The Colon Club

Hi forum!
My name is Ana and I want to thank you first for your posts and the positives message that you sent to all of us, that is hope!
In my case I just received yesterday the notice that my father had a possible result of T4N1MX because 2 days ago he had a colonoscopy and was found with a +/- 10cm tumor at 5cm of the anal margin, they found a large ulcerated lesion(mass) with central depression with a Borrmann type 2 edges.
He will receive the results of the biopsy next Wednesday and on Thursday with all the tests he will enter with a oncologist surgeon to speak about the next steps of treatment.
Please if you have any recommendation/advices how can I deal with this sickness I would love to hear about it!!
I am positive and optimistic that he will do it good through all the process.
All the best for all of you here and blessings!
Ana

anitabenites wrote:Hi forum!
. . . 2 days ago he had a colonoscopy and was found with a +/- 10cm tumor at 5cm of the anal margin, they found a large ulcerated lesion(mass) with central depression with a Borrmann type 2 edges.
Ana

Hi Ana and welcome, sorry for the reason you are here.

Because it looks like he may have rectal cancer, I would HIGHLY recommend that a "board certified" colon rectal surgeon do the surgery vs a general surgeon. The rectum is a small area and you really want someone with the extra training.

Have they done any other test, like a CAT scan?

They will probably do radiation prior to surgery to help shrink the tumor, thus to get clean margins when removing the tumor.

Because it looks like some lymph nodes were positive, he probably will be getting chemo after surgery.

How old is your dad? It might not be a bad idea for you and your siblings to also get scoped.

Hope this helps and good luck,

Lee

Ana,
My results were similar to your dad's. It was through MRI and PET that they were able to stage me. I saw an oncologist and an colorectal surgeon within a week of getting a biopsy. My treatment initially was chemo and radiation to shrink the tumor prior to surgery.
Be strong and this is the right place for answers.
Susan

Thank you very much Lee and Susan for your kindly answers!
My father is going tomorrow to an oncologist and a surgeon with the results of the biopsy in order to follow the proper treatment.
Lee, my father did not do yet a CAT but i think he will have to do a PET and MRI. My father is 65 years old. My sister had a colonoscopy this year and I did it on 2015 and we were clean. I think under this circumstanstances I will repeat the colonoscopy this year. My grandfather died from colon cancer and now my father has a rectal one. How often should I do the colonoscopy in order to prevent colon rectal cancer?
Susan, thanks for sharing the information with me, you had also rectal cancer? how did you manage to go through chemotherapy and radiotherapy? thanks for the advices!
I will let you know guys how my papa is going! I will keep you updated.
Thank you very much and god bless u!
Cheers,
Ana

Yes, I had rectal cancer. The chemo was not bad, no diarrhea or nausea. The radiation fried me. There are creams you can us through out the process that my radiation oncologist and nurse never mentioned or only offered after I was through, Miaderm was one of them. Don't take my experience as an example as we all respond differently, I am very fair, red hair and easy to burn skin .
I got my port today for mop up chemo, another step in the hike to the top.
Susan

Thank you very much Susan for your kindly answer.
My papa is doing good, has a good attitude and he is doing today and tomorrow the MRI and PET, his oncologist is evaluating again his cancer but with these results because the doctor wants to know if the cancer went to other organs, apparently not but we will wait for the results. My papa has the next appointment this coming Friday.
Susan, how were the sessions for your radiotherapy and chemotherapy placed? 1x week or more than that? My papa is pretty nervous and would like to know more about how usually sessions are scheduled. Usually once a patient is going through chemotherapy and radiotherapy, can he also partially work?
Thank you very much Susan for your advices and recommendations!
All the best, blessings and I am sending u all my positive vibes!
Cheers,
Ana

I can speak only for my experience, Radiation was 33 treatments, Monday -Friday and chemo orally on same days. I have very fair skin so it was pretty bothered by radiation, not everyone has same experience. I was able to work through treatment, took myself to sessions which were about a 40 minute drive. Radiation treatments take less than 15 minutes, including the time to change into a gown and back again.

Susan

Hi Susan! Thank you very much for your kindly answer and I hope you are doing much better and recovering soon!
My father (65 years old) got also a treatment of 30 Radio and Chemo together from M-F starting this Monday and then 1 month to rest, then he have to do a colonoscopy and the doctor will see then in order to proceed with the surgery. The doctor told him he need to change this diet (healthy food) and he recommend him to not work in this period of time. He has a good attitude and he is been positive and optimistic that everything will goes good and he will recover soon.
Thank you again Susan for the information.
Blessing!
All the best,
Ana

I'm sorry for your father's diagnosis and hope his radiation goes well!*hugs*

Good luck and best wishes to your father - the first three weeks will be relatively easier; the last half of treatment a little less fun as the cumulative effects of the radiation start taking effect. It's important that he stay hydrated and come here for tips or help with problem solving. There are creams that help with the radiation - Recticare on the shelf and there is a silver based cream that is effective. Best wishes!

Thank you very much guys for your wishes!! I wish you also all the best
My papa start today chemotherapy (1 tablette) and radiotherapy (together for 30 days (without Saturday and Sunday)), then the doctor will do a colonoscopy and see the size of the tumor again and the results of the therapy. My papa will have the controls with the oncologist every Monday.
I wish you guys again all the best!
I know everything will work fine for everyone!
Thank you very much again for your help!
Blessing!
Ana

Hi guys!
My father got this for the chemotherapy treatment:
Morning:
8am take 3 tablets of capecitabine
8am take 1 tablet of celecoxib
Afternoon:
8pm take 2 tablets of capecitabine
8pm take 1 tablet of celecoxib

the chemotherapy tablets are the capecitabine, does any have experience with it?
thanks for the information.
All the best,
Ana