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Just diagnosed: Surgery not an option, looking for hope
Went in for my first colonoscopy in December, F age 58. Had negative Cologuards for the last 4 or 5 years. My PCP gave me a FIT test in September which came back positive. Colonoscopy revealed a rectal mass (close to the sigmoid colon junction) she said was typical cancer presentation. Had some abdominal pain and went to ER. PET scan found mets to liver and both lungs, stage IV. Colorectal surgeon told me that surgery, "would not benefit me." Oncologist gave me 2 to 3 years prognosis, said treatment would be palliative and not curative, and surgery, "would never be an option." Started FOLFOX + Mvasi in January; just finished my 2nd round. CEA was initially 58, and is now 46, so that is good news I think. Don't really have a question, just looking for some hope from the stories of other people.
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Folfox was very effective for my mother and side effects not too bad. Best wishes to you!!
I am so thankful that I live alone. No one else would ever get to use the bathroom! Lol 😆
PAUL
My prayers for your brother and you. Please keep us updated. I wish there was something I could do to help.
He had to go to the ER yesterday with severe dehydration. Things are happening so fast and he's so sick he can't really get to another doctor at the moment. They are putting a bag on him today. He is in the hospital now.
Thank you for your comment. Yes he has the port. He had to go to the ER yesterday for severe dehydration. It was too painful for him to eat or drink anything for a while so he ended up this way. They are now putting in a bag so he won't have to eliminate through his large intestine.
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1 ReactionI agree with Paul, this seems backward. I had a tumor in my colon, the pain was unbearable towards the end. (while waiting for surgery) I was going to the bathroom about 15 times a day, and the toilet looked like a murder scene. When I got a CT scan I was shocked to see that I had a lot of stool backed up. That was from the tumor not allowing everything to pass. After my surgery (very successful) I had 6 rounds of Folfox chemo. Did your Brother get a mediport put in his chest for the chemo? What Paul said is very important: "I hope you are dealing only with accredited cancer centers, not general hospitals or clinics."
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1 ReactionThis is yet another case where a second opinion should have been found without hesitation!
In my opinion, colon resection surgery would seem urgent as a first priority and followed by chemo thereafter, not first.
It's not too late to start over beginning with a new colon and rectal surgeons opinion.
I hope that you are dealing only with accredited cancer centers, not general hospitals or clinics.
Best wishes to both of you!
PAUL
Hugs to you and your brother, it is difficult to stay strong when you do not know what is happening. Did he get a second opinion? It is a personal choice, but you never want to find yourself in a position where you could have done something more. When I was in treatment, the #1 thing my oncologists said was not to go to ER unless they sent you; it seems maybe something is not working.
My brother has stage 4 large tumor in his sigmoid and they started chemo. He is in his 5th chemo treatment and having severe pain. He just went to the ER today and they say the tumor is Larger" than before. I am confused. He has been through hell with pain and not being able to eat or barely go to the bathroom because of the size of the tumor. He has lost way too much weight. He was 194 and now 158 just in a couple of months. Is this how cancer recovery works?
Hello - we’re Canadian so our colon surgeon was Dr. Stephen Smith in Canada but our liver surgeon is Dr. Motez Qadan from Mass General in Boston. Both are rock stars.
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