questions, questions.

Marianne313
Marianne313 Member Posts: 124
Hi everyone.

My aunt, diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer the end of February and given 6 months if she chooses to do "nothing". She chose chemo/radiation but they still haven't started anything. I hope she hears from the Dr./Nurse this week, since her last test was an EKG this past Friday (5/27).

My questions are:

How long does it take for them to begin radiation/chemo after the diagnosis? (technically, the discussion the Onc had with her about the 6 months if she chooses to do nothing or longer if she chooses radiation/chemo was the end of April) This is the end of May, should it take a month for them to begin the treatments?

Next question is: What questions should I ask when she begins these treatments? At this point, all I really know is that she's had the resection of her colon, they removed a large tumor and they say that it's spread to her liver (throughout her liver so no surgery will help with that). I don't know much else since I was at work the day the Dr. came to her in the hospital and talked to her (her sister was with her then, but I normally take her to all appointments/tests so I'd like to know if I need to know anything once they do start the treatments).

Thanks again everyone, just for being here and being so kind and open so others, like me, who are so afraid can know that we're not alone.

Thank you.

Comments

  • rogina2336
    rogina2336 Member Posts: 188
    Sorry to hear about your
    Sorry to hear about your aunt. My husband was dx in Nov. 2010 and was told 3 to 6 months without tx. He too has mets to his liver everywhere (inoperable). However he was started on chemo right away and will be completing his 12th chemo on June 13th and then will get a 3 month break. He didn't have any surgery tumor in his rectum has shrunk considerably. Sorry I don't really have an answer to your question can only tell you what happened to us after diagnoses. God Bless Kim
  • John23
    John23 Member Posts: 2,122 Member
    For what it's worth

    My diagnosis was 3c by one physician, and 4 by another.
    They said I had about three to five years -if- I did chemo,
    and -0- time if I chose to do nothing. They said the chemo
    would have to be started within one month, or two months
    at the latest, if any benefit was to be had.

    It took six months for my surgical wounds to heal enough to
    start chemo, and by that time they said it was 50/50 if it
    would work at all (I chose an "alternative" instead).

    That was in 2006.

    So as far as your aunt's situation? I would run, not walk, to
    another specialist for another opinion. Go to one that is not
    a member of the same organization as the present one.

    Your aunt is entitled to a second and third, etc., opinions,
    and those opinions can vary greatly!

    This life or death, and you should not limit decisions to one
    mind's idea of what's right or wrong.

    It's all up to your aunt, of course, but I would encourage her
    to seek other opinions, and not to be discouraged with any
    prognosis of impending doom.

    The liver is one organ that can regenerate itself, and cutting
    it up to rid cancer, is always an option. But opinions other than
    the one she has, would be best, since spots on the liver can be
    from things other than cancer; Discerning the differences can
    be very subjective.

    I had been told I had cancer in both lungs, but another surgical
    oncologist said differently, that they were granuloma, and not
    cancer. He was correct, as later scans and X-rays indicated.

    I think another opinion is needed for your aunt.

    My wishes for better health, are for you both!

    John
  • PGLGreg
    PGLGreg Member Posts: 731
    Since the tumor has been
    Since the tumor has been removed by surgery, her treatment has actually begun. I think it is usual to allow some recovery time after surgery before beginning radiation and chemotherapy. You might want to check with your aunt and her doctor about giving you information about her treatment -- the doctor might not feel he can discuss matters with you, unless he has your aunt's permission.

    Two things to keep track of are (1) side effects of the therapies -- it's important to keep the doctor informed of just how your aunt is doing, so he knows whether to modify the course of treatment, and (2) what diagnostic tests are done to estimate how well the chemotherapy and radiation are working.

    --Greg
  • pete43lost_at_sea
    pete43lost_at_sea Member Posts: 3,900 Member
    hi marianne
    its great you look after your aunt. the time for chemo start, well like john23 mentioned you need to heal. i had to wait one month after my op for rectal before chemo started. i would not worry but ask the nurses and get more involved. its so good to have a few people go along to the appointments with specialists.

    hugs,
    pete
  • Marianne313
    Marianne313 Member Posts: 124

    Sorry to hear about your
    Sorry to hear about your aunt. My husband was dx in Nov. 2010 and was told 3 to 6 months without tx. He too has mets to his liver everywhere (inoperable). However he was started on chemo right away and will be completing his 12th chemo on June 13th and then will get a 3 month break. He didn't have any surgery tumor in his rectum has shrunk considerably. Sorry I don't really have an answer to your question can only tell you what happened to us after diagnoses. God Bless Kim

    7 months?
    Wow Kim,

    I can only imagine the torture you must go through mentally thinking (5 months, 6, months, etc.) I know that's what I do and I hate it but can't seem to stop thinking about the time. As with everyone, I'm sorry to hear about your husband Kim, but I try to find something good in everything, and in this situation....I think well, I've met some extremely nice people that I otherwise would not have met.

    I'm very happy to hear that, obviously the treatments are working. I hope they work with my aunt as well.

    God Bless you Kim, I know going through all of this is difficult.

    Marianne
  • Marianne313
    Marianne313 Member Posts: 124
    John23 said:

    For what it's worth

    My diagnosis was 3c by one physician, and 4 by another.
    They said I had about three to five years -if- I did chemo,
    and -0- time if I chose to do nothing. They said the chemo
    would have to be started within one month, or two months
    at the latest, if any benefit was to be had.

    It took six months for my surgical wounds to heal enough to
    start chemo, and by that time they said it was 50/50 if it
    would work at all (I chose an "alternative" instead).

    That was in 2006.

    So as far as your aunt's situation? I would run, not walk, to
    another specialist for another opinion. Go to one that is not
    a member of the same organization as the present one.

    Your aunt is entitled to a second and third, etc., opinions,
    and those opinions can vary greatly!

    This life or death, and you should not limit decisions to one
    mind's idea of what's right or wrong.

    It's all up to your aunt, of course, but I would encourage her
    to seek other opinions, and not to be discouraged with any
    prognosis of impending doom.

    The liver is one organ that can regenerate itself, and cutting
    it up to rid cancer, is always an option. But opinions other than
    the one she has, would be best, since spots on the liver can be
    from things other than cancer; Discerning the differences can
    be very subjective.

    I had been told I had cancer in both lungs, but another surgical
    oncologist said differently, that they were granuloma, and not
    cancer. He was correct, as later scans and X-rays indicated.

    I think another opinion is needed for your aunt.

    My wishes for better health, are for you both!

    John

    second opinions
    Sadly John, my aunt is very stubborn and will not get more opinions. I think she thinks "I'm 81, I've lived my life, and I'm tired of these tests already". She won't say so, but I know she doesn't like my missing work to take her to the Dr.s and testing. She lives 90 min from me, one way and then it's 40 minutes to her Dr. and tests.

    I'm very happy to hear that the first Dr. was so wrong in a few things. Something to smile about and that's always a good thing.

    Thank you for responding John, I appreciate everything.

    Marianne
  • Marianne313
    Marianne313 Member Posts: 124
    PGLGreg said:

    Since the tumor has been
    Since the tumor has been removed by surgery, her treatment has actually begun. I think it is usual to allow some recovery time after surgery before beginning radiation and chemotherapy. You might want to check with your aunt and her doctor about giving you information about her treatment -- the doctor might not feel he can discuss matters with you, unless he has your aunt's permission.

    Two things to keep track of are (1) side effects of the therapies -- it's important to keep the doctor informed of just how your aunt is doing, so he knows whether to modify the course of treatment, and (2) what diagnostic tests are done to estimate how well the chemotherapy and radiation are working.

    --Greg

    Hi Greg,

    I had totally forgotten about recovery time, but at the same time she got out of the hospital on April 1st. Her surgery was February 28th (I believe---don't have the notes here at work). So, seems like it's been enough recovery time but, I'm not a doctor.

    I will keep track of those things, once they start the chemo. I'll have to remember to carry the notebook with me when I go each time :). Thank you for that info.

    I do have permission to get all of the same information from the doctors that they give my Aunt. She's been very open about everything, which is good--since more ears for listening are better!

    Marianne
  • SisterSledge
    SisterSledge Member Posts: 332 Member
    answers, answers
    First, as others have said...surgery takes healing time and when chemo starts it can inhibit healing, as the immune system is affected by the chemo negatively. Unless the cancer is extremely active, it won't grow much or at all in just a month or two...usually the cancer has grown over a long period of time and waiting a bit longer for treatment won't make things worse. I know that warnings like "the 6 months if she chooses to do nothing" can be unsettling, but that simply means "nothing" and she is doing "something"...surgery done and tests completed and being supervised by her doctor. If her situation deteriorates he would change the plan accordingly to move forward sooner.

    Keep in mind that docs can be wrong....a second opinion is a great thing for peace of mind.

    Do keep attending your Aunt's doc appointments with her...for a lady who feels she's not up to fighting cancer at 81, she may not pay enough attention to information provided by the doc and may not think to tell him things he should know. It is all too easy for a cancer patient to be overwhelmed by the processes and procedures...and they may simply want to stick their head in the sand...or the stress can make them forget what they've heard. And though they might not want to admit it, emotional support during these times is likely the best gift you can give. Keep a cancer journal where you can write info down as it comes to you and note questions you want to ask the doc.

    My main questions for my doc were regarding what I can do to help myself during chemo and what I should avoid doing during treatment. Mostly you will ask questions based upon whatever your Aunt is going through at the time...health issues that crop up during treatment. Pay attention to how your Aunt is doing and ask her questions to guide her in providing you with a true picture of how she's feeling...cancer patients will sometimes under-report their discomforts thinking there is no options when usually there are things that can be changed to improve daily life.
  • John23
    John23 Member Posts: 2,122 Member

    Hi Greg,

    I had totally forgotten about recovery time, but at the same time she got out of the hospital on April 1st. Her surgery was February 28th (I believe---don't have the notes here at work). So, seems like it's been enough recovery time but, I'm not a doctor.

    I will keep track of those things, once they start the chemo. I'll have to remember to carry the notebook with me when I go each time :). Thank you for that info.

    I do have permission to get all of the same information from the doctors that they give my Aunt. She's been very open about everything, which is good--since more ears for listening are better!

    Marianne

    Marianne -

    While you're at it, try Googling:
    Traditional Chinese Medicine your_zip_ code

    (Use a double-space between the request and the zip-code.)

    You would be amazed at how many individuals have received
    as much benefits from "alternatives", as those using "conventional"
    and "mainstream:" methods.

    Keep in mind, that nothing (chemo or alternative) provides any
    guarantee of a cure, or even relief..... On the other side of the
    coin, most all alternatives aren't carcinogenic or cause neurological
    problems, as do the "mainstream" chemicals.

    And oh.... "81" is just a number. Both my brothers-in-law are well
    over 80; one has had a total face reconstruction, and lost a leg
    as a consequence of a major auto accident. He's out playing golf.
    The other one has had a quadruple bypass, along with other
    surgeries, and is presently on a cruise.

    Best of health!

    John