CT Scan and Updates

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

Re: CT Scan and Updates

Postby DarknessEmbraced » Wed Oct 27, 2021 7:06 am

I'm sorry you're having so much pain and that they don't want to do surgery. I hope the medications will help and that you'll feel better soon. *hugs* It would be hard not eating solid food.
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! :)

catstaff
Posts: 177
Joined: Wed Mar 03, 2021 11:37 am

Re: CT Scan and Updates

Postby catstaff » Fri Oct 29, 2021 9:44 am

He just got out of the hospital yesterday. It was fairly grueling, a full open surgery (they just reopened the old incision). Nearly a week of paralytic ileus. But in the last few days he's been improving rapidly, his appetite is returning and things seem to be moving much more smoothly.

He ended up with a bypass. It was in the deep pelvis as I understand that (near the sacral prominence was where most of the adhesions were, apparently).

They tried to place a ureter stent and couldn't get it in, so he has a nephrostomy now. Hopefully temporary if they can get the stent in after decompressing the kidney.

I understand the reluctance for surgery -- scarring is the problem and more surgery makes more scarring, so it can just end up a vicious cycle. But in his case they decided there wasn't much choice. It sounds like your situation is similar.
D/H Dx 10/2019 RC age 61
Clinical T4bN2M1a (common iliac and para-aortic lymph nodes)
MSS KRAS G12D
CRT 11/19-1/20 FOLFOX 3/20-7/20
Pelvic exenteration w/LAR 8/20
ypT4bN0Mx G3 0/14 nodes LVI not seen PNI-
CEA 10/19:20, 1/20-11/20:1.6, 4.3, 3.4, 2.7, 2/21:9.0 3/21:18,40 4/21:28,19, 5/21:13.3,8.6
PET 3/21 recurrence in distal nodes, L5 vertebra, pelvis
FOLFIRI+bev 3/21-

Rikimaroo
Posts: 436
Joined: Tue Dec 20, 2016 8:48 pm
Location: Florida

Re: CT Scan and Updates

Postby Rikimaroo » Fri Oct 29, 2021 2:26 pm

Did they use any wax paper to cover the intestines so scar tissue doesn't grow back and attach? A lot of surgeons do that when this issue has occurred. This gives me hope though since we seem to be identical. I pray the tube is temporary, did they say it is? If it is not to personal can you share which hospital he goes to and who his surgeon is? Just in case I need to have 2nd opinions. I have a call out to my surgeon in Ohio Cleveland, 30th is my virtual visit with him, he is out of state so I had to pay to talk to him, oh well. $410 for virtual visit. Also when they did the bowel bypass what did they do with the bypassed portion? Did they just leave it in there, or take it out?

I also have a call this Monday 1st to talk to my current surgeon's fellow to go over everything, but like your husband something has to be done. I am on liquid diet, will not eat solids now cause the pain is to much and it causes me to vomit. It's really frustrating. Thanks CatSTaff and tell your husband keep on trucking, I am sure the bag is temp or I pray it is :)

Everytime I see people eating it makes me sad :(....I want to eat, darnit!!
RC T3N1M0 12/16
MSS - NRAS Mutation
Chemo Rad, CCR - W&W 5/2017
Recurrence 11/2017
CT Scan 11/2017 Liver Met 5.5cm Stable, Stage IV
LAR/Liver Resect 4/2018
Reversal 10/18
CEA highest 500, lowest .8 throughout process, waiting for latest
Recurrence left vesical/pelvic sidewall - 10/7/2019 resect perm bag,
CEA rise Feb/May 3.7, 8.8, 30, Recurrence in Pelvic
CEA 40 right now, but was 57, so folfiri to beat it back down.
Lots of chemo for the past 4 years.

catstaff
Posts: 177
Joined: Wed Mar 03, 2021 11:37 am

Re: CT Scan and Updates

Postby catstaff » Fri Oct 29, 2021 3:40 pm

I'd rather not say where we live. It was a medical school-affiliated teaching hospital. The same surgeon who did the original surgery did this one. They didn't use any barrier film as far as I know.

I think they normally just leave the bypassed bowel in situ. It presumably still has its blood supply so doesn't necessarily die. I suppose they close off the ends. It was pretty stuck (the surgeon said) so removing it would probably not have been worth it.

He had a complete blockage in the early summer which appeared to resolve but probably never really did, given how quickly it recurred. I wasn't the one with the symptoms but for the partial blockage it was about what you describe. Peristaltic pain and excessive rumbling (as the intestines backed up), eventually solid food didn't stay down and then bile came up. If your vomit is greenish that's bile from the intestine, not just stomach contents. It's very difficult to maintain your energy and any quality of life with those symptoms, as you know.

The nephrostomy is supposed to be temporary but then he'll have to have a permanent indwelling stent which will have to be changed every two months. But that's better than the external tube. I did get him some special underpants from Amazon that have pockets for catheter-attached bags and he says that's a big help. If the stricture is still too tight to get a stent in, we'll have to think about what to do with the tube. It's to save the kidney but one only needs a single kidney.
D/H Dx 10/2019 RC age 61
Clinical T4bN2M1a (common iliac and para-aortic lymph nodes)
MSS KRAS G12D
CRT 11/19-1/20 FOLFOX 3/20-7/20
Pelvic exenteration w/LAR 8/20
ypT4bN0Mx G3 0/14 nodes LVI not seen PNI-
CEA 10/19:20, 1/20-11/20:1.6, 4.3, 3.4, 2.7, 2/21:9.0 3/21:18,40 4/21:28,19, 5/21:13.3,8.6
PET 3/21 recurrence in distal nodes, L5 vertebra, pelvis
FOLFIRI+bev 3/21-

Rikimaroo
Posts: 436
Joined: Tue Dec 20, 2016 8:48 pm
Location: Florida

Re: CT Scan and Updates

Postby Rikimaroo » Mon Nov 08, 2021 4:57 pm

Hi Folks,

I went to see my surgeon today to follow-up as the problem has not really gone away, its better then before but I still have mostly same problem. He explained the surgery will or can be major depending what is in there, if its just scar tissue it should be simple breeze through surgery but if more things can be more complicated. He also mentioned surgery is life threatening, etc...do all surgeons say this, I mean he said it before the first time too, but this time with more concern since I guess I been through several surgeries now.

Well the decision is to do surgery now since he looked at my last MRI again with me in there as I asked him too and he said he missed the contained perforation statement and that is a big issue. So he is going to do everything he can to fix me up. November 30th, wish me luck.

Thanks
Riki
RC T3N1M0 12/16
MSS - NRAS Mutation
Chemo Rad, CCR - W&W 5/2017
Recurrence 11/2017
CT Scan 11/2017 Liver Met 5.5cm Stable, Stage IV
LAR/Liver Resect 4/2018
Reversal 10/18
CEA highest 500, lowest .8 throughout process, waiting for latest
Recurrence left vesical/pelvic sidewall - 10/7/2019 resect perm bag,
CEA rise Feb/May 3.7, 8.8, 30, Recurrence in Pelvic
CEA 40 right now, but was 57, so folfiri to beat it back down.
Lots of chemo for the past 4 years.

stu
Posts: 1613
Joined: Sat Aug 17, 2013 5:46 pm

Re: CT Scan and Updates

Postby stu » Mon Nov 08, 2021 5:44 pm

Thinking of you !
Hope it all goes smoothly !
stu
supporter to my mum who lives a great life despite a difficult diagnosis
stage4 2009 significant spread to liver
2010 colon /liver resection
chemo following recurrence
73% of liver removed
enjoying life treatment free
2016 lung resection
Oct 2017 nice clear scan . Two lung nodules disappeared
Oct 2018. Another clear scan .

claudine
Posts: 809
Joined: Tue Mar 12, 2019 2:41 pm
Location: Montana

Re: CT Scan and Updates

Postby claudine » Tue Nov 09, 2021 11:32 am

So he is going to do everything he can to fix me up. November 30th, wish me luck.


Here's to a successful resolution to your problems - you may not be able to gorge for Thanksgiving yet, but hopefully you can enjoy eating again for the Holiday season!
Wife of Dx 04/18 (51 yo). MSS, KRAS G12A, no primary

Tumors: L4 04/18; left adrenal gland & small lung nodules 03/19
rectum 02/22 (pT3 pN0 stage 2A); L3 09/22

Surgeries: intestinal resect. 05/18 (no cancer - Crohn's); adrenalectomy 02/20
L3-L4-L5 fusion and corpectomy 05/20; LAR 04/22; ileo reversal 09/22
L2-L3 fusion and corpectomy 09/22

Treatments: EBRT 04/18; SBRT 02/19; Failed adjuvant Xelox ; Folfiri/Avastin 03/19 - 01/20
adjuvant chemorad (Xeloda) 06/22; SBRT 11/22; Xeloda/Avastin since 01/24

catstaff
Posts: 177
Joined: Wed Mar 03, 2021 11:37 am

Re: CT Scan and Updates

Postby catstaff » Thu Nov 11, 2021 7:54 pm

Good luck, Riki, this has been rougher on my husband than his original surgery and we're still not in the clear since he is still having problems.
D/H Dx 10/2019 RC age 61
Clinical T4bN2M1a (common iliac and para-aortic lymph nodes)
MSS KRAS G12D
CRT 11/19-1/20 FOLFOX 3/20-7/20
Pelvic exenteration w/LAR 8/20
ypT4bN0Mx G3 0/14 nodes LVI not seen PNI-
CEA 10/19:20, 1/20-11/20:1.6, 4.3, 3.4, 2.7, 2/21:9.0 3/21:18,40 4/21:28,19, 5/21:13.3,8.6
PET 3/21 recurrence in distal nodes, L5 vertebra, pelvis
FOLFIRI+bev 3/21-

Rikimaroo
Posts: 436
Joined: Tue Dec 20, 2016 8:48 pm
Location: Florida

Re: CT Scan and Updates

Postby Rikimaroo » Mon Nov 15, 2021 6:56 pm

Hi Catstaff,

Sorry to hear that your husband is still going through problems. They did say this surgery will be more high risk and potential problems after is possible. Is he having the same bowel problems or different problem?
RC T3N1M0 12/16
MSS - NRAS Mutation
Chemo Rad, CCR - W&W 5/2017
Recurrence 11/2017
CT Scan 11/2017 Liver Met 5.5cm Stable, Stage IV
LAR/Liver Resect 4/2018
Reversal 10/18
CEA highest 500, lowest .8 throughout process, waiting for latest
Recurrence left vesical/pelvic sidewall - 10/7/2019 resect perm bag,
CEA rise Feb/May 3.7, 8.8, 30, Recurrence in Pelvic
CEA 40 right now, but was 57, so folfiri to beat it back down.
Lots of chemo for the past 4 years.

catstaff
Posts: 177
Joined: Wed Mar 03, 2021 11:37 am

Re: CT Scan and Updates

Postby catstaff » Mon Nov 15, 2021 7:07 pm

He is back in the hospital with another blockage. It may be due to manipulation of a bowel that was apparently very tangled with scar tissue. Hopefully your situation will not be as bad. The bypass was successful and that's open, this is nearby and new but may resolve.
D/H Dx 10/2019 RC age 61
Clinical T4bN2M1a (common iliac and para-aortic lymph nodes)
MSS KRAS G12D
CRT 11/19-1/20 FOLFOX 3/20-7/20
Pelvic exenteration w/LAR 8/20
ypT4bN0Mx G3 0/14 nodes LVI not seen PNI-
CEA 10/19:20, 1/20-11/20:1.6, 4.3, 3.4, 2.7, 2/21:9.0 3/21:18,40 4/21:28,19, 5/21:13.3,8.6
PET 3/21 recurrence in distal nodes, L5 vertebra, pelvis
FOLFIRI+bev 3/21-

Rikimaroo
Posts: 436
Joined: Tue Dec 20, 2016 8:48 pm
Location: Florida

Re: CT Scan and Updates

Postby Rikimaroo » Tue Nov 16, 2021 10:49 am

Well that is upsetting and I hope it's not related to the previous blockages. The whole point of these surgeries are to fix these issues, I would be rather upset if the problem persists after surgery. Did he slowly introduce meats into his diet after surgery or was liquid? I know his surgery wasn't to long ago. I really hope this gets resolved for him. Any updates on urostomy?
RC T3N1M0 12/16
MSS - NRAS Mutation
Chemo Rad, CCR - W&W 5/2017
Recurrence 11/2017
CT Scan 11/2017 Liver Met 5.5cm Stable, Stage IV
LAR/Liver Resect 4/2018
Reversal 10/18
CEA highest 500, lowest .8 throughout process, waiting for latest
Recurrence left vesical/pelvic sidewall - 10/7/2019 resect perm bag,
CEA rise Feb/May 3.7, 8.8, 30, Recurrence in Pelvic
CEA 40 right now, but was 57, so folfiri to beat it back down.
Lots of chemo for the past 4 years.

catstaff
Posts: 177
Joined: Wed Mar 03, 2021 11:37 am

Re: CT Scan and Updates

Postby catstaff » Wed Nov 17, 2021 6:28 pm

He may have had something called "early postoperative SBO" from the adhesion surgery. Those new adhesions usually are soft enough to clear with conservative management. It's not rare but it's not common either. So we wait. Unfortunately he has progressed while off chemo and even if this clears in a few days, it will be a while before he can get back on. I hope the new mets respond as well as the old ones.

Nothing in particular about his urostomy though the right ureter seems to be contracting. They decided that was OK for now.
D/H Dx 10/2019 RC age 61
Clinical T4bN2M1a (common iliac and para-aortic lymph nodes)
MSS KRAS G12D
CRT 11/19-1/20 FOLFOX 3/20-7/20
Pelvic exenteration w/LAR 8/20
ypT4bN0Mx G3 0/14 nodes LVI not seen PNI-
CEA 10/19:20, 1/20-11/20:1.6, 4.3, 3.4, 2.7, 2/21:9.0 3/21:18,40 4/21:28,19, 5/21:13.3,8.6
PET 3/21 recurrence in distal nodes, L5 vertebra, pelvis
FOLFIRI+bev 3/21-

Rikimaroo
Posts: 436
Joined: Tue Dec 20, 2016 8:48 pm
Location: Florida

Re: CT Scan and Updates

Postby Rikimaroo » Tue Dec 07, 2021 6:56 pm

Hello,

I just wanted to update everyone that surgery went well. The surgeon decided to do a colectomy once he was in there so I wouldn't have two bags. I now am back to an ileostomy and its working very well. Going through the pains of surgery currently but its been pretty pain free with the pain under control. The most pain is at the ileostomy site, he reused the same hole the colostomy was at. They found tumor and adhesions combination where the main blockage was basically where I already had the tumor recurrence in rectal area by pelvic sidewall. Waiting for surgical pathology. Eating again, but don't find myself super hungry or big appetite like I use to be, maybe because just out of surgery and might take sometime to get back to normalcy.

Rikimaroo
RC T3N1M0 12/16
MSS - NRAS Mutation
Chemo Rad, CCR - W&W 5/2017
Recurrence 11/2017
CT Scan 11/2017 Liver Met 5.5cm Stable, Stage IV
LAR/Liver Resect 4/2018
Reversal 10/18
CEA highest 500, lowest .8 throughout process, waiting for latest
Recurrence left vesical/pelvic sidewall - 10/7/2019 resect perm bag,
CEA rise Feb/May 3.7, 8.8, 30, Recurrence in Pelvic
CEA 40 right now, but was 57, so folfiri to beat it back down.
Lots of chemo for the past 4 years.

User avatar
beach sunrise
Posts: 1033
Joined: Thu Mar 05, 2020 7:14 pm

Re: CT Scan and Updates

Postby beach sunrise » Wed Dec 08, 2021 1:31 pm

HEY Rikimaroo, so good to hear from you! Missed ya lately.
Happy they got it out and you are on the mend now.
8/19 RC CEA 82.6 T3N0M0
5FU/rad 6 wk
IVC 75g 1 1/2 wks before surgery. Continue 2x a week
Surg 1/20 -margins T4bN1a IIIC G2 MSI- 1/20 LN+ LVI+ PNI-
pre cea 24 post 5.9
FOLFOX
7 rds 6-10 CEA 11.4 No more
CEA
7/20 11.1 8.8
8/20 7.8
9/20 8.8, 9, 8.6
10/20 8.1
11/20 8s
12/20 8s-9s
ADAPT++++ chrono
CEA
10/23/22 26.x
12/23/22 22.x
2023
1/5 17.1
1/20 15.9
3/30 14.9
6/12 13.3
8/1 2.1
Nodule RML SUV 1.3 5mm
Rolles 3 of 4 lung nodules cancer
KRAS
Chem-sens test failed Not enough ca cells to test

claudine
Posts: 809
Joined: Tue Mar 12, 2019 2:41 pm
Location: Montana

Re: CT Scan and Updates

Postby claudine » Wed Dec 08, 2021 1:50 pm

Glad to hear it went well. Hopefully you can enjoy some nice holiday food once you've recovered a bit more from the surgery!
Wife of Dx 04/18 (51 yo). MSS, KRAS G12A, no primary

Tumors: L4 04/18; left adrenal gland & small lung nodules 03/19
rectum 02/22 (pT3 pN0 stage 2A); L3 09/22

Surgeries: intestinal resect. 05/18 (no cancer - Crohn's); adrenalectomy 02/20
L3-L4-L5 fusion and corpectomy 05/20; LAR 04/22; ileo reversal 09/22
L2-L3 fusion and corpectomy 09/22

Treatments: EBRT 04/18; SBRT 02/19; Failed adjuvant Xelox ; Folfiri/Avastin 03/19 - 01/20
adjuvant chemorad (Xeloda) 06/22; SBRT 11/22; Xeloda/Avastin since 01/24


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