Diagnosed with Ovarian and Colon Cancer

The doctor has made a decision regarding my mother's Stage 4 Colon Cancer. He advised focusing on addressing this area rather than Ovarian Cancer, as it is the source of the issue in the ovaries. My mother will undergo chemotherapy as soon as possible to slow down the cancer. Let's continue to include my mother in our prayers for her success in overcoming chemotherapy. Due to her Stage 4 condition, surgery is no longer an option, according to the doctor. Please join us in supporting my mother on her journey to fight against cancer. Through collective prayer, there is a possibility of extending my mother's life.

Of course we'll keep your mother in our prayers. But good medical care is important too. It's not clear from your posts what the evidence is that the ovarian tumor is derived from the colon cancer. Have they done biopsies on both tumors? Are there other tumors besides these two on PET or CT scan?

Both biopsy results, including the Colon and Ovarian biopsies, indicated malignancy. The Colon biopsy revealed well-differentiated malignant epithelial cells with pleomorphism, hyperchromaticity, and increased nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio. The Ovarian biopsy was classified as malignant according to IOTA simple rules and ADNEX model, with a 96.9% risk of malignancy, highlighting the highest risk for stage II-IV ovarian cancer.

I just looked it up, and the IOTA simple rules and the ADNEX model are for interpreting ultrasounds. So if that's all they have, then they didn't do a biopsy of the ovary. And if "stage II-IV ovarian cancer" is their wording, that would imply that the ovarian tumor is not a metastasis from the colon tumor.

Knowing whether the tumors are the same or different is important because if the colon and ovarian tumors are completely independent ("synchronous primaries" is the medical term), that's better than if one is a metastasis from the other one. If there only are the two tumors, and they're completely independent, then it would make sense to have surgery to remove both. Also, they use different types of chemo for colon and ovarian tumors.

Is it possible for your mother to get a second opinion?

Prayers for your mother

Thank you.

Thank you for your insightful message and concern. You're absolutely correct that no biopsy has been performed yet, and we've solely relied on the ultrasound results. Following the colonoscopy biopsy, our oncologist diagnosed my mother with stage 4 cancer and advised against surgery. We've been referred to another doctor for chemotherapy supervision, but the financial strain is overwhelming.

Given my mother's weak physical state and the potential side effects of chemotherapy, we're grappling with whether to proceed. At 72, she's already struggling with discomfort and requires medication just to ease her condition. We're deeply torn and seeking guidance on the best course of action moving forward. Your advice would be greatly appreciated during this challenging time.

I'm so sorry to hear that your mother is not doing well and that the treatment is also a financial burden. I think that letting your mother make her own choices about treatment and making sure that she is as comfortable as possible are the most important things. There may not be a best choice. Or rather, you have to believe that the best choice is the one that your family chooses.

Getting a second opinion is never a bad choice.
It's a really great choice if it comes from a source of proven reliability and referral.
I have to believe that at 72 and a weakened health condition overall, surgery would be a better tolerated event vs. chemotherapy.
In fact, recovery from a surgery over time is expected.
Months of a chemo regimen can be debilitating as side effects can be intolerable and often regretted.
Regardless of how these decisions are made, this lady has to have support from family and given the final say.
Respect her wishes, keep her comfortable and there will be no regrets.
Paul

Hi - what a difficult road. I’m so sorry. I do want to make sure that your mom was tested for Lynch Syndrome – an inherited genetic predisposition to cancer. Both ovarian and colon cancers are common. Please find out from her doctor whether she was tested or not. She may not have it, but she should definitely be tested. If she does have it, her children, each have a 50% chance of inheriting it. (I have it and so do both of my children. We are screened regularly to catch anything early.)