Update - Has anyone seen my butt tumor?

Crow71
Crow71 Member Posts: 679 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Hey Folks,

Anybody seen my butt tumor? None of the doctors can find it!! And believe me - they've tried.

We had a great visit with the surgeon this afternoon. Here's what we know:
1. The primary rectal tumor is gone. It doesn't show up on the CT or MRI. It doesn't light up on the PET scan. It wasn't visible during the colonoscopy. We're pretty sure that there are microscopic remains; so the surgeon wants to resect the area in order to give the best possible chance of the tumor staying gone.
2. Nothing is showing up on the scans in my peritoneal lining.
3. The CT scan shows 3 liver mets. The MRI shows several mets in the left lobe of my liver and 1 in the right lobe.

The plan: Next Wednesday the surgeon wants to scope my peritoneal lining,colon, and liver. There's a chance that he will find more cancer than what showed up on the scans, but if he does, there is a very good chance that it will not be hard to deal with.

I am scheduled to have liver surgery on April 14th. Basically he will remove the left lobe and scoop out the met on the right lobe. Perhaps the scope next Wednesday will change this, but I would imagine that Dr. Shen would not have put me on his schedule unless he was fairly sure that the surgery would happen. I think at this point, he's looking to avoid surprises when he opens me up. I like that. He may resect the primary tumor location at this time, or he may postpone that piece. I thought I would have the debulking surgery and HIPEC, but there may not be anything to debulk. I'll find out on Wednesday.

Dr. Shen said that there is an 80% chance of recurrence. I say there is a 20% chance of success. That's 20% more than I thought I had when I started.

I hope everyone is doing well. Stay strong. Be happy.

Peace - Roger
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Comments

  • dianetavegia
    dianetavegia Member Posts: 1,942 Member
    GREAT attitude Roger!
    I'm glad to hear Doc is being proactive on that 'missing tumor' because we recently had a long time members rectal tumor grow back (not resected). Sounds like a plan my man!
  • Kerry S
    Kerry S Member Posts: 606 Member
    Keep thinking that way!!!!!!!
    Keep thinking that way. With your great attitude you will be in the 20%. Maybe then they will change the damn numbers for everyone.
  • robinvan
    robinvan Member Posts: 1,012
    Sound good...
    It looks like a good plan Roger. I've had 2/3 of the liver removed and am no worse for wear.

    I hope the scope goes well.

    Rob; in Vancouver
  • msccolon
    msccolon Member Posts: 1,917 Member
    awesome news!
    You are in good hands with Dr. Shen!
    mary
  • amyb15
    amyb15 Member Posts: 109 Member
    roger;
    congrats on what

    roger;
    congrats on what seems to be a great plan. I hope it all works just perfectly. That is very encouraging. I have been watching for your post. My sister is off to Fox Cahse in philadelphia tomorrow. We will be leaving at 4:00 am for a 7:15 am appt. I hope she is as encoutragerd as you are.
    I will keep everyone posted
    I hope each and every one of you are cured of this beast. Don't you thimk there are a lot of younger people with this disease? Most on the board are 30's 40's or 50's. My sis is 42 ( I am younger, I had to throw that in) Weird, huh?
    I'm also glad you posted a picture although the black crow image swooping over you is still in my mind


    great News for you. You must be so happy. We are all happy right along with you/

    Amy
  • AnneCan
    AnneCan Member Posts: 3,673 Member
    I am so happy for you Roger!
    I am so happy for you Roger! It sounds like your treatment so far has been successful + you have a great plan going forward. You must be really excited! Good luck with the next step; please keep us posted.
  • Aud
    Aud Member Posts: 479 Member
    so happy
    for you Roger. What a wonderful attitude!
    holding you in the Light,
    Audrey
  • thready
    thready Member Posts: 474
    80 20 thing
    Roger,
    Love your attitude!
    There is no reason why you should not be part of the 20%. Remember the numbers are just someone's ideas of what could happen, so in reality you have a better chance, you have already shown the tumor who is boss! The %'s are a probability problem so 20% is actually more than 20% and the 80% is less. Besides the crows are getting the stupid cancer cells!

    Jan
  • lcarper2
    lcarper2 Member Posts: 635 Member
    thready said:

    80 20 thing
    Roger,
    Love your attitude!
    There is no reason why you should not be part of the 20%. Remember the numbers are just someone's ideas of what could happen, so in reality you have a better chance, you have already shown the tumor who is boss! The %'s are a probability problem so 20% is actually more than 20% and the 80% is less. Besides the crows are getting the stupid cancer cells!

    Jan

    lets see is it here ...no is it there...no
    Man I have looked all over for that Butt tumor and it ain't no where to be found....I think if you stand up and bend over you might see it lodged in the crack if you sat hard it could be lodged in there...may have to call roto rutter,,,keep us informed as to where it was...
  • coloCan
    coloCan Member Posts: 1,944 Member
    lcarper2 said:

    lets see is it here ...no is it there...no
    Man I have looked all over for that Butt tumor and it ain't no where to be found....I think if you stand up and bend over you might see it lodged in the crack if you sat hard it could be lodged in there...may have to call roto rutter,,,keep us informed as to where it was...

    No ifs, ands or butts about it heh, Roger?
    Give 'em hell.......steve
  • HollyID
    HollyID Member Posts: 946 Member
    Roger, love the attitude!!
    Roger, love the attitude!! Thoughts and good vibes will be going your way!!
  • Devasted
    Devasted Member Posts: 185
    HollyID said:

    Roger, love the attitude!!
    Roger, love the attitude!! Thoughts and good vibes will be going your way!!

    Great news
    Roger,

    Glad you received good news...waiting for more to follow.

    Take care...thinking of you
  • Sundanceh
    Sundanceh Member Posts: 4,392 Member
    As the Raven Flies....
    Pretty close cousin to the Crow...

    Best of luck - it all sounds good, Roger - you sound good and ready to go - your mind is right to fight :)

    I'll just call you Ned71 after this...caw, caw :)

    -Craig
  • geotina
    geotina Member Posts: 2,111 Member
    Roger
    So far, that is really wonderful news. If you can have a liver resection and avoid the debullking and HIPEC that would be great. Tina
  • Lovekitties
    Lovekitties Member Posts: 3,364 Member
    Sounds like a plan
    Roger, glad to hear the primary source is no longer to be found. It sounds like you and your doctors have a plan to deal with the left overs.

    As for the percentages, no reason to beleive that you won't help raise the 20% side of things!

    Love your attitude...helps all of us to see things more positively.

    To better days and better health

    Marie
  • kristasplace
    kristasplace Member Posts: 957 Member
    Mets
    I'm so happy they can't find your butt tumor, Roger! That's a good sign you're on the upswing of things! I agree with everyone else, you're in the 20%, for sure!

    I will be thinking about you on the 14th, and sending good vibes that everything goes well for your surgery.

    Many hugs!
    Krista
  • maglets
    maglets Member Posts: 2,576 Member

    Mets
    I'm so happy they can't find your butt tumor, Roger! That's a good sign you're on the upswing of things! I agree with everyone else, you're in the 20%, for sure!

    I will be thinking about you on the 14th, and sending good vibes that everything goes well for your surgery.

    Many hugs!
    Krista

    Roger
    I too love your attitude....i had most of my liver wacked out and sure enough the cancer returned and we wacked again....i am down to 10 percent chance of living and what the heck...you know I really have kind of given up on those numbers....I no longer ask...

    sending all the best for your coming scope and surgery

    mags
  • lisa42
    lisa42 Member Posts: 3,625 Member
    Wow!
    Hi Roger,

    That's exciting to hear that your rectal tumor disappeared! Mine also disappeared completely following six weeks of radiation to the tumor, with no evidence of even any microscopic cancer cells in the area taken from the ultrasound colonoscopy and biopsy. I was ecstatic and did NOT ever have the rectal resection. Some doctors are now starting to decide this issue of whether or not to still resect after what they call a "complete response" on a case by case situation, not just the "always resect, no matter what".
    Now, I must tell you that all was fine in the rectal area for almost two years until my most recent PET/CT scan showed a 1 cm recurrence in that area. But, as you mentioned, the chance of recurrence even if you have the resection is still there. My colorectal surgeon who back then decided together with me to not perform the resection on me, also told me at that time "if you have a recurrence, you'll need the surgery". I haven't seen her again yet since the recurrence, since I just started up on chemo again, but my oncologist told me when I asked about possibly needing the rectal resection now, that I might not neccesarily need it- we would see what happens with the chemo first (I have mets in my liver and lungs that we're working on with chemo).
    I, for one- even though I've had the rectal tumor recurrence now, am glad that I've gotten to go all this time without dealing with all that a rectal resection involves and the ileostomy bag I would have gotten (my tumor area is very low to the anus & my surgeon wasn't sure before if she could have saved my sphincter or not). I don't know what I may face now with it, but I would still do it the same again even knowing about the recurrence.

    I'm not trying to influence your decision or your doctor's decision- you definitely need to go with what you and your doctors feel is the best option. I just wanted to share my experience with that.

    I've also had a liver resection in May '08 & also just had a recurrence there- 4 new tumors. I'm going to hammer them first with chemo & if they don't go away, I know I can have another resection or maybe just blast them this time with some cyberknife or something. The resection was rough at first but the recovery time was not nearly as difficult as I thought it would be. 8 weeks later, my family went on a vacation that included white water rafting. I was planning on waiting it out, but decided to go for it & I did- it was fun (even though I took a spill into the river- lol!)

    You have many options and much HOPE before you & you have a really great attitude about it all. That's half the battle, in my opinion.

    Take care & God bless-
    Lisa
  • krf
    krf Member Posts: 98
    I saw it , it left the
    I saw it , it left the building. I caregave the sh&@ out of it. Go hubby!
  • AnneCan
    AnneCan Member Posts: 3,673 Member
    krf said:

    I saw it , it left the
    I saw it , it left the building. I caregave the sh&@ out of it. Go hubby!

    Kim,
    You must be so happy!

    Kim,

    You must be so happy! It is obvious you do a great job of supporting Roger through this! Take good care!