The Colon Club

You might want to put together a timeline for the surgery as there's a lot of prep stuff for surgery these days and it's nice to see everything on a calendar or timeline so that you can see if there are any issues which need to be resolved.

NHMike wrote:You might want to put together a timeline for the surgery as there's a lot of prep stuff for surgery these days and it's nice to see everything on a calendar or timeline so that you can see if there are any issues which need to be resolved.

Thanks for that.

APPOINTMENT WITH SURGEON - JUNE 26th Update
A really nice guy even discussed the international conference he had just been to on colorectal cancer and latest techniques in my particular case. Great to know he is up to date.

Sadly his examination (finger technique-lol- the tumour is against my anus so this was possible) identified that the tumour had not shrunk as much as he expected. Rats!
Has me down for an MRI and internal, short scope examination plus biopsy.
He says a few more weeks of allowing the results of the radiation will be beneficial, as he wants it to be as small as possible.

So I still wait...... MAN .... I feel like I am in the 'green corridor' given a stay of execution. I hope that was not out of place ........ you do feel awkward awaiting an operation!?!?

SteveNZ wrote:APPOINTMENT WITH SURGEON - JUNE 26th Update
A really nice guy even discussed the international conference he had just been to on colorectal cancer and latest techniques in my particular case. Great to know he is up to date.

Sadly his examination (finger technique-lol- the tumour is against my anus so this was possible) identified that the tumour had not shrunk as much as he expected. Rats!
Has me down for an MRI and internal, short scope examination plus biopsy.
He says a few more weeks of allowing the results of the radiation will be beneficial, as he wants it to be as small as possible.

So I still wait...... MAN .... I feel like I am the 'green corridor' given a stay of execution. I hope that was not out of place ........ you do feel awkward awaiting an operation!?!?

For me, the surgery was a second time to update my will and instructions. There was a lot for me to do in preparing for the surgery (logistics, what to bring to the hospital, short-term disability forms at work, etc.) that it helped to keep my mind off the bad stuff.

I did feel markedly better a few weeks out from chemo and radiation and I've read that radiation keeps working for quite some time after your finished, maybe two to three months. The MRI, though, will give your doctor the precise measurements of the remaining tumor so that you can calculate the shrinkage. The MRI is also used for planning by the surgeon. I don't know how much your surgeon was expecting but radiation is powerful stuff to shrink/kill the tumor.

You should have another meeting after the MRI where the surgeon tells you the odds of various things, has you sign papers after going over potential risks, and then setting a date. Over here, it's common to come in one week before surgery for labs, and training for the Illeostomy and other things.

Dear Steve - I am far down the road in my cancer journey and have been thru so much. I believe I was 56 also when I was diagnosed (maybe 55? - how can you forget something like that - maybe I should read my own signature). I have never really gotten over the shock - when I take a shower and look down at my rearranged body which has been so strong - I cry. Right now I am on irinotecan and have lost my hair - I look in the mirror and cry. But I go on and am thankful that this disease has not taken me yet. I will be on chemo for the rest of my life. I wonder how did I get here. I look at my precious family and am so very glad that I am still here.

There are no wrong emotions with this horrid disease.

Marianne

MDK wrote:Dear Steve - I am far down the road in my cancer journey and have been thru so much. I believe I was 56 also when I was diagnosed (maybe 55? - how can you forget something like that - maybe I should read my own signature). I have never really gotten over the shock - when I take a shower and look down at my rearranged body which has been so strong - I cry. Right now I am on irinotecan and have lost my hair - I look in the mirror and cry. But I go on and am thankful that this disease has not taken me yet. I will be on chemo for the rest of my life. I wonder how did I get here. I look at my precious family and am so very glad that I am still here.

There are no wrong emotions with this horrid disease.

Marianne

Oh Marianne, I totally understand what you are saying. I had just gotten married when I was diagnosed, I wonder how this happens and am I fooling myself