Colorectal cancer Surgery: Watch and Wait

Hi 🙂 I am sorry about her diagnosis ❤️ I had stage 3c pT4aN2b pMMR Right side colon cancer in August of 2023. 43 nodes taken 8 were infected with it going into my peritonium. I had resection surgery and then 12 rounds of Folfox, could only handle 2 rounds with oxaliplatin due to allergic reaction. Then we did wait and see with CT scans every 3 months, which at one point showed some nodule growth in my lungs so we switched to 6 weeks to see if they continued. However the CT scans did not go low enough and we found 8 months later (November 2024)I had a growth in my vaginal cuff ( hysterectomy closure). I am now on Folfiri, had radiation to stop bleeding in vaginal area, and will be adding Avastin.

I would say wait and see is a good idea, if she did not have right side colon cancer. I would be cautiously optimistic knowing they should be taking Full body CT or PET scans every 6 to 8 weeks. If it was in her lymphatic system it really is a guessing game because as it was described to me is the lymphatic system is like a thruway with an easy pass. Once it gets on the thruway it could go anywhere. Its not necessarily if it will come back, but when. If she has left sided colon its worth running a deeper test on the biopsy taken for markers to see if immunotherapy would work. Right sided however is super aggressive and it didn’t qualify me. Keep us updated yes? I will add her to my prayers!!! There is always hope! Have faith. I believe thru Christ all things are possible. If you are a believer you know this. If not I hope one day you will. ❤️

I had 2 chemo treatments and did not do well My body couldn’t handle so went off had no radiation I had 3 surgeries in 2 years after well from last one I take xeloda which has done well so far Has shrunk my nodules so far Been on for 5 months

I had short course radiation followed by 5 rounds of oxiplatin injections, between injections I took capcitabine pills

Would you mind providing details of your chemo and radiation treatments? Thanks

My first recent biopsy wasn’t able to get to liver lesion or other spot. Total waste. Went in for another one with different doctor. This is for recurrent colon cancer with metastasis to liver and omentus. Second doctor invented what he called a bowl. He designed it and printed it out on a 3d printer. I think it sort of flattens the area so it is easier to get to. It has holes inside the bowl for getting needle in. He was able to get samples of both area.

Well, the “procedure” was supposed to be a surgical biopsy requiring anesthesia. In recovery, patient is told “no biopsies were done” because surgeon could not “get in far enough.”
Next step, look at PET scans to “determine” if the surgical biopsy is “tried again.” ?

Muchas Gracias, seguimos conectados.

How unsettling. @kiva. I moved your question to your original discussion to keep you connected with @daledales and to also bring in @jalamc into this discussion.

- Colorectal cancer Surgery: Watch and Wait https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/colorectal-cancer-surgery-watch-and-wait/

I cannot venture a guess as to what "far enough" means. I would continue to get clarification from your surgeon. How was the biopsy done - during a colonscopy?

After 8 weeks following a first biopsy, the surgeon is running all tests again. After being put under anesthesia for a second surgical biopsy, surgeon says he was “unable to get in far enough” to perform the biopsies. So we are waiting for the other test results like PET, MRI, etc.
The question, what what cause the difficulty for a surgeon getting in “far enough” for this surgical procedure?

I’m unsure. The surgery is so life altering.
One could have the surgery and a cancer cell could still pop up somewhere.
The fear is waiting and if cancer spreads, there may not be a surgery choice.
The T4b is said to be scar tissue.
Yes, a second opinion would be helpful perhaps. But the surgeon and team have been great and there’s a strong trust for the surgeon.
Thank you for the response!