Help to reconstruct my life and body due to 2 types of cancer.

Posted by starrlight @starrlight, Feb 11, 2017

i have two types of cancer Brst and rectal tumor, have been receiving treatment for the Brst not for rectal, i have been unable to find a surgeon for the tumor in this area. i turned to Mayo Clinic once again a couple of days ago and see they have 3 surgeons that practice less invasive surgery for this issue instead of putting the bag on which is a very serious operation and i could not survive it nor would i want to. i am praying that one of these surgeons can help me as this is my last option and believe we should continue to search for what is best for our bodies as we all have different levels of strength and only we know that and the Dr's who have the knowledge and i trust Mayo Clinic as they are rated no 1 in the country. As far as the Brst. Canc. i am being put on Ibrance within the next week or so and there is not to much the clinic here can help me with however perhaps Mayo Clinic can and will.

Would love to hear from anyone who is or has gone through anything like the above, i had 24sessions of radiation for the rectal tumor in 2015 rec'd third degree burn which was horrible and have side affects today from that. Have heard of the Proton Radiation at Mayo in AZ. as they were going to build a bldg. just for that and have read about good results from other clinics as they target just the tumor and not anything else.

Apologies for the long explanation above however had no-one really to talk to about my feelings, have been told one thing from my Dr. and another from my Canc nurse as to what the drugs are that i am taking for the Brst Canc, so want to go to Mayo Clinic so they can help me to reconstruct my life and body, nutrition etc.

Thank you for reading this and hope to hear from you, i do believe in our Heavenly Father otherwise would not have been directed to this connect today from Colleen of Mayo Clinic, thank you Colleen.

Would love to hear from you.

Starrlight.

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

@colleenyoung

Welcome to Connect, @starrlight. I'm glad you joined us. What a lovely username you chose.

Thank you for the details of your journey thus far. It helps me to be able to connect you to other members who can relate. I'd like to introduce you first to @travelgirl who was also diagnosed with 2 different cancers: lymphoma and cecum (colorectal) cancer. Please also meet @joannem @user_cha5e73f6 @brucey1 and @soul who have experience with colorectal surgery and colostomy, either themselves or a loved one. Then there's @sbee and @hopeful33250 who both have had an Endoscopic Mucosal Resection (EMR)

Starrlight, have you already called Mayo Clinic? If not, here are the contact numbers, including for Arizona http://mayocl.in/1mtmR63
What are the less invasive surgical options you're interested in learning more about?

Jump to this post

Hi travelgirl,Wow what a testimony you have on Mayo Connect, so your surgery was less invasive and no bag which i will not have.I am alone my daughter lives in W VA and unable to come here to offer support, not sure how to go to Mayo as do not drive  that far which is about 2hrs. from where i live. i do know that the Canc Society has a House for Canc patients  in AZ like the McDonald house for children, cannot remember the name right now.  Have had the runaround on this canc. because i waited to long in going to Dr. i thought i was healing the Brst Canc via healthy living and methods, it did not work for me the tumor got out of control.  The rectal tumor do not know how long i have had it, they found a mass in 2015 through colonoscopy and that Dr. gave me two different diagnosis, he removed two polyps which he wrote as canc. then called me in person the next day and said the biopsy was negative no canc. so i did not think much more about it then continue to have loose bowel so went to a MD. surgeon here who was so negative that i felt i had no help at all and there is not colon surgeons where i live.  I truly pray that someone where i live will come into my life as a support person to go to Mayo, i have always taken care of myself however am tired now.  I have other medical issues however will not discuss as this is about Canc.Have a Wonderful Day and thanks again for the great Testimony.starrlight

REPLY
@colleenyoung

Welcome to Connect, @starrlight. I'm glad you joined us. What a lovely username you chose.

Thank you for the details of your journey thus far. It helps me to be able to connect you to other members who can relate. I'd like to introduce you first to @travelgirl who was also diagnosed with 2 different cancers: lymphoma and cecum (colorectal) cancer. Please also meet @joannem @user_cha5e73f6 @brucey1 and @soul who have experience with colorectal surgery and colostomy, either themselves or a loved one. Then there's @sbee and @hopeful33250 who both have had an Endoscopic Mucosal Resection (EMR)

Starrlight, have you already called Mayo Clinic? If not, here are the contact numbers, including for Arizona http://mayocl.in/1mtmR63
What are the less invasive surgical options you're interested in learning more about?

Jump to this post

@starrlight..Please contact the American Cancer Society and a local cancer support group. The American cancer society offers free rides for cancer patients. You can also contact Mayo clinic. They may know of a local transportation company in your that takes people to their facility. But for certain the American society does have a servive that takes you too your cancer appountments.
Mayo may correct your other issues too. So please give them all your medical details.

REPLY
@hopeful33250

Hello @starrlight I'm so glad that you joined us at Mayo Connect. I joined last year after I was diagnosed with my third carcinoid cancer. This online patient support group has been wonderful. I so admire the steps you are taking to get the best medical help you can have and I admire your decision to go to Mayo. I also searched for the least invasive surgery that was possible and found it at Univ. of Michigan near where I live. Please keep in touch with us and let us know you are doing. Best wishes, Teresa

Jump to this post

Hi @starrlight. I've had three surgeries for the carcinoid cancer and the first two were very invasive major surgeries with hospital stays of 7 - 8 days.. The last one, however, was done with as an endoscopy procedure and as an outpatient. Much better! I'm doing OK now and I'm grateful for each day. Continued best wishes and please keep in touch as let us know how you are doing.

REPLY
@colleenyoung

Welcome to Connect, @starrlight. I'm glad you joined us. What a lovely username you chose.

Thank you for the details of your journey thus far. It helps me to be able to connect you to other members who can relate. I'd like to introduce you first to @travelgirl who was also diagnosed with 2 different cancers: lymphoma and cecum (colorectal) cancer. Please also meet @joannem @user_cha5e73f6 @brucey1 and @soul who have experience with colorectal surgery and colostomy, either themselves or a loved one. Then there's @sbee and @hopeful33250 who both have had an Endoscopic Mucosal Resection (EMR)

Starrlight, have you already called Mayo Clinic? If not, here are the contact numbers, including for Arizona http://mayocl.in/1mtmR63
What are the less invasive surgical options you're interested in learning more about?

Jump to this post

Hi travelgirl,Truly curious when they removed the foot of colon and lymph nodes what did they do after that, reconstruct or???i am in my mid 70's and my body has been through many serious maladies during these yrs. Hopefully you had support during this ordeal.  Hope you had a nice day today.Starrlight

REPLY
@colleenyoung

Welcome to Connect, @starrlight. I'm glad you joined us. What a lovely username you chose.

Thank you for the details of your journey thus far. It helps me to be able to connect you to other members who can relate. I'd like to introduce you first to @travelgirl who was also diagnosed with 2 different cancers: lymphoma and cecum (colorectal) cancer. Please also meet @joannem @user_cha5e73f6 @brucey1 and @soul who have experience with colorectal surgery and colostomy, either themselves or a loved one. Then there's @sbee and @hopeful33250 who both have had an Endoscopic Mucosal Resection (EMR)

Starrlight, have you already called Mayo Clinic? If not, here are the contact numbers, including for Arizona http://mayocl.in/1mtmR63
What are the less invasive surgical options you're interested in learning more about?

Jump to this post

@starlight. I had my surgery 13 months ago. They reattached the small intestine to the large intestine. They used Titanium staples. I went into the hospital on Monday and went home on Saturday. It was a stage 1 Cecum cancer. Since my lymph nodes were clear and clean there are no other treatments needed. Just a CEA blood test and Ct scans for 2 yrs. Once a year for now on, I need to have Colonoscopy. I am what they call a Polyp Farmer. So I need to be checked yearly. My body seriously adjusted just fine. There were mostly people your age having the same thing done. As a matter of fact they handled the surgery better than me. They went home, most of them in 3 days. I took 5 days to get adjusted to the new plumbing in my body. I can eat most everything but Dairy now. Dairy is harder to digest, but then again, I always had an issue eating dairy..

REPLY
@colleenyoung

Welcome to Connect, @starrlight. I'm glad you joined us. What a lovely username you chose.

Thank you for the details of your journey thus far. It helps me to be able to connect you to other members who can relate. I'd like to introduce you first to @travelgirl who was also diagnosed with 2 different cancers: lymphoma and cecum (colorectal) cancer. Please also meet @joannem @user_cha5e73f6 @brucey1 and @soul who have experience with colorectal surgery and colostomy, either themselves or a loved one. Then there's @sbee and @hopeful33250 who both have had an Endoscopic Mucosal Resection (EMR)

Starrlight, have you already called Mayo Clinic? If not, here are the contact numbers, including for Arizona http://mayocl.in/1mtmR63
What are the less invasive surgical options you're interested in learning more about?

Jump to this post

Welcome back @soul. Such great news about your Mom. Enjoy your visit and send greetings from the members of Mayo Clinic Connect 🙂

REPLY
@colleenyoung

Welcome to Connect, @starrlight. I'm glad you joined us. What a lovely username you chose.

Thank you for the details of your journey thus far. It helps me to be able to connect you to other members who can relate. I'd like to introduce you first to @travelgirl who was also diagnosed with 2 different cancers: lymphoma and cecum (colorectal) cancer. Please also meet @joannem @user_cha5e73f6 @brucey1 and @soul who have experience with colorectal surgery and colostomy, either themselves or a loved one. Then there's @sbee and @hopeful33250 who both have had an Endoscopic Mucosal Resection (EMR)

Starrlight, have you already called Mayo Clinic? If not, here are the contact numbers, including for Arizona http://mayocl.in/1mtmR63
What are the less invasive surgical options you're interested in learning more about?

Jump to this post

@starrlight, I, too, am encouraged by the conversation you've ignited here on Connect. I'm not a cancer patient, thankfully. But I was a caregiver to my father who had colorectal cancer. I am watching this discussion with interest.

REPLY
@colleenyoung

Welcome to Connect, @starrlight. I'm glad you joined us. What a lovely username you chose.

Thank you for the details of your journey thus far. It helps me to be able to connect you to other members who can relate. I'd like to introduce you first to @travelgirl who was also diagnosed with 2 different cancers: lymphoma and cecum (colorectal) cancer. Please also meet @joannem @user_cha5e73f6 @brucey1 and @soul who have experience with colorectal surgery and colostomy, either themselves or a loved one. Then there's @sbee and @hopeful33250 who both have had an Endoscopic Mucosal Resection (EMR)

Starrlight, have you already called Mayo Clinic? If not, here are the contact numbers, including for Arizona http://mayocl.in/1mtmR63
What are the less invasive surgical options you're interested in learning more about?

Jump to this post

Thank you Colleen, I will convey the message from Mayo Clinic to my Mom. Many thanks again.Soul

REPLY
@colleenyoung

Welcome to Connect, @starrlight. I'm glad you joined us. What a lovely username you chose.

Thank you for the details of your journey thus far. It helps me to be able to connect you to other members who can relate. I'd like to introduce you first to @travelgirl who was also diagnosed with 2 different cancers: lymphoma and cecum (colorectal) cancer. Please also meet @joannem @user_cha5e73f6 @brucey1 and @soul who have experience with colorectal surgery and colostomy, either themselves or a loved one. Then there's @sbee and @hopeful33250 who both have had an Endoscopic Mucosal Resection (EMR)

Starrlight, have you already called Mayo Clinic? If not, here are the contact numbers, including for Arizona http://mayocl.in/1mtmR63
What are the less invasive surgical options you're interested in learning more about?

Jump to this post

Thank you i did try American Canc Society last yr was going to stay in a motel however that fell through the Canc Society was going to pay for the motel and transportation to the surgeon, something happened here where i live and had to cancel, finally went later in yr. however with canc care, have not contacted Mayo yet felt under the weather today and just not up to it, thank you for your concern.  Hopefully Mayo will be able to help as this is my last hope for this issue. there was a canc. group here however they have quit and really not like Mayo Connect at all.Hope your day has been great.Starrlight

REPLY
@colleenyoung

Welcome to Connect, @starrlight. I'm glad you joined us. What a lovely username you chose.

Thank you for the details of your journey thus far. It helps me to be able to connect you to other members who can relate. I'd like to introduce you first to @travelgirl who was also diagnosed with 2 different cancers: lymphoma and cecum (colorectal) cancer. Please also meet @joannem @user_cha5e73f6 @brucey1 and @soul who have experience with colorectal surgery and colostomy, either themselves or a loved one. Then there's @sbee and @hopeful33250 who both have had an Endoscopic Mucosal Resection (EMR)

Starrlight, have you already called Mayo Clinic? If not, here are the contact numbers, including for Arizona http://mayocl.in/1mtmR63
What are the less invasive surgical options you're interested in learning more about?

Jump to this post

So glad you are doing so well, the tumor i have was first diagnosed as a mass when i had a colonoscopy in 2015, surgeon found 2 polyps removed them, reported on paper canc. next day called said benign, however he was concerned about a mass in rectum, and that is how it is today after a very neg. surgeon was sent to here who was an MD. not a specialist, then last oct went to a specialist in this field, they both said a bag, i do not feel i can take a major surgery now nor do i want to live with the bag so i keep looking for a less invasive procedure which Mayo has, and hopefully they can help with the brst canc. as well as going nowhere with it, just different things from diff people where i go including the Dr. and nurse.  hopefully haven't bored you with all of this and hope you are doing great.Starrlight

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.