Has anyone had a recurrence near the original site?

JanJan63
JanJan63 Member Posts: 2,478 Member
in Colorectal Cancer #1

It seems like some of us get mets to the liver or lungs or even other areas but how often does anyone get another colon or rectal tumour?

I had an MRI in September and they said there's nothing there. But for the past several weeks I've had a lot of rectal discomfort. It hurts to sit down and hurts even more if I stand for any length of time. It fels like being really constipated. I'm still getting the mucous from there because of the colon still trying to do it's job so things are going through. And when I had the original tumour which was the size of a large chicken egg I felt nothing, and it was only a couple of inches in. 

I find it hard to imagine that in four months I've developed a tumour so big that I can feel it. 

I scar so badly internally that I'm wondering if it's that, maybe from the drain they put in when I had the abcess. I know where the drain went in beside my tail bone I have a scar just under the skin that's grown to the size of a ping pong ball. I'm actually concerned that it's attaching to my tailbone because sometimes when I sit down I get a sharp pulling sensation. It hurts when I sit on the toilet or have a bath and lie in the tub. 

This new thing is affecting my sleep and activities because I don't want to stand or walk for any length of time.

I get my ct scan Thursday but I think they'll only be looking at my lungs to see how big the tumours are, I don't think they'll look low where this is bothering me. And because of the adhesions they've suggested in the past that there might be a tumour there.

Any thoughts or ideas would be appreciated. Thanks. 

Jan

Comments

  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,796 Member
    #2
    Scans

    I hope they do a thorough scan.  I know when I have mine, every six months now, they go from my neck to my knees. So hpoefuly they do this for you as well. 

    There are so many probabilities. You may be very right about scar tissue. 

    The fear is always there, isn't it. I have had pains in my left arm for almost a week. I immedietely thought bone cancer. You know what they say 'once bitten, twice shy'. We will never be the same. 

    I'm sure Thursday can't come quick enough. I hope you get your results early. I had my CT on the 4th followed by my CEA blood draw. I don't get the results until the 28th. 

    Thinking of you. 

    Tru

  • plsletitrain
    plsletitrain Member Posts: 252 Member
    #3
    Fear of recurrence

    I've always tried to be positive but really, we can't avoid thinking if there's a recurrence or a met somewhere.  I hope the scans will clear this up for you.  I remember at one point (or probably it was two or three times), there was an ache on the same spot where the tumor was.  The pain was similar, no, it was actually the same, as the one I felt when I was diagnosed.  I got extremely paranoid and just prayed and cried.  Thankfully the pain just subsided and the PET scan cleared it.  I still feel the same pain, on the same spot from time to time, so I'm constantly having those days when I just worry.  Heck, even some pain on any body part makes me worry if it has metastasised.  

     

    I feel sad that not only do we have to deal with the physical pain, but the emotional and mental drain can be quite challenging too.  I'll pray for you.  Hopefully the scans will be able to identify what's causing the pain.

  • Tunadog
    Tunadog Member Posts: 235 Member
    #4
    I had a recurrence in my rectum..

    I had Radiation and Xeloda to shrink my tumor before surgery. Then LAR , no lymph involvement but scattered cancer on my abdominal wall. Then Oxaliplatin and Xeloda for six months.

    My PET/CT was pretty clear but showed a “lighted area” very low SUV near my sacral area, perhaps fatty tissue. It was deamed inoperable and only suspicious. My Oncologist Surgeon and Oncologist understood the issue. Six months later I had some rectal bleeding and had it biopsied and it was cancerous.

    I’m currently taking Xeloda and Avastin to control progression. It’s working. Last PET/CT showed minimal shrinkage but no spread. My CEA is down to 3.0 from 10 after the recurrence.

    I’m about 2 1/2 years from diagnosis.

  • Ruthmomto4
    Ruthmomto4 Member Posts: 708 Member
    #5
    When they scan my husband

    its base of skull to thighs and in the actual report they point out each area not just his liver or lungs, but the abdomen, etc. he has a blood clot in his port they picked that right up too. so I think if something is there they will  without a doubt see it. I hope it’s nothing I think you are right the odds of something growing that fast is unlikely.  

  • JanJan63
    JanJan63 Member Posts: 2,478 Member
    #6
    I was just looking at my

    I was just looking at my paperwork for the ct tomorrow and it says chest to pelvis. The problem in the past has been that I have so much scar tissue/adhesions that they can't see anything very well with a ct scan. That's why they did the MRI and it showed nothing. The adhesions have not only surrounded some areas and will eventually pinch them off and I'll need surgery, they're thoughout my abdomen like tendrils. They're from the surgery and the radiation.

    I'm just getting more and more uncomfortable and I'm finding that it makes me crabby. I don't like that.

    Jan

  • abita
    abita Member Posts: 1,152 Member
    #7
    JanJan63 said:

    I was just looking at my

    I was just looking at my paperwork for the ct tomorrow and it says chest to pelvis. The problem in the past has been that I have so much scar tissue/adhesions that they can't see anything very well with a ct scan. That's why they did the MRI and it showed nothing. The adhesions have not only surrounded some areas and will eventually pinch them off and I'll need surgery, they're thoughout my abdomen like tendrils. They're from the surgery and the radiation.

    I'm just getting more and more uncomfortable and I'm finding that it makes me crabby. I don't like that.

    Jan

    Can they do. Pet scan? I know

    Can they do. Pet scan? I know that shows inflammation as well as the cancer. I don't know if it picks up lesions too. I have had 2. One before starting chemo to see if only spread to liver and one before surgery. I also had a regular CT before surgery. I guess they show different things that were necessary for my surgeon to prepare. 

  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    #8
    Flex Sigmoid

    It's possible they could do a Flex Sig to see what is going on.  They ended up doing that on me 10 months after rectal surgery because of bleeding from the rectum.  Terrible pain and dripping blood when going to the bathroom.  It wasn't rectal cancer which was my diagnosis because they took the rectum out, but damage to the anus and rectal area from the radiation.  Let your doctor know of your concerns.  They should address this issue soon if it is a discomfort to you.  Wishing you well.

    Kim

  • JanJan63
    JanJan63 Member Posts: 2,478 Member
    #9
    Annabelle41415 said:

    Flex Sigmoid

    It's possible they could do a Flex Sig to see what is going on.  They ended up doing that on me 10 months after rectal surgery because of bleeding from the rectum.  Terrible pain and dripping blood when going to the bathroom.  It wasn't rectal cancer which was my diagnosis because they took the rectum out, but damage to the anus and rectal area from the radiation.  Let your doctor know of your concerns.  They should address this issue soon if it is a discomfort to you.  Wishing you well.

    Kim

    Kim, how bad was the

    Kim, how bad was the sigmoidoscopy? I can barely tolerate the scope and have to have a pedo one. My surgeon changed locations and now no longer has the pedo one so he said we'd do a sigmoidoscopy next time. I don't know what the difference is.

    Jan

  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    edited February 2018 #10
    JanJan63 said:

    Kim, how bad was the

    Kim, how bad was the sigmoidoscopy? I can barely tolerate the scope and have to have a pedo one. My surgeon changed locations and now no longer has the pedo one so he said we'd do a sigmoidoscopy next time. I don't know what the difference is.

    Jan

    Sigmoid

    They don't give you anything to put you out, but it is tolerable, can be uncomfortable, but it doesn't take that long and they can see a lot in the very short time they are in there.  You can watch if you want.  I'm not sure what a pedo one is as I've never heard of it.  A sig is something that they can do in the doctor's office as well.

    Kim

  • SandiaBuddy
    SandiaBuddy Member Posts: 1,381 Member
    #11

    Jan:

    My memory from my research is that there is about a 33% chance of recurrence in the original area (colorectal) and about a 66% chance in another area (lungs and liver being the most common).  With all of the surgery, chemo and stress, it make sense that every ache and pain is a concern.  I share that concern with you.

    Buddy

  • JanJan63
    JanJan63 Member Posts: 2,478 Member
    #12
    Annabelle41415 said:

    Sigmoid

    They don't give you anything to put you out, but it is tolerable, can be uncomfortable, but it doesn't take that long and they can see a lot in the very short time they are in there.  You can watch if you want.  I'm not sure what a pedo one is as I've never heard of it.  A sig is something that they can do in the doctor's office as well.

    Kim

    A pedo is just a small sized

    A pedo is just a small sized one for children. Thanks for your answer!

    Jan

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