Newly Diagnosed

[LouWii]

Howdy y'all,
I'm new to the forum and newly diagnosed with a mass in cecum and referred to surgeon and oncologist, surgery scheduled for right hemicolectomy. It's a little overwhelming and shocking how everything is moving so quickly. I've been thinking about getting a second opinion to confirm surgery and right hemicolectomy is the right path and that there are not less invasive alternatives, especially since right hemicolectomy can be life altering and irreversible. Does anyone have any thoughts or suggestions? Also does anyone have any experience with MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston Texas. Below is a summary, I couldn't fit everything in signature...

Male 49
Mass in cecum
8/5/24 Positive Cologuard Test
9/5/24 Colonoscopy
-Removed 13mm pedunculated polyp from rectum
-Postpolypectomy syndrome, had bad reaction for several days after removal
-Found 3cm fungating, carpet-like and polypoid medium-sized mass in cecum by the ileocecal valve
-Mass was non-circumferential, central pitting
-Appears to be likely adenocarcinoma in cecal
9/5/24 abdomen/pelvis CT scan
-A few prominent central mesenteric lymph nodes with adjacent stranding
9/9/24 Pathology report
-Rectum polyp polypectomy
-Tubular adenoma, stalk base free of dysplasia
-Demonstrates adenomatous epithelium with a tubular architecture
-No high grade dysplasia or villous component is identified
-Cecal mass biopsy
-Tubulovillous adenoma fragments with a focus of high grade dysplasia is identified
-Demonstrates adenomatous epithelium with a mixed villous and tubular architecture
9/18/24 Oncologist
-CEA 1.5
-Oncologist thinks cecal mass is possibly stage II or III
10/7/24 Surgery for right hemicolectomy scheduled

[Green Tea]

Howdy y'all,
I'm new to the forum and newly diagnosed with a mass in cecum and referred to surgeon and oncologist, surgery scheduled for right hemicolectomy. It's a little overwhelming and shocking how everything is moving so quickly. I've been thinking about getting a second opinion to confirm surgery and right hemicolectomy is the right path and that there are not less invasive alternatives, especially since right hemicolectomy can be life altering and irreversible. Does anyone have any thoughts or suggestions? Also does anyone have any experience with MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston Texas. Below is a summary, I couldn't fit everything in signature...

Male 49
Mass in cecum
8/5/24 Positive Cologuard Test
9/5/24 Colonoscopy
-Removed 13mm pedunculated polyp from rectum
-Postpolypectomy syndrome, had bad reaction for several days after removal
-Found 3cm fungating, carpet-like and polypoid medium-sized mass in cecum by the ileocecal valve
-Mass was non-circumferential, central pitting
-Appears to be likely adenocarcinoma in cecal
9/5/24 abdomen/pelvis CT scan
-A few prominent central mesenteric lymph nodes with adjacent stranding
9/9/24 Pathology report
-Rectum polyp polypectomy
-Tubular adenoma, stalk base free of dysplasia
-Demonstrates adenomatous epithelium with a tubular architecture
-No high grade dysplasia or villous component is identified
-Cecal mass biopsy
-Tubulovillous adenoma fragments with a focus of high grade dysplasia is identified
-Demonstrates adenomatous epithelium with a mixed villous and tubular architecture
9/18/24 Oncologist
-CEA 1.5
-Oncologist thinks cecal mass is possibly stage II or III
10/7/24 Surgery for right hemicolectomy scheduled

Hi LouWii, and welcome to the forum.

Just a quick reply to highlight the high-risk factors of your caecal mass. To me it looks like possibly Stage III of an aggressive type of tumor, and that you would want to excise that tumor and adjacent lymph nodes soon, and that MDAnderson is one of the best cancer centers in the country for doing this type of procedure.

Possibly more comments later when I get more time ...

[Green Tea]

Another comment: You have a right-side cancer, and this has some serious implications for how to proceed with adjuvant therapy, depending on the mutation status and MSI status of the tumor.

Difference Between Left-Sided and Right-Sided Colorectal Cancer: A Focused Review of Literature
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6089587/
.
Link to a post on "sidedness":
https://coloncancersupport.colonclub.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=67143&p=518372&hilit=sidedness#p518372

[LouWii]

Thank you for the information Green Tea.

MDAnderson doesn’t have any appointments available until mid November, which is probably too long to wait.

Does anyone know of any colorectal surgeon and oncologist recommendations in the Dallas Texas area?

[Green Tea]

Thank you for the information Green Tea.

MDAnderson doesn’t have any appointments available until mid November, which is probably too long to wait.

Does anyone know of any colorectal surgeon and oncologist recommendations in the Dallas Texas area?

You might want to have a look at these possibilities in the Dallas area (click on the links below and scroll down to see the names):

Some Dallas area colorectal surgeons ...

Some Dallas area oncologists...

Some Dallas area gastroenterologists...

But before you select a doctor, be sure to verify that he/she is Board-Certified in their specialty.

How to find a Board-Certified doctor
https://coloncancersupport.colonclub.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=52349&p=410280#p410280

[10christa]

Hi,
I had right hemicolectomy, laparascopic in 2020 I was 52. I had a stage 2a tumor by hepatic flexure. I was in hospital for three days and by third day I was up and I walked out of the hospital. I had and still do, gurgling in my intestines and I developed SIBO, took the breath test to confirm overgrowth of bacteria. As far as major surgeries go it was not too bad at all since I had no complications. Just better to get the tumor out as soon as possible. I hope I helped you somewhat.

[Beckster]

I also had right hemicolectomy, laparascopic in 2016 at the age of 57. I had surgery at 8:00 on a Friday morning and was released by 6:00am on Sunday. I had no problem with the surgery and still no problem 8 years later. I was stage 2a with two high risk factors...LVI and Grade 3. My surgery and oncologist were at MD Anderson at Cooper in Camden NJ. You are in one of the best places! Good Luck!

[LouWii]

Thanks 10christa and Beckster for feedback on your right hemicolectomy experience. Sorry to hear that you developed SIBO, 10christa, I read up on it and the breath test, I've never heard about it, the test is interesting. I hope you're able to manage your symptoms and aren't having to deal with too many problems from it.