1. < Colorectal Cancer

Rectal Cancer - Hospital Recommendation

Posted by mrt2024 @mrt2024, Mar 10 4:11pm

Hi everyone.

Unfortunately, my father has recently been diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer, and we are seeking recommendations for hospitals and oncologists in the Virginia area.

We are currently considering options such as the University of Virginia (UVA), VHC Health (a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network), and other institutions. If you have experience with hospitals or oncologists in Virginia, particularly regarding their treatment approaches for stage 3 colorectal cancer, we would greatly appreciate your insights and recommendations.

Our priority is to ensure that my father receives the best possible care and support during this challenging time. Your advice and personal experiences will be invaluable to us as we explore our options and make informed decisions.

Thank you for your assistance.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Colorectal Cancer Support Group.

verol65 | @verol65 | Mar 16 6:55pm
In reply to @mrt2024 "Update After Urologist Visit Got back from Dad's appointment with the urologist. They've decided to schedule..." + (show)
@mrt2024

Update After Urologist Visit

Got back from Dad's appointment with the urologist. They've decided to schedule his kidney surgery soon. It will be robotic (da Vinci) surgery. During the discussion, the urologist explained that the mass lacks clear boundaries, indicating a 50%-60% likelihood of radical surgery. However, she assured us that she will strive to perform a partial surgery if feasible.

Given my father's high blood pressure and the potential side effects of subsequent chemotherapy for rectal cancer, there is a consideration of the worst-case scenario, which could mean he might need dialysis. I don't want to think about it right now. I believe the medical team will closely monitor and adjust the treatment plan accordingly.

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Wishing the best for the surgery. Do you have a date yet?

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1 reply
mrt2024 | @mrt2024 | Mar 16 9:47pm
In reply to @verol65 "Wishing the best for the surgery. Do you have a date yet?" + (show)
@verol65

Wishing the best for the surgery. Do you have a date yet?

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Thank you. It is going to be on 25th of March.

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1 reply
verol65 | @verol65 | Mar 17 8:20pm
In reply to @mrt2024 "Thank you. It is going to be on 25th of March." + (show)
@mrt2024

Thank you. It is going to be on 25th of March.

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I'll be thinking of you, hoping all goes well.

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1 reply
mrt2024 | @mrt2024 | Mar 17 8:52pm
In reply to @verol65 "I'll be thinking of you, hoping all goes well." + (show)
@verol65

I'll be thinking of you, hoping all goes well.

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Your well wishes mean a lot to us. Thank you!

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lucas3 | @lucas3 | Mar 17 9:19pm

3 months had colon cancer operation. Urinate dark red blood every time. Now doctors suspect. Colorectal cancer with bladder invasion. Very short time life prognosis. Can anyone help me?

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2 replies
mrt2024 | @mrt2024 | Mar 18 4:10pm
In reply to @lucas3 "3 months had colon cancer operation. Urinate dark red blood every time. Now doctors suspect. Colorectal..." + (show)
@lucas3

3 months had colon cancer operation. Urinate dark red blood every time. Now doctors suspect. Colorectal cancer with bladder invasion. Very short time life prognosis. Can anyone help me?

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Please stay strong, and lean on those who care about you. Sending support and hope your way. I've heard countless stories of individuals defying the odds, surpassing expectations, and living long, fulfilling lives despite daunting prognoses. Don't let statistics intimidate you. You possess the strength and resilience to overcome this. You could very well be one of those remarkable individuals who triumph over cancer. Keep believing in yourself and your ability to conquer this challenge.

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Mar 22 10:02am
In reply to @lucas3 "3 months had colon cancer operation. Urinate dark red blood every time. Now doctors suspect. Colorectal..." + (show)
@lucas3

3 months had colon cancer operation. Urinate dark red blood every time. Now doctors suspect. Colorectal cancer with bladder invasion. Very short time life prognosis. Can anyone help me?

Jump to this post

Welcome @lucas3. There are treatment options for colorectal cancer with bladder invasion, for example surgeries like bladder-sparing resection or total pelvic exenteration (TPE).

Has you doctor confirmed that you have bladder invasion? What options are suitable for you?

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mrt2024 | @mrt2024 | Apr 3 2:22pm

Kidney surgery went well. My father was discharged the next day, but we had to return to the ER due to vomiting and bowel movement issues. We stayed at the hospital for a few more days. Everything is fine so far.

Yesterday, we met with a radiologist oncologist, which was a bit confusing. He presented us with some treatment options:

Undergo radiotherapy first to increase the chance of avoiding surgery (complete response) for rectal cancer. In this case, he will receive an additional 2 weeks of radiotherapy.
Undergo chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy first, followed by surgery. There is still a chance for a complete response, but it's lower than with the first option.
The radiologist oncologist emphasized that surgery remains the gold standard even in cases of complete response. Not undergoing surgery requires close monitoring every 3 months.

I asked him about the pros and cons of starting with chemotherapy or radiotherapy first, apart from the benefits of surgery. He stated that there is no difference in the cure rate; it remains the same. Then, my sister asked him what he would recommend if the patient were his father. He replied that he would start with chemotherapy.

I couldn't understand why he would choose chemotherapy first if there is no difference in the cure rate between the two approaches, especially considering the additional benefit of radiotherapy. Maybe I missed something. He said we could start radiotherapy earlier than chemotherapy because radiotherapy doesn't affect the kidney. It doesn't require much more healing time after kidney surgery. This seems a benefit, but he never emphasized this when he compared those two options.

We haven't made a decision yet. We are scheduled to meet with the medical oncologist next week, and I want to hear his perspective.

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2 replies
verol65 | @verol65 | Apr 4 12:49pm
In reply to @mrt2024 "Kidney surgery went well. My father was discharged the next day, but we had to return..." + (show)
@mrt2024

Kidney surgery went well. My father was discharged the next day, but we had to return to the ER due to vomiting and bowel movement issues. We stayed at the hospital for a few more days. Everything is fine so far.

Yesterday, we met with a radiologist oncologist, which was a bit confusing. He presented us with some treatment options:

Undergo radiotherapy first to increase the chance of avoiding surgery (complete response) for rectal cancer. In this case, he will receive an additional 2 weeks of radiotherapy.
Undergo chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy first, followed by surgery. There is still a chance for a complete response, but it's lower than with the first option.
The radiologist oncologist emphasized that surgery remains the gold standard even in cases of complete response. Not undergoing surgery requires close monitoring every 3 months.

I asked him about the pros and cons of starting with chemotherapy or radiotherapy first, apart from the benefits of surgery. He stated that there is no difference in the cure rate; it remains the same. Then, my sister asked him what he would recommend if the patient were his father. He replied that he would start with chemotherapy.

I couldn't understand why he would choose chemotherapy first if there is no difference in the cure rate between the two approaches, especially considering the additional benefit of radiotherapy. Maybe I missed something. He said we could start radiotherapy earlier than chemotherapy because radiotherapy doesn't affect the kidney. It doesn't require much more healing time after kidney surgery. This seems a benefit, but he never emphasized this when he compared those two options.

We haven't made a decision yet. We are scheduled to meet with the medical oncologist next week, and I want to hear his perspective.

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Glad to hear your dad's surgery went well, @mrt2024 , and that the vomiting an BM issues are over.

How complicated to make a decision when you're getting what seems to be contradicting information. I hope the oncologist will be able to give you a clearer panorama of your options.

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paul28 | @paul28 | Apr 4 11:02pm
In reply to @mrt2024 "Kidney surgery went well. My father was discharged the next day, but we had to return..." + (show)
@mrt2024

Kidney surgery went well. My father was discharged the next day, but we had to return to the ER due to vomiting and bowel movement issues. We stayed at the hospital for a few more days. Everything is fine so far.

Yesterday, we met with a radiologist oncologist, which was a bit confusing. He presented us with some treatment options:

Undergo radiotherapy first to increase the chance of avoiding surgery (complete response) for rectal cancer. In this case, he will receive an additional 2 weeks of radiotherapy.
Undergo chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy first, followed by surgery. There is still a chance for a complete response, but it's lower than with the first option.
The radiologist oncologist emphasized that surgery remains the gold standard even in cases of complete response. Not undergoing surgery requires close monitoring every 3 months.

I asked him about the pros and cons of starting with chemotherapy or radiotherapy first, apart from the benefits of surgery. He stated that there is no difference in the cure rate; it remains the same. Then, my sister asked him what he would recommend if the patient were his father. He replied that he would start with chemotherapy.

I couldn't understand why he would choose chemotherapy first if there is no difference in the cure rate between the two approaches, especially considering the additional benefit of radiotherapy. Maybe I missed something. He said we could start radiotherapy earlier than chemotherapy because radiotherapy doesn't affect the kidney. It doesn't require much more healing time after kidney surgery. This seems a benefit, but he never emphasized this when he compared those two options.

We haven't made a decision yet. We are scheduled to meet with the medical oncologist next week, and I want to hear his perspective.

Jump to this post

In discussions of cancer, so many begin or end their comments saying that, "we will see what the Oncologist has to say".
It is entirely predictable what the Oncologist is going to say!
One famously said to me, and smiling, "We need to get you in here and get you hooked up!"

Why have chemo and/or radiation
before a surgery .... ? You will still need the surgery and be scheduled for chemo after the surgery!
Paul

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