Another colonoscopy before surgery?

[Lee]

. . . My original surgeon who performed my first colonoscopy told me he would not do the operation because of the complexities of rectal cancer. The nearest specialist is 3 hours away.
.

That 1st sentence says you might want to look around before having someone cuts you open. You should have a bit of time, a few weeks will not change the outcome. Maybe see the specialist for a 2nd opinion and decide from there. My concern, I've never heard of a colonoscopy for surgery purposes. Maybe go back and ask why.

Good luck,

Lee

[NHMike]

Thank you all for taking the time to reply! It is much appreciated. I'm confused and worried. My surgeon is not a rectal cancer specialist. There isn't one in my area. He has a good reputation. My original surgeon who performed my first colonoscopy told me he would not do the operation because of the complexities of rectal cancer. The nearest specialist is 3 hours away.

I don't have pain or burns from the radiation. Except for a bit of lingering cystitis and some hip and back pain after standing or working all day, I feel all right. I'm an elementary teacher and I've been working through treatment.

Now I have doubt and I'm questioning everthing. This has probably been my most depressed day so far.

My surgery is this Monday and it's about 75 minutes away and I'll need to get a hotel as there's so much prep work the day before that I can't drive in to the surgery. My GI guy discussed the oncologist, radiation doctor and surgeon with me and the advantages and disadvantages of using local and distant services. So we went with local services for oncology and radiation treatment and distant for surgery (after second opinions on oncology and radiation). This and the regular recommendations on this board for choosing a specialist for surgery if possible.

The logistics of a distant surgery and recovery can be quite complicated, especially if you don't have someone with you or other local support. I'm trying to minimize the amount of help that I'm asking from others but I don't think that it would be possible without some help, providing rides, bringing me things, etc. I think that it would be challenging to change surgeons at this late date if you wanted the surgery date to remain the same as hospital operating room and surgeon schedules can be quite complicated to work out and it would depend on their workloads as well. I think that it can be challenging working out the logistics on short notice as well.

[cbsmith]

I would never have this surgery from anyone other than a certified colorectal surgeon. The outcome of this surgery could affect the rest of your life. Going to a hospital 3 hours away for it is a small thing in the big scheme is things.

[susie0915]

I agree with others here. I remember telling my husband since my treatment would be pretty standard I thought the most important thing was having a surgeon that I felt confident in as rectal cancer surgery is a little more intricate. Definitely have a board certified colorectal surgeon. It is worth the travel time. You can do chemo locally, but I would really think about getting a second opinion for surgery. Good Luck

[Atoq]

My surgeon said that the tumor continues to shrink, after radiation and Xeloda, for 6 to 8 weeks. So they would evaluate the situation after that.

All the best

Claudia

[C2WAVE2]

I didnt have radiation or Chemo, but I had one colonoscopy that discovered the mass, and the surgeon
wanted to do a second one before surgery to scope it out, and mark where he was cutting.. This was after
I had CT and MRI..

[AlexMichelle]

Is your surgery still scheduled for Nov 9? If so, we are both having our surgery on the same day. Mine is scheduled for 9 AM. What time is yours? My tumor started out in the lower colon and has spread a little tiny bit in the rectal area so that is why I did not have radiation first. The surgeon seems to think he will be able to cut out the 4.5 cm tumor with margins and reconnect the rectum to the colon. The CT scan and MRI did not show the cancer anywhere else but of course we will not know for sure until the lymph node pathology comes back. He told me he did not think I would have to have a colostomy but not to be shocked if I wake up with one. I am having open surgery, unfortunately. Each day I bleed more and more with large blood clots and my stomach is so uneasy with rumbling and pain that I cannot wait to trade this pain for the new pain of surgery recovery. Today I had a complete bloodwork up again and EKG along with a one hour interview by the anesthesiology team. Tomorrow at noon I start drinking the prep. Would love to hear your plans for your surgery. Good luck to both of us.

[NHMike]

Is your surgery still scheduled for Nov 9? If so, we are both having our surgery on the same day. Mine is scheduled for 9 AM. What time is yours? My tumor started out in the lower colon and has spread a little tiny bit in the rectal area so that is why I did not have radiation first. The surgeon seems to think he will be able to cut out the 4.5 cm tumor with margins and reconnect the rectum to the colon. The CT scan and MRI did not show the cancer anywhere else but of course we will not know for sure until the lymph node pathology comes back. He told me he did not think I would have to have a colostomy but not to be shocked if I wake up with one. I am having open surgery, unfortunately. Each day I bleed more and more with large blood clots and my stomach is so uneasy with rumbling and pain that I cannot wait to trade this pain for the new pain of surgery recovery. Today I had a complete bloodwork up again and EKG along with a one hour interview by the anesthesiology team. Tomorrow at noon I start drinking the prep. Would love to hear your plans for your surgery. Good luck to both of us.

People having the same course of treatment around the same time often make great buddies as you're going through the same thing around the same time. I have a number of these buddies on another forum and we cheer each other on and provide advice and our experiences.