One surgery for rectal tumor and liver met

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markatger
markatger Member Posts: 314
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Hi again,

Omigosh got unexpected decision from my docs today. I had asked for my case to be reviewed because my liver met had grown. I wanted them to consider doing the liver resection at the same time they remove the rectal tumor on Aug 26. Today they told me that they can do them both at once.

I'm excited but a little nervous. I was just getting used to the other plan of having to wait a month and a half to half the liver tumor taken out and having the rectal surgery done next Friday.

I'm now nervous about having this huge surgery and that both surgeons will be rushed and not clean everything really well or that I will have compications from a long surgey. And actually they had to push back my surgery date of aug 26 in order to add the liver surgery.

They won't be able to do it until Sept 9th. So that is only 2 weeks earlier than a possible timeline of doing the rectal surgey on Aug 26 and then doing the liver surgery a month later.

Ugh....you just can't please me I guess. I wish I could get both surgeries done tomorrow. I've read of many people who get diagnosed and then have the surgery the next day. Why am I not getting priority so that I can get this cancer out of me, rather than letting it grow for another month.

Maria

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  • Doreen65
    Doreen65 Member Posts: 52
    #2
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    Maria, I know exactly how you feel trust me. I had the same rectal and liver. Do you have two surgeons? I had a liver surgeon and a colo/rectal surgeon. They both said No to both surgeries at the same time they even considered my age they felt it was too much of an extensive surgery. Have they given you radiation for the rectal tumor at all? I would have been happy if they did both surgeries at once, but I felt they knew best and they both said NO. I know how worried you must be. Doreen
  • PhillieG
    PhillieG Member Posts: 4,866 Member
    #3
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    Hi, I waited 6 months (and did chemo) from my diagnosis to have surgery. I had both done at the same time and had a hepatic pump put in. I just figured do it all at once. I'm glad they did. I'll be thinking of you
    phil
  • ramona41
    ramona41 Member Posts: 72
    #4
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    I only had the rectal surgery done. I cant offer any advice..but to try and be positive..that will help you inside and out. I wish you the best keep us informed.. and talk to your doctors. ask them anything..and ask them twice.. I just had my yearly colonoscopy and was scared because I had such a low tumor in my rectum removed I was afraid they might injure what little rectum I had left by going in..(like they dont know what they are doing..Ha) but i told the doctor doing it just what i felt she said that was a good question and yes they would be careful and hand done many of these on people with my kind of surgery.. I felt better..I needed to know that.. well the drugs made me feel better too.. hang in there will keep my fingers and heart crossed for you.. ramona41
  • taraHK
    taraHK Member Posts: 1,952 Member
    #5
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    Hi Maria,

    Wow - I'm impressed -- you asked to have your case reviewed and they really did and they changed their minds -- you are powerful!

    I can certainly understand your nervousness now. For what it is worth: (a) this might sound silly but I always figure that with a more complicated procedure (such as yours), everyone will be that little bit more on their toes! I think everyone will be 150% for you on the day. (2) I also understand you wanting to get it done "tomorrow". I felt like that myself. But the truth is a few weeks probably don't make a difference -- at least that is what I have been told.

    Will be thinking of you. All the best
    Tara
  • markatger
    markatger Member Posts: 314
    #6
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    taraHK said:

    Hi Maria,

    Wow - I'm impressed -- you asked to have your case reviewed and they really did and they changed their minds -- you are powerful!

    I can certainly understand your nervousness now. For what it is worth: (a) this might sound silly but I always figure that with a more complicated procedure (such as yours), everyone will be that little bit more on their toes! I think everyone will be 150% for you on the day. (2) I also understand you wanting to get it done "tomorrow". I felt like that myself. But the truth is a few weeks probably don't make a difference -- at least that is what I have been told.

    Will be thinking of you. All the best
    Tara

    Thank you very much Doreen, Phil, Ramona and Tara for you responses. I have had radiation finished Juy 11 And I have a rectal and a liver surgeon that are both rated as top surgeons in Seattle. So I'm pretty conifdent in their abilities. It is pretty weird to have had them change their minds though after reviewing at my request! The wait is still tough, but I'm getting on supplements big-time (under a naturopath guidance of course) Phil I may be e-mailing you, hope you don't mind. I'm wondering why they decided to put in a hepatic pump in your case.

    Thanks again
    Maria

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