Complete timeline of my dad's treatment
03/30/17 - Colonoscopy revealed circumferential polypoidal rectal growth starting 8 cm from anal verge upto 15cm.
04/05/2017 - CEA 5.16
04/10/17 - Underwent LAR + TME with brooke ileostomy
slow recovery, developed fistula leak.
09/17 - Finished FOLFOX-4
10/17 - Clear PET
11/17 - Went for ileostomy reversal. week later developed another leakage. had to redone the surgery.
12/18 - PET scan revealed 2 deposit largest measuring 1.2 x 1 cm
03/22 - PET scan revealed
i) soft tissue lesion in sacrum S1 (SUVmax 9.7)
ii) pelvic deposit increasd to 2.3 x 3.1 cm (SUVmax 7.78)
Pre Treatment CEA - 4.83
04/06/22 - Radiation to both sites (45Gy in 25 fractions)
05/11/22 - Completed the radiation treatment
Post Treatment CEA - 1.98
06/26/22 - PET Scan showed increased SUV to both sites
i) sacral lesion now had (SUVmax 9.99)
ii) pelvic deposit had 10% increase in size (SUVmax 8.54 size - 4.6 x 4.3 cm)
07/30/22 - Abdomen ultrasound revealed 3 gallbladder calculi (largest measuring 13mm) and 1 kidney stone of 3-4mm
Actually my dad had a guava this week which don't really suite his diet and eventually his bowel movements were effected and he got some abdomen pain too. So he consulted his current onco MD about it. He suggested ultrasound and medicine. Though pain and bowel movements are much better now. But my dad asked the doc that the local oncologist is suggesting chemotherapy and somehow this really annoyed him. And he have told us that we should just have treatment from local onco from now on. So its time to change the hospital i guess. I kinda expected more honestly speaking, considering how we faced complications in all of our surgeries. It was kinda all over text so was easy to process but would have been terrible if he did that in person.
Also during radiation in 2022, he assured my dad that the recurrence from both sites will be gone by end of radiation. On PET/CT Post 1 month, recurrences had slightly increased SUV but overall stable. I really hope that this is just inflammation and he we do get rid of this disease in upcoming scan in September 2022.
I also want to know something about bowel movements because ever since surgeries, the bowel movement of my dad never went back to normal. Surgeon always blamed the decrease of bowel loop's length. And my dad adapted to this new normal but now I am wondering could this have been all because of that pelvic recurrence.
My another question is about PET scan, I have realized that it should be done after atleast 3 months post treatment. But can any of you who did that early tell me how was your report. Because my dad's early PET scan did reveal increased SUV. Can that really be because of inflammation. I have started to panic again
Also can anyone tell me about effectiveness of radiation on sacrum because I have read many read many success posts but the current PET scan showed 10% more increase in size after radiation.
I also apologize for dumping all this upon you guys. But it is also true that I am not really close with anyone irl. I just hope everything works out well.
I also want to wish you all luck on this journey.