New here, just diagnosed at age 38
Posted: Thu May 08, 2014 11:29 pm
Hello, this is my first time posting to the board. I just spent the past couple of hours reading through the board, learning a lot.
I'm 38 years old, with an uncle who died of colon cancer. No other family history. I went in for colonoscopy last Tuesday after bleeding/mucus with stools. I have had this symptom on and off for several months, but thought it was hemorrhoids. GI thought it might be colitis, but scope showed a tumour. I have very little information at this point, only what I remember him telling me through the haze of post-procedure Propofol and the shock of hearing the word cancer. He said he found only one tumour, in sigmoid colon. He said it appeared to be slow-growing, though I don't know how he could know that by looking? (any thoughts on this?) I remember him saying that it looked like it had been there 5 years or so, and that surgery would be needed. I was sent for a pelvic and abdominal CT scan immediately, and doctor said that it didn't appear to have spread anywhere, lymph nodes did not look enlarged. I have appointments with surgeon and oncologist next week.
That's all the information I have at this point. I know that biopsies were taken. Should I call and ask for the results from those, or should I wait to speak to surgeon and oncologist? I don't know what to expect next. This is such a shock for me. I have four children, ages 16-18 months. The thought of fighting cancer and possibly leaving my children motherless has shaken me to the core. If anyone has any information to offer me at this early stage, I would appreciate it.
I understand that staging is extremely important. When is that done? With the biopsy, or only after surgery is done and the tumour removed? Is there any way to tell the stage at this point? Also, is that CT scan completely reliable as far as telling if the cancer has spread? What other tests can/should be done? Thank you so much for any information you can give. I'm deeply grateful.
Michelle H.
I'm 38 years old, with an uncle who died of colon cancer. No other family history. I went in for colonoscopy last Tuesday after bleeding/mucus with stools. I have had this symptom on and off for several months, but thought it was hemorrhoids. GI thought it might be colitis, but scope showed a tumour. I have very little information at this point, only what I remember him telling me through the haze of post-procedure Propofol and the shock of hearing the word cancer. He said he found only one tumour, in sigmoid colon. He said it appeared to be slow-growing, though I don't know how he could know that by looking? (any thoughts on this?) I remember him saying that it looked like it had been there 5 years or so, and that surgery would be needed. I was sent for a pelvic and abdominal CT scan immediately, and doctor said that it didn't appear to have spread anywhere, lymph nodes did not look enlarged. I have appointments with surgeon and oncologist next week.
That's all the information I have at this point. I know that biopsies were taken. Should I call and ask for the results from those, or should I wait to speak to surgeon and oncologist? I don't know what to expect next. This is such a shock for me. I have four children, ages 16-18 months. The thought of fighting cancer and possibly leaving my children motherless has shaken me to the core. If anyone has any information to offer me at this early stage, I would appreciate it.
I understand that staging is extremely important. When is that done? With the biopsy, or only after surgery is done and the tumour removed? Is there any way to tell the stage at this point? Also, is that CT scan completely reliable as far as telling if the cancer has spread? What other tests can/should be done? Thank you so much for any information you can give. I'm deeply grateful.
Michelle H.