Can you get retreatment for returning Vaginal Cancer after 32 years

RxneFitz
RxneFitz Member Posts: 3
in Gynecological Cancers (other than ovarian and uterine) #1

Hello,

My mom had cancer at 30, cervical cancer. She had surgery, chemo, and radiation.  She has cancer again, except it's vaginal (32 years later) She saw a doctor and he told her without her medical records which show where she had radiation, he can't help her.

My moms vaginal cancer has not spread, MRI, CT Scan, Colonoscopy show up fine.  However, this doctor says it's likely a stage 3 or 4.  He also says that because her tumor is adjacent to the colon, surgery is not an option he wants to explore.  The way I see it, he's giving up.  

We attempted to get the records from the original hospital but they only keep 10 years back.  My mom is pretty bummed about this and I of course am not giving up. I'm going to try to get a second opinion elsewhere, I am waiting on them to provide me her current records.  In the meantime, is there anyone else who had cancer, got treated and then it returned and were told retreatment isn't something they can do because once you have had radiation and chemo it isn't an option in the future? 

Thanks in advance...

 

Comments

  • NoTimeForCancer
    NoTimeForCancer Member Posts: 3,360 Member
    #2
    I agree with abrub, get a

    I agree with abrub, get a second opinion from a gynecologic oncologist from a major cancer center.  Records or not, not doing anything is not an option.  

  • RxneFitz
    RxneFitz Member Posts: 3
    #3
    thank you guys, she's got an

    thank you guys, she's got an appointment for second opinion on Wednesday. I'm hoping for better news. 

     

  • abrub
    abrub Member Posts: 2,174 Member
    #4
    My surgeon operated on a vaginal tumor close to the colon

    I recently had a vaginal tumor removed the was a recurrence of my appendix cancer. It took over 10 hours of very delicate surgery to remove the tumor without causing further damage to my bladder or colon. My Dr brought in a urologic surgeon as well as a plastic surgeon to best address all the issues. I go to Sloan Kettering in NYC.  You might want to have her get an opinion at one of the major cancer centers.

  • NoTimeForCancer
    NoTimeForCancer Member Posts: 3,360 Member
    #5
    RxneFitz, please let us know

    RxneFitz, please let us know how it goes. 

  • RxneFitz
    RxneFitz Member Posts: 3
    #6
    update

    Saw the radiologist oncologyst (sp?) Anyhow, we learned that they would be able to feel the vaginal wall to see if they did radiation in the past.  It appears after radiation, the texture changes so they can determine by feel. As a result we learned that my mom indeed received radiation.  They did recently a petscan and the hemotologist oncologist stated that he saw activity in the lymph nodes but wasn't 100 percent sure it was cancer and that in order to detect this, they'd have to do a biopsy. So he has put in the order for a biopsy but it hasn't been scheduled.  I'm just a bit frustrated with how long all this is taking.  She has a scheduled second opinion with a different surgeon today to see if with the petscan and all the other previous exams she's already undergone can provide them with enough informationt to see if surgery would be an option.  

    Sorry about being a bit late to reply, aside of me trying to help my mom, well...kids, life..etc. 

  • NoTimeForCancer
    NoTimeForCancer Member Posts: 3,360 Member
    #7
    RxneFitz, no apologies

    RxneFitz, no apologies necessay!  Your frustration is completely understandable.  I'm sorry, but I can't tell, is she working with a gynecologic oncologist??  She needs someone who works with this cancer, not just the radiologist and hematologist oncologist - I think they only see it from their world and she needs help.  I am thinking of you all.

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