis in my lungs is likely benign nodules, however, I’m still being monitored. My oncologist now categorizes me as a stage IIIB. As with your father, I also have some liver cysts. Apparently, liver cysts are very common. I hope I’ve been of some help.
Best wishes,
Monique
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Guest
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Monique
Hello, Montrealer
Tumour size is not the only diagnostic feature in staging colorectal cancer.
For example, some people may have a very small tumour, however, regardless of size, metastasis may be present. In this case the patient would be diagnosed as a stage IV. On the flip side of the coin, others may have a very large tumour, with no lymph node involvement, or metastasis, which would place the patient at a stage II.
I suspect the reason that the surgeon was eager to operate on me was because of the suspected lymph node involvement (which showed up on the CT scan), as well as the fact that my tumour had breached my colon wall (which also showed up on my CT scan).
Following is a link to a site that helps explain all of these confusing details:
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/conte ... staged.asp
Best Wishes,
Monique
Tumour size is not the only diagnostic feature in staging colorectal cancer.
For example, some people may have a very small tumour, however, regardless of size, metastasis may be present. In this case the patient would be diagnosed as a stage IV. On the flip side of the coin, others may have a very large tumour, with no lymph node involvement, or metastasis, which would place the patient at a stage II.
I suspect the reason that the surgeon was eager to operate on me was because of the suspected lymph node involvement (which showed up on the CT scan), as well as the fact that my tumour had breached my colon wall (which also showed up on my CT scan).
Following is a link to a site that helps explain all of these confusing details:
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/conte ... staged.asp
Best Wishes,
Monique
Hi Montrealer:
I'm from Ontario.
1) barium x ray
2) colonoscopy
3) bioposy - tumour was very small 1cm (it was bleeding) pathology came back as benign.
4) CT scan showed liver spots
4) scheduled for surgery - December 14 - cancelled re-scheduled for 4 January. (Have a merry christmas
)
Now here is where my story gets interesting.
Surgeon checked liver and found cysts yippee. Post-surgery went very well with no serious problems.
Scheduled to see Surgeon for my 6 week check-up.
I didn't hear anything further from the Surgeon and didn't give it any further thought because I was under the impression that "original biopsy showed a benign small polyp". NO CANCER PFRESENT!!
Went for my 6 week check-up surgeon looked me over gave me the big thumbs up - everything looks great.
He sat down at his desk and opened up my file and there was the pathology report from the surgery.
STAGE III - 2 NODES - LOW IN SIGMOID CLASSIFIED AS RECTAL CANCER,
The surgeon was shocked - he is a colonrectal specialist and he said that he was convinced that everything was o'k. Someone had misfiled/lost the report.
He did take responsibility for not checking - but he said that he was convinced that everything was clear - and he has done thousands of colonrectal cases.
My good news.
8 rounds of Folfox 28 continuous radiation with 5FU
NED since October 2006.
I don't want to scare you but you must be proactive on behalf of your Dad. Remember the "sqeaky" wheel gets the grease
I hope and pray for the best for your Dad.
Phone the surgeon - you shouldn't have to play the waiting game
.
I'm from Ontario.
1) barium x ray
2) colonoscopy
3) bioposy - tumour was very small 1cm (it was bleeding) pathology came back as benign.
4) CT scan showed liver spots
4) scheduled for surgery - December 14 - cancelled re-scheduled for 4 January. (Have a merry christmas
)
Now here is where my story gets interesting.
Surgeon checked liver and found cysts yippee. Post-surgery went very well with no serious problems.
Scheduled to see Surgeon for my 6 week check-up.
I didn't hear anything further from the Surgeon and didn't give it any further thought because I was under the impression that "original biopsy showed a benign small polyp". NO CANCER PFRESENT!!
Went for my 6 week check-up surgeon looked me over gave me the big thumbs up - everything looks great.
He sat down at his desk and opened up my file and there was the pathology report from the surgery.
STAGE III - 2 NODES - LOW IN SIGMOID CLASSIFIED AS RECTAL CANCER,
The surgeon was shocked - he is a colonrectal specialist and he said that he was convinced that everything was o'k. Someone had misfiled/lost the report.
He did take responsibility for not checking - but he said that he was convinced that everything was clear - and he has done thousands of colonrectal cases.
My good news.
8 rounds of Folfox 28 continuous radiation with 5FU
NED since October 2006.
I don't want to scare you but you must be proactive on behalf of your Dad. Remember the "sqeaky" wheel gets the grease
I hope and pray for the best for your Dad.
Phone the surgeon - you shouldn't have to play the waiting game
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Guest
Thanks Joy, I know here in Quebec, we need to push if we want to have results in a reasonable delay...
I don't know if it's normal but my dad has just been hospitalized for a whole week because docs detected he has an infection but with all kind of tests, they couldn't find the cause of the infection, they don't even know where is the infection located...
Wish lots of health to everyone in the forum...
I don't know if it's normal but my dad has just been hospitalized for a whole week because docs detected he has an infection but with all kind of tests, they couldn't find the cause of the infection, they don't even know where is the infection located...
Wish lots of health to everyone in the forum...
Stages
To me cancer really has 2 stages...
Cancer that has not spread beyond its original location and cancer that has spread to other organs.
The medical stages 1, 2, and 3 all have a pretty good, and close in percentage, life expectancy rate. Once you see stage 4, you see a significant drop in your chances of survival.
Cancer that has not spread beyond its original location and cancer that has spread to other organs.
The medical stages 1, 2, and 3 all have a pretty good, and close in percentage, life expectancy rate. Once you see stage 4, you see a significant drop in your chances of survival.
I would definately be on the phone with surgeon. I had my surgery on my sigmoid tumor on a Monday and had total staging back my Wednesday evening. I am wondering if the surgeon thinks the nurse told you, etc. Call and keep calling until you get an answer. If you Dad needs chemotherapy then the earlier the better. My two oncologists and surgeon did not want me waiting more than 3 weeks to start chemotherapy. I was 37 stage 3 sigmoid CC.
I even flew out of town for a second opinion in that 3 week period to a major cancer center and they wanted me on Chemotherapy now.
Unfortunately you have to be the driver with your own medical care. Lots of luck to your Dad.
I even flew out of town for a second opinion in that 3 week period to a major cancer center and they wanted me on Chemotherapy now.
Unfortunately you have to be the driver with your own medical care. Lots of luck to your Dad.
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Montrealer
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Sat May 19, 2007 12:24 pm
- Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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Montrealer
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Sat May 19, 2007 12:24 pm
- Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
HIGH FEVER WON'T STOP
I am worried...
My dad was hospitalized two weeks ago because he had an infection and the doctors couldn't find the cause and reason. They prescribed some antibiotics and that controlled his high fever peaks. However, he is back home but his fever has restarted 4 days ago. I'm really pissed at the doctors... Why they couldn't find the reason of his infection and how come my dad still has fever!!???
Has anyone been in the same situation??????????
Disappointed daughter..
God bless you all
My dad was hospitalized two weeks ago because he had an infection and the doctors couldn't find the cause and reason. They prescribed some antibiotics and that controlled his high fever peaks. However, he is back home but his fever has restarted 4 days ago. I'm really pissed at the doctors... Why they couldn't find the reason of his infection and how come my dad still has fever!!???
Has anyone been in the same situation??????????
Disappointed daughter..
God bless you all
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