Help!! Newly diagnosed stage 3a signet ring cell carcinoma

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JoG
Posts: 6
Joined: Thu May 18, 2017 8:03 am

Help!! Newly diagnosed stage 3a signet ring cell carcinoma

Postby JoG » Thu May 18, 2017 8:50 am

Hi. I've been recently diagnosed with colon cancer at 40 yrs of age after a health check up. A 3cmx2cm tumor was discovered in my descending colon during a colonoscopy. I have no family history and other than the 1 tumor, no other health issues. I didn't have any symptoms prior to diagnosis and what was originally thought to be a stage 2 slow growing cancer turns out to be a stage 3a signet ring carcinoma. I've had a left hemi colectomy 10 days ago with 12 nodes removed, 3 of which had cancer cells. CT scans show clear pelvis, torso and chest. 8 rounds of Xelox every 3 weeks in conjunction with 2 weeks on, 1 week off of other tablets to follow. The thing is, I haven't found any information regarding this type of cancer...no best types of treatment, survivors beyond 5 yrs...nothing that isn't horrible statistics or prognosis. Where do I go to get current information and support? Or is there just nowhere? I'm feeling kinda alone and scared so any info would be much appreciated. Thanks
Diagnosed 4/21/17, age 40
Left hemi colectomy 5/8/17
Stage IIIa, T1N1M0 Tumor 3cmx2cm Signet ring cell adenocarcinoma
3/12 lymph nodes
CEA 5/10/16 - 2
XELOX began 6/13/17 for 8 rounds
CT 4/17 - NED, PET 6/17 - NED

Lee
Posts: 6207
Joined: Sun Apr 16, 2006 4:09 pm

Re: Help!! Newly diagnosed stage 3a signet ring cell carcinoma

Postby Lee » Thu May 18, 2017 11:22 am

Hi Joe,

Hi and welcome. Sorry for the reason you are here, butt you have found the right place to be. While I don't have a lot of knowledge regarding signet ring cell, we do have several member who do have that type of cancer. You are not alone, this is a wonderful forum, you will find a lot of support and information here.

Remember, one day at a time.

Lee
rectal cancer - April 2004
46 yrs old at diagnoses
stage III C - 6/13 lymph positive
radiation - 6 weeks
surgery - August 2004/hernia repair 2014
permanent colostomy
chemo - FOLFOX
NED - 16 years and counting!

fumaros
Posts: 273
Joined: Sat Jul 02, 2016 10:26 pm
Location: Syracuse, NY
Contact:

Re: Help!! Newly diagnosed stage 3a signet ring cell carcinoma

Postby fumaros » Thu May 18, 2017 1:21 pm

Hello JoG,

Sorry about your diagnosis. I really don't know of any signet ring cell exclusive support groups (honestly I haven't looked for any either). However, you are certainly not alone as you can see from my signature, and there are others on this site. It's been over a year since my diagnosis.

The good news is it is possible for you to get through this and get back to your normal life with just the normal colon cancer treatment regimen. If you use the search function in the quick links (up on the top left corner of the page) you can you can find stories of people with SRC including some long term survivors.

There really is not much uniquely that is medically recommended for SRC carcinomas except close monitoring because they grow fast and spread.

But to assuage your fears: descending/sigmoid colon cancer are supposed to be less aggressive than ascending colon cancers. Your cancer seems to have been caught early enough to not be too dire. You said you were otherwise healthy so you have the strength to get through chemo hopefully without complications.

It is really unhelpful to focus on the stats., talk to a cancer social worker to help with your anxiety if it gets overwhelming. You can get through this.
Diagnosed 4/8/16, age 29
Colectomy 4/20/16
Stage III, T4bN1 Tumor 7x6.5x2. Muscinous Adenocarcinoma with SRC features
2/16 lymph nodes
Stage IV, Peri mets 5/2019
CEA 4/14/16 - 16.8
CEA 6/2/16 - 1.9
CEA 6/17/16 - 0.87, 7/16 - 1.33, 12/16 - 1.14, 4/17 - 0.6, 7/17 - 0.5, 10/17 - 0.9, 3/19 -5.8, 4/19 -10
FOLFOX began 6/24/16 - 11/25/16, FOLFIRI - 5/10/19
10 round FOLFOX, 2 round 5-FU & Leucovorin, 1 round FOLFIRI
MRI & CT 8/16 - NED, CT 12/16 - 10/17 - NED

DarknessEmbraced
Posts: 3816
Joined: Sat Nov 01, 2014 4:54 pm
Facebook Username: Riann Fletcher
Location: New Brunswick, Canada

Re: Help!! Newly diagnosed stage 3a signet ring cell carcinoma

Postby DarknessEmbraced » Thu May 18, 2017 1:54 pm

Welcome and sorry for the reason you're here.*hugs* I hope your chemo goes well!*hugs*
Diagnosed 10/28/14, age 36
Colon Resection 11/20/14, LAR (no illeo)
Stage 2a colon cancer, T3NOMO
Lymph-vascular invasion undetermined
0/22 lymph nodes
No chemo, no radiation
Clear Colonoscopy 04/29/15
NED 10/20/15
Ischemic Colitis 01/21/16
NED 11/10/16
CT Scan moved up due to high CEA 08/21/17
NED 09/25/17
NED 12/21/18
Clear colonoscopy 09/23/19
Clear 5 year scans 11/21/19- Considered cured! :)

Laurettars
Posts: 1
Joined: Fri May 19, 2017 9:03 am

Re: Help!! Newly diagnosed stage 3a signet ring cell carcinoma

Postby Laurettars » Fri May 19, 2017 9:28 am

There are stage 3 SRC survivors who have been on here. It does happen so don't get discouraged! My husband was advanced stage 4 SRC at diagnosis so I have followed this disease somewhat. My biggest piece of advice would be to push for CT scans every two months for a couple of years if possible. This cancer grows FAST when it grows. Many doctors do not take this into account--at least my husband's doctors did not. Hopefully all your cancer has been removed and you will be able to get on with life soon.

Dori W
Posts: 34
Joined: Mon Aug 25, 2014 2:30 pm
Facebook Username: Dori Woodhouse

Re: Help!! Newly diagnosed stage 3a signet ring cell carcinoma

Postby Dori W » Fri May 19, 2017 11:24 am

Hi,

It is so frustrating looking online for information on SRC carcinoma. I agree, all the information is depressing and not helpful! It is true that the treatment is the same as for non-SRC colon cancer, except that closer monitoring is a good idea. My insurance was willing to pay for quarterly PET/CT scans after treatment, so that is what I did (a lot of radiation, but I believe it was worth it, since the chance of recurrence is higher and it is best to catch them early if possible).

About me--I had Stage 3c signet ring colon cancer in 2008, with 14 out of 18 positive lymph nodes. I did six months of FOLFOX and I have not had a recurrence. It's true that SRC is more aggressive, but there are success stories like mine. I was in contact with a woman who was 10 years out from a stage 4 SRC appendix cancer diagnosis and she was doing well! It is good that your cancer is 3a, and not more advanced. Some of the lower prognosis for SRC is that it tends to be found later than other colon cancers, because it grows fast.

The one thing I would do differently, if I could, is that I would try harder to avoid obsessing about statistics and prognosis. I really, really drove myself crazy with that stuff. It's easy for me to say this now, but whether or not I was to have a recurrence, the time I spent torturing myself on the internet is time wasted. (I am totally not saying you are torturing yourself!! Just that is what I did and I always hope other folks can avoid doing it because it is a miserable place to be.)

Sending you my very best wishes. I hope your recovery from surgery and subsequent treatment goes well!

Dori
Diagnosed stage 3C signet ring colon cancer in May, 2008
14 out of 18 positive lymph nodes
Final treatment in November, 2008
NED ever since
I used to have an account under "Dori," but I've lost access to it.
You can view my old posts here: search.php?author_id=1446&sr=posts

Lydia666
Posts: 676
Joined: Sat Jun 06, 2015 6:50 pm
Location: Montreal, Canada

Re: Help!! Newly diagnosed stage 3a signet ring cell carcinoma

Postby Lydia666 » Sat May 20, 2017 9:32 pm

I had some signet cells, but it was called adénocarcinoma with signet ring. I am still here, it's been two years since diagnosis. So far , so good. I changed a lot since my diagnosis. Like Dory, i don't read about stats anymore. Whatever happens, happens. I try to enjoy life that i do have. And of course, i am not always that zen. I do panic when i have a weird symptom etc. But still, just live! You have a good prognosis.
Oct 2012- thyroid cancer
June 19, 2015 Dx@39 yrs- CRC-T3N1M0
No vascular, no perineural invasion
Aug-Sept 2015- 28 rad/5FU
Oct 28, 2015- LAR- temp ileo, neg. nodes- 0/11
March 2016- 6 rounds Xeloda/positive CHEK2 mutation
August 2016- DCIS and decided post prophylactic double mastectomy
May 2018 - clean CT
Sept 2018-clean scope
Devastation, total shock- oct 2018, invasion of peri mets
Dec 20 - 2 round of folfox
Mom to 4 & 7 yrs kids - at least i brought them to this level of independence.

JoG
Posts: 6
Joined: Thu May 18, 2017 8:03 am

Re: Help!! Newly diagnosed stage 3a signet ring cell carcinoma

Postby JoG » Sun May 21, 2017 3:48 am

Thank you all so much for replying to my post. I feel a little less anxious after reading your replies and will definitely take all of your advice on board. Knowing that this is survivable is of great relief to me considering all the doom and gloom Dr Google has to offer. Your stories inspire me to crack on and move forward, and for that I thank you x :D :D :D
Diagnosed 4/21/17, age 40
Left hemi colectomy 5/8/17
Stage IIIa, T1N1M0 Tumor 3cmx2cm Signet ring cell adenocarcinoma
3/12 lymph nodes
CEA 5/10/16 - 2
XELOX began 6/13/17 for 8 rounds
CT 4/17 - NED, PET 6/17 - NED


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