Had colon cancer surgery on 3/16/06

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beetree2
beetree2 Member Posts: 11
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
I just had surgery on 3/16 and I would like to talk to other people about it. It was not in any of 18 nodes. Therefore I think its a stage II my surgeon said a B whatever that means, but I go to the Dr. on the 14th to find out what treatment I
need.

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  • JADot
    JADot Member Posts: 709 Member
    #2
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    Hello there!

    Welcome to our on-line family! I wish we'd met under other circumstances, but hey, now that you're a semicolon, this is the place to be! Folks on this site are caring, knowledgeable, and most of all, full of good humor - everything you'll need to stay strong on your road of survivorship.

    I was a stage II, 0/18, deemed a 2B - which I immediately read as 2B-cured-for-sure! I'm now on a FOLFOX-6 because I had two really large tumors one of which had gone through all layers of the colon and was poking out against my abdominal wall - so they wanted to make sure that no stray cells were left behind lurking in my system infesting other nearby organs. I am wondering if they will recommend adjuvant chemo therapy for you as well.

    But hey, whatever it is that you will face, you won't be alone. We'll be here for you!

    Now, before you ask "what should I eat to pamper my new semiconlon?" snd "what can I read to stay positive and hopeful?" Here's a list of helpful material to help you get started:

    1. Book by Patrick Quillin - "Fighting Cancer with Nutrition"
    2. Book by Daniella Chace, Maureen Keane, and John A. Lung - "What to Eat if You Have Cancer".
    3. Book by Dr. Andrew Weil, "Spontaneous Healing"

    Those are my 3 personal favs - they will lead to many other books and things.

    Again, welcome to our board.

    LiveStrong and thrive!

    Cheers,
    JADot
  • lfondots63
    lfondots63 Member Posts: 818 Member
    #3
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    Hi Beetree2,

    Glad you found us even though it is under these circumstances. It is good that no nodes were involved so you should be happy about that. Not sure what stage it is but the dr will tell you. Are you seeing a surgeon or oncologist? A good book to get is "Beating Cancer with Nutrition" by Patrick Quinlan. That has some great information if you would like to change your diet. I know that three things I heard a person with colon cancer should stay away from are: red meat (beef), cheese (my favorite), and sugar. The first two are hard to digest and sit in your system for a while. The third from some things I read help to promote cancer since it "eats" sugar. I have changed my diet because of dx with Stage 3. I only had one node that was cancerous but the tumor was in the wall of my colon but not through. Thank goodness. I am going through chemo right now and only had two treatments. I am sure there will be lots of answers to your post. Take care and HUGS because I know this is so new to you right now. I was dx in Dec. 2005 so it is still fresh even to me.

    Lisa
  • JADot
    JADot Member Posts: 709 Member
    #4
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    lfondots63 said:

    Hi Beetree2,

    Glad you found us even though it is under these circumstances. It is good that no nodes were involved so you should be happy about that. Not sure what stage it is but the dr will tell you. Are you seeing a surgeon or oncologist? A good book to get is "Beating Cancer with Nutrition" by Patrick Quinlan. That has some great information if you would like to change your diet. I know that three things I heard a person with colon cancer should stay away from are: red meat (beef), cheese (my favorite), and sugar. The first two are hard to digest and sit in your system for a while. The third from some things I read help to promote cancer since it "eats" sugar. I have changed my diet because of dx with Stage 3. I only had one node that was cancerous but the tumor was in the wall of my colon but not through. Thank goodness. I am going through chemo right now and only had two treatments. I am sure there will be lots of answers to your post. Take care and HUGS because I know this is so new to you right now. I was dx in Dec. 2005 so it is still fresh even to me.

    Lisa

    Hi Lisa!

    Had a chuckle reading your post - one would think that we're all paid by Quillin to push his book on this board, wouldn't one?

    Have a great day, Lisa!
    JADot
  • tkd3g
    tkd3g Member Posts: 767
    #5
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    JADot said:

    Hi Lisa!

    Had a chuckle reading your post - one would think that we're all paid by Quillin to push his book on this board, wouldn't one?

    Have a great day, Lisa!
    JADot

    hey, are you DOTS related? :)

    Welcome beetree2.
    You have found the GREATEST source of information, first hand information, in the galaxy! Really.

    Ask away, and you shall receive. We've been there, done that, and done that and that and that.

    We have answers to your most common questions and you can bet at least one of us has the answer to anything you may think is obscure or gross. ( be prepared - there can be some "off color" humor going on around here)

    Come here often. It truly was a life saver for me.
    DX stage 3 rectal CA 3/04. Today - NED ( no evidence of disease)

    Barb
  • HowardJ
    HowardJ Member Posts: 474
    #6
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    Welcome to the semicolons from another stage 2 (2a). The difference between 2a and 2b is that 2a comes close to breaking through the outer wall of the colon but has not. In 2b, it has broken through the outer colon wall. 2b can spread directly to other organs in the abdominal cavity. Both stages imply no lymph node involvement and no mets.

    Of course your doc could be referring to Dukes B which is an older staging system. It also refers to a relatively early stage with no node involvement and no mets.

    Either way...welcome!

    Howard
  • kangatoo
    kangatoo Member Posts: 2,105 Member
    #7
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    tkd3g said:

    hey, are you DOTS related? :)

    Welcome beetree2.
    You have found the GREATEST source of information, first hand information, in the galaxy! Really.

    Ask away, and you shall receive. We've been there, done that, and done that and that and that.

    We have answers to your most common questions and you can bet at least one of us has the answer to anything you may think is obscure or gross. ( be prepared - there can be some "off color" humor going on around here)

    Come here often. It truly was a life saver for me.
    DX stage 3 rectal CA 3/04. Today - NED ( no evidence of disease)

    Barb

    Hi...I was dx stage 2, aug. 2003 and I'M STILL HERE! I am NED(no evidence disease) right now and am here to tell you that although it is a horribly fearfull thing you can beat this.If you are in fact sage 2 I would think that adjuvant chemo will be your treatment. Her in oz chemo is "offered" and recommended for stage 2.Of course it is the individuals choice whether to do it or not, I did.
    To enable us to help you with your questions could you post again and give us more details.
    Where in the bowel was your tumour, the type of resection you had and also it would be interesting to know how the cancer was originally found. IE; initial symptoms. Don't be bashfull here, we all talk openly about our "anal" habits.The key to receiving good advice is for everyone to be truthfull and totally open here with each other.
    All the best for the 14th, we understand you may be fearfull...goes with the territory. Post back with as much info as you have asap. Welcome to our "family", cheers, Ross and Jen in "upsidedown land"
  • jerseysue
    jerseysue Member Posts: 624 Member
    #8
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    You can certainly talk and ask any and all questions someone will answer you. Stage 4 here with some node involvement. All the best to you.
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #9
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    HowardJ said:

    Welcome to the semicolons from another stage 2 (2a). The difference between 2a and 2b is that 2a comes close to breaking through the outer wall of the colon but has not. In 2b, it has broken through the outer colon wall. 2b can spread directly to other organs in the abdominal cavity. Both stages imply no lymph node involvement and no mets.

    Of course your doc could be referring to Dukes B which is an older staging system. It also refers to a relatively early stage with no node involvement and no mets.

    Either way...welcome!

    Howard

    Thanks, Howard, I never knew this.
    Mine STARTED on the outside of the colon....squamous cell....so I never heard anything other than stage II itself!
    Hugs,
    Kathi
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #10
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    Welcome, beetree2!
    Get ready for the ride of your life with these guys! I have never met a group of people so well-informed (probably because it's a been there, done that sort of thing). It is a great comfort to know I have a place to come to that understands, first hand.
    I'm a relative newbie...colorectal cancer (dx 11/04) with chemo/radiation BEFORE surgery...squamous cell (skin cancer) on the outside of my rectum...Stage II.
    Don't be afraid to ask anything, as was said in an earlier post....except MAYBE my WEIGHT...LOL!
    Hugs,
    Kathi
  • beetree2
    beetree2 Member Posts: 11
    #11
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    Hello, thanks for the info and the warm welcome. I don't know about chemo yet, will find out the 14th when I see the oncologist. I far as I know mine had not gone threw the wall of the colon, a few cells were found in the wall. Therefore, I think I must be a IIA or a Dukes B the depth was a T3. I'm very worried about chemo, but am trying to stay positive, after all the 14th is Good Friday!!
  • HowardJ
    HowardJ Member Posts: 474
    #12
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    beetree2 said:

    Hello, thanks for the info and the warm welcome. I don't know about chemo yet, will find out the 14th when I see the oncologist. I far as I know mine had not gone threw the wall of the colon, a few cells were found in the wall. Therefore, I think I must be a IIA or a Dukes B the depth was a T3. I'm very worried about chemo, but am trying to stay positive, after all the 14th is Good Friday!!

    T3 without lymph node involvement or mets = 2a. There are some good web sites to understand what this means. I like the info on the ACS website (start at the home page), and also the NCI website for good explainations.

    Good luck!

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