recurrence of cancer in different part of colon

[SemiColon15]

I am new to this forum and hope I am participating in the correct way. I had an original diagnosis of adenocarcinoma at the small bowel and cecum in 6/15. After going through 12 rounds of FOLFOX, a PET scan deemed me cancer free in December of 2015. In April of 2016, I began having symptoms similar to what landed me in the hospital in May, 2015. A colonoscopy was done and 2 precancerous polyps were found and removed, and I was told to return in 3 years. In November of 2016, I began passing blood rectally. I brushed it off when it happened the first two times, but called my gastroenterologist when it happened a third time. I had a colonoscopy done the middle of last month and an adenocarcinoma was found in the sigmoid colon. A subsequent PET scan was clean and the genetic testing came back negative. I am having surgery on Monday. I was wondering if anyone else has had colon cancer show up in a different section of the colon than where it was first diagnosed. Thanks for any information you can give.

[Lee]

Hi and welcome.

While this did not happen to me, there are a few here with similar situations. Hopefully they will chime in soon. So very sorry it happened you. All the best with your upcoming surgery,

Lee

[DarknessEmbraced]

I'm so sorry you're going through this and hope your surgery goes well!*hugs*

[zx10guy]

Unfortunately, I'm one of those "lucky" ones. I had a 3cm tumor in my descending colon. Left hemicolectomy 12/2012. Stage3b T3N1M0. Went through 12 rounds of FOLFOX6. Been on surveillance since. Last year in the summer during my 6 month checkup, my CT scan with contrast came back clear. But my CEA was way elevated. My normal with the new Roche test was high 4s, low 5s. It came back at 9.7. A retest was done and came back higher at 11. A PET/CT was done and the radiologist gave me the all clear again. The only thing I had left was my slightly overdue 3 year colonoscopy.

Went in for my colonoscopy and was awake the entire time during the procedure. GI doc made his way to the end of my colon and was about to declare everything clear and normal. He paused to clean the very end of my colon at the cecum when my colon shifted and a polyp popped through the appendicial opening. He immediately said that's not good. Took some samples on the area he could reach and said I needed surgery to get it out regardless of if the pathology comes back clear. I get an appointment scheduled to consult with my CRC surgeon. Meanwhile pathology comes back as high grade dysplasia. Finally got to see my surgeon and he thought it was going to a simple cecectomy until I told him about my elevated CEA levels and what I felt was a hot spot I saw on my PET scan images in the same area as the polyp. He changes the plan and says I need to have a right hemicolectomy to remove my ascending colon and some of my small intestine to make sure we get everything based on my history. Operation gets done. Pathology comes back where my polyp actually was cancerous but was insitu. As a result, I am Stage 0.

Follow up CT with contrast comes back normal and my CEA dropped to 5.2. I asked my GI doctor would this situation be deemed as a recurrence or a new primary. He said it would be treated as a new primary.

[Pita]

Hope all goes well SC, hugs and prayers to you...

[Pita]

Same to you zx... hugs and prayers...

[mtipte]

Hugs!

[zx10guy]

Same to you zx... hugs and prayers...

Thank you. I have my next follow up next month. We'll see if things are still clear.

[tammylayne]

I had stage 1 colon cancer...with surgery to remove. I foot of colon. Less then 3 years later...stage 3 rectal. Docs gave different opinions as to whether it was a new primary or not. Also had several polyps removed in between. I was told I was not the norm...this can happen...and does...but not the norm. I think this was better then showing up in lungs or liver though...I am now over 6 years NED...I am grateful...