Newly Diagnosed Colorectal Cancer

Hi Denise from California. I am sorry to hear you have been diagnosed with colon cancer. Those news are always difficult to assimilate, mainly when you don’t know much about the diagnosis. Hopefully soon yours doctor would be able to give you more detailed diagnosis and plan.
November 21, 2022 my husband was found to have stage IV colon cancer and after all test were done he was recommended to do immunotherapy ( Keytruda) He had the first dose about 2 1/2 weeks ago. He did not have much side effects the first few days, but day 7 he developed fever of 101.9. Blood work was unremarkable. The oncologist thought it could be related to Keytruda, but not sure and recommended observation. The fever went away in the next 24 hours. He continued to have intense fatigue at about 4-5 pm every afternoon, headaches early in the morning, body aches and chills. All symptoms getting better. My concern is that he is getting the second dose in 2 days. Are these typical symptoms of Keytruda? Any patient getting Keytruda in this chat? Any comment is welcome. Happy new year to all of you. Ana.

I guess that a colostomy is not to be feared but I certainly did not want one.
If something is worthy of being dreaded and avoided it should be Chemo. Just my opinion.
My discovery of sigmoid colon cancer lead to resection surgery within 10 weeks. Jokingly, I told my doctor, "I better not wake up with a bag"!
Surgery was good without any problems during or afterwards. Cancer was found in one lymph node.
Later scans showed a lung Nodule that was suspicious.
So 7 weeks after colon surgery I had lung wedge resection surgery.
Both doctors expressed a certainty that all cancer had been removed during each surgery.
And based on that, I was surprised to be referred to Oncology for chemo.
I fell back on what my two great doctors believed and I graciously said "no thanks" to chemo, radiation and pills.
Now 6 months later since colon surgery and 4 months since lung surgery, I feel as great as I ever did with no problem or pain.
Had a 6 month followup with CT SCAN last week and nothing remarkable was found anywhere.
At 72 years old and in my favor was overall good health with no prior medical history, average weight, no high cholesterol or blood pressure, no diabetes, etc.
Chemo or radiation before surgery was never mentioned to me. Straight to surgery and doctor did not see me as a candidate for a colostomy bag based on my colon tumor location. I think that he also possessed great confidence in his own abilities with these surgeries and was comfortable in making predictions. Dr. Thekkeurumbil in Indianapolis is the best !!

Hello,
My dad (68) has recently been diagnosed with colon cancer. His doctor found a 7x9 cms tumor in his transverse colon, had it biopsied and it was classified as malignant. He will have surgery next week, and doctor said he may need chemo.
All other organs don't show spread, so that make me feel better, but at the same time I am so scared.
I would like to educate myself about colon cancer.
thank you, Soa.

Hi Denise,
Stage 3 rectal cancer from Australia, diagnosed 6 weeks ago with some lymph node involvement. My treatment regime is very different with surgery being the last resort. I start concurrent radiation/chemo at the end of this month. My understanding is that because my tumour (SCC 5.8cm) is sitting on my anal sphincter, surgery would mean loss of rectum and permanent Colostomy. My primary treatment is radiation with supporting chemo, apparently very effective with this type of cancer. My oncologist explained that most other cancers of the bowel are a different type (adenocarcinomas I think) where the primary treatment is surgery with either pre or post chemo/radiation. I wanted surgery because I just wanted it out the quickest way . It is a horrible time of fear and uncertainty, but gather your knowledge, ask the questions no matter how silly they may seem, and trust they know what they're doing as they've done this many times before. It is hard to prepare, but one day at a time has helped me cope. Because my tumour is so low and sitting against my coccyx, I get pain on sitting , so I bought a ring/doughnut cushion to help me survive the endless waiting room appointments. I have my radiation planning day today . It sounds like you are in the early stages which is great, but certainly one of the greatest challenges of life. This group has helped me immensely & I hope you continue to share your journey.

anapere123 unfortunately KEYTRUDE or pembro we nicknamed it in the U.K. i Noticed despite the side affects thst we are given on paper. There still ate many many more that come under very rare. Now I never bothered myself but I do know which one of the immunstherpy drugs you choose they walk
Come with some horrific side effects. I have a friend she was terminal lung cancer she told me her oncologist had given her the latest drug keytruuude I have to be honest I said no that’s not a new latest drug. Then I stopped as I remembered I ask based at a Hodpitsl that fo lots of trial drugs. One we have another drug from a diffract country it then as go go for a further 5 years in trials before the drug is released to the Genral public, our drug criteria is second to none. We would not allow some things that are allowed in their own country we must be one of the strictest countries in the world. We have much much tighter laws in England before anything can be approved. I remember the trials for KEYTRUDE were not far off taking place. What I am trying to say if someone had, had a reaction like your husband had. Unless they could find it and know what it was. Under no circumstances would he have been able to continue with the trial drug keytrude not a cst in hells chance would he have been allowed to continue with it. They just will not take that chance in the U.K. if they found out what had caused it abd if it was linked to the drug., he would still be taken out of trials but the tests they wiukd have tun on him literally Be 100s especially as he starts to get so tired at the same time every day with such bad headaches. Fury thing they would do Is do a brain scan to make sure. Can I ask as he had a brain scan. If not then I would defiantly get one booked. I am shocked to learn they would not have done one as a matter of routine… I know my friend went through horrific side effects from KEYTRUDE but she persevered for the two years. It was shrinking her tumours fast but as one was shrinking another one was coming up in her lungs. Colon, ovvarys legs she got lots of Lumps there in her groun poor Jenny she was diagnosed with none small
Cell cancer. But something was making her cancer change as one was being killed the ones that popped up after. She was so dare. Because they were popping up a small cell lung cancer.. as well as no small cell lung cancers. Then sone cane popping up as a sarcoma all together she was really unique and treatment was making her cancers to change. And further nore she had 4 different types of cancer in her body. But bless her. Aas she knows 2 are fast growing. But an elderly lady saud to my mum but don’t tell me we are going to meet up. The fatigue hits everyone no two people can actually have killed Kyle by now. It’s all he ever thought that he sees shouting at someone. All I can say is just see how he his this next time. But do get them to hurry because I am definstky not sure I would wangle to stop in that treatments. Until they knew what it was. A temperature over 100 degrees fare hight is dangerous bey very well I know . I suddenly went into the freezer when it’s gone off. Unfortunately I went into a coma from the drug. Youf hearing us defiantly the last to go as i saud I was in a come. But I had remembered that a Macmillan nurses was waiting and I had to get my son to actully pick me up and put me into the chair. No way could I stop in that drigbzx not it’s and bits…. Tell him to go with a far over mexzcbb

Hi, curt here. just found out myself. on friday i was fine, then a 8 day wait (and a CT) ...cancer , diagnosis. am waiting to hear what they have in store for me, and scared s*&%tless. you might get a kick out of this... I'm more afraid of losing my hair ( I have 4 beautiful feet of it!) than other ramifications of my condition.

I can only cite my experiences - stage 3C colon cancer - removed the entire colon and 108 lymph nodes. Mine was found after a positive Cologuard test and subsequent colonoscopy during which they took a bunch of samples for biopsies. Cancer was confirmed and a month later had surgery robotic-assisted laparoscopic. The surgery was actually fairly easy - in my case they connected the small intestine to the rectum - thus no colostomy. CT scans showed a dozen or so "suspicious things" ranging from unknown spots on my lungs, nodules in my thyroid, kidney cysts and liver cysts. I underwent a 12 cycle regiment of FOLFOX6 chemo over a period of 8 months - several pauses were necessary and removing the oxaliplatin part of the regimen was done due to side effects. I didn't have any radiation. Chemo is particularly hard on the nervous system - loss of taste, numbness/tingling of lips/throat are common, neuropathy in fingers, hands and feet are also common.

Scans over time proved the other suspicious spots were not changing and thus are neither cancerous nor dangerous.

Fast forward to where I'm at now nearly two years post chemo. It takes months to recover fully from the side-effects of the chemo - my were mainly nervous system related. Had the chemo port removed late last week - chemo is too strong to go in arm or hand - so they install a port which enters the large vein going into the heart. That sounds much worse and risky than it really is.

Anyway, I'm cancer free at this time - I have blood work and scans every 6 months to detect any new cancer per the protocol. Very thankful.

It was difficult to get through the chemo - one day at a time, one foot after another. I can say that the experience strengthened my faith and has made me a better person.

Net: colon cancer is very scary, but it also is not a death sentence. It can be successfully treated. The treatment is like running a marathon, not a sprint. It's a day by day effort. It requires a lot of patience with yourself, but at the same time a lot of will and insistence, perhaps even stubbornness to push through it. Having a solid support system surrounding the person (such as a community of faith) is helpful as well.

I hope this helps and is an encouragement to you and your mom.

My best wishes to you.