Diagnosed CC sigmoid

[Pita]

Good Luck to you (((Swirdfish)))

[Swirdfish]

Steve k that's bad news about the bag at our age. Not sure how your doc got that so wrong.

After my colonoscopy I saw my colorectal surgeon he actually put me back to sleep and had a look himself. Then he had another look during the keyhole surgery for my stoma. He even looked at the liver.

[AbbyDoo]

Hi. Swordfish.
I'm sorry your here but you will find some good info here.
It suck you got a bag so early. It also means one more operation. I am supprized they gave you a port. I asked for one butt got a picc line. Dr.told me ports were for long term use. You could ask about xeloda for your chemo during radiation.swallowing some pills is easier than dealing with the pump.
Radiation was pretty easy the hardest part was just getting there.i hope you don't have to drive far. They will put some tattoo dots on you to Aline the machine and it only takes a few minutes. Radiation shrunk my tumor to almost half its size.Some people it totally wipes it out. I hope you are one of the lucky ones.
Good luck

[Swirdfish]

Thanks abbydoo

I think the pump will be okay, I'll ask about the pills. Since I'm looking at least 8 weeks of chemo and radio and then a six week break I might try to get back to work to give myself some purpose. Sitting around at home for that long will get boring even though I have some backyard projects.

Not sure about the port but I know when they did the stoma they said they will put it in as well. Maybe because it was easier as I was already under.

Radiology consultation tomorrow, was planned in for next week but I'm getting sick of waiting so a quick phone call and I got it rushed along. The sooner I start the better, enough though they say it's a slow disease I still fear of waiting longer if I don't need too.

The good thing is I live about 5 minute drive from my oncologist, hospital, surgeon and radio therapy centre.

[Steve Marethyu]

Steve k that's bad news about the bag at our age. Not sure how your doc got that so wrong.

After my colonoscopy I saw my colorectal surgeon he actually put me back to sleep and had a look himself. Then he had another look during the keyhole surgery for my stoma. He even looked at the liver.

It sounds like you had a doctor who had more expertise in doing colorectal surgery. I had been recommended one surgeon by the guy who misdiagnosed the location of the tumor. I didn't feel comfortable with him and went with a family friend who I had been using as a second opinion. My mother pushed me in the direction, but I felt most comfortable with it too. In hindsight, it was a terrible idea for both me and the surgeon. He talked about how he was wondering how he'd face my mother if the cancer came back, while he was deciding to do the APR.

The problems started with my haphazard way of picking a GI doc (I took the first one who had an appointment before my Christmas break ended ) and was made worse by the having the surgeon be someone I know. Looking back now, I would have gone to one of the university medical centers in Chicago. However, part of the reason that I feel so strongly about that now is that I learned from the mistakes I've made. Also, living with my colostomy hasn't been that bad. It has changed some parts of my life, but it hasn't really disabled me in anyway. Wondering what might have been doesn't accomplish much.

[Steve Marethyu]

Re: pumps

I've liked having a pump, even though it's presented some problems for me. I had my general surgeon put the first one in. He's the one who told me that I needed to have it and gave me no option. Unfortunately, he kind of screwed it up. First, it was so deep that they had to find 1 and half in needles, which at the time almost no one could find. Two, after a break in chemo for lung surgery, my port had flipped and couldn't be accessed even by interventional radiology with the x-ray. That meant that I got oxaliplatin through my arm, something no one should ever do, in my opinion. Then, three days later irad put in a new port, which worked great. I found out that they put them in all the time and that they used a different vein, which seemed to work better. The only odd thing was that I could actually feel where it was passing beside my collarbone. It didn't hurt, but just felt strange. I had that one removed a year after chemo and then irad put in a new one four years later when I started chemo again. Overall, ports are a great convenience and I'm not sure why some doctors and people seem hesitant about them.

[Nik Colon]

Re: pumps

I've liked having a pump, even though it's presented some problems for me. I had my general surgeon put the first one in. He's the one who told me that I needed to have it and gave me no option. Unfortunately, he kind of screwed it up. First, it was so deep that they had to find 1 and half in needles, which at the time almost no one could find. Two, after a break in chemo for lung surgery, my port had flipped and couldn't be accessed even by interventional radiology with the x-ray. That meant that I got oxaliplatin through my arm, something no one should ever do, in my opinion. Then, three days later irad put in a new port, which worked great. I found out that they put them in all the time and that they used a different vein, which seemed to work better. The only odd thing was that I could actually feel where it was passing beside my collarbone. It didn't hurt, but just felt strange. I had that one removed a year after chemo and then irad put in a new one four years later when I started chemo again. Overall, ports are a great convenience and I'm not sure why some doctors and people seem hesitant about them.

The port...I absolutely love mine! I have horrible veins, mine never really gave me any issuse, a little, but not much considering. I ask everywhere I go to access it if they can! I may keep mine forever even if NED for yrs!!! The slight discomfort in neck and site at first are NOTHING compared to being poked and prodded time after time not getting it in! Yes, I will be (if I do live that long) the longest person to have a port! I may never remove mine!

Fyi, I forget I have mine until reminded

[Swirdfish]

I think the ports are good. I did ask about the chemo pump vs the pills and the said the pump is more effective. Not sure why.

I got referred a colorectal surgeon not by choice from the colonoscopy but we have friends that are nurses and had them ask around and found another. Even surgeons have reputations.

Well I've been measured up and ready do go with radio therapy but it's a week wait as they are developing the plan. The 18th I will start chemo and radio so another long week ahead

I've actually heard of people refusing to give up their ports even after everything is finished. Go figure.

[Nik Colon]

I think the ports are good. I did ask about the chemo pump vs the pills and the said the pump is more effective. Not sure why.

I got referred a colorectal surgeon not by choice from the colonoscopy but we have friends that are nurses and had them ask around and found another. Even surgeons have reputations.

Well I've been measured up and ready do go with radio therapy but it's a week wait as they are developing the plan. The 18th I will start chemo and radio so another long week ahead

I've actually heard of people refusing to give up their ports even after everything is finished. Go figure.

That will be me, he's one of my best friends now

I have never given anything a name, so I will name him bubba, after my friends hub who had a colonoscopy because of me. 11 polyps, 3 pre. I helped save his life, now he can help me.

[Swirdfish]

Yes my brother 2 yrs older at 37 just had his. One .5mm polyp removed and banded hamerroids.

[Cured]

Swordfish, My surgeon diagnosed mine as stage 2, but wanted to treat it as stage 3 - which was a good thing. Just before the treatments began I had a rectal ultrasound, from which the Radioligist MD typed it as stage 1. In the surgery the tumor was found to be like an iceberg: you only saw the tip inside and more was on the outside of the rectal wall. I was stage 3. So I came out of surgery with a bag. Managing the osteomy for 6 months was not bad. Fortunately, when my chemotherapy was all done, my illiostomy was reversed.

Now it has been 8 years. Life is beautiful even with all of the struggles. Have hope.
I'm cured and many others here are too.

[Swirdfish]

Wow cured i hope I'm as lucky as you

Just waiting a week now for radio and chemo.

At least 16 weeks away from my major resection.

But hopefully it responds well to radio and chemo.

[fumaros]

Hi Swirdfish,

I don't know if it is different where you are located. But you certainly can request a print version of all you medical records, scan reports (even the CDs of the pictures) after each appointment, that way you don't have to look over your doctors shoulder. That way you are well informed at all times.

The tumor was a lot bigger than they expected, and a laparoscopy turned into a full open surgery. Which is why staging is best after surgery and pathology.

I had to learn a lot of patience, the recovery and a small bowel obstruction that landed me in the ER made it so I started chemo almost two months after my surgery. Cancer is a marathon, i have had to practice more patience than I ever thought I could.

I am wishing you all the best and praying for great results through out your treatment.

[fumaros]

Hi Swirdfish,

I don't know if it is different where you are located. But you certainly can request a print version of all you medical records, scan reports (even the CDs of the pictures) after each appointment, that way you don't have to look over your doctors shoulder. That way you are well informed at all times.

The tumor was a lot bigger than they expected, and a laparoscopy turned into a full open surgery. Which is why staging is best after surgery and pathology.

I had to learn a lot of patience, the recovery and a small bowel obstruction that landed me in the ER made it so I started chemo almost two months after my surgery. Cancer is a marathon, i have had to practice more patience than I ever thought I could.

I am wishing you all the best and praying for great results through out your treatment.

[Swirdfish]

Wow fumarus

I wish u all the best as well being 6 years younger then me at your DX. Sucks doesn't it.

I'm in Australia.

Well guess it will be 4 months until my staging then. Fingers crossed. I might just ask them for copies this week.

Also I won't get a j pouch. Surgeon believes studies have shown they are only effective for about a year. Also they cause issues kinking the colon.

So straight through for me.