My mom was diagnosed yesterday

jewelbabejcj
jewelbabejcj Member Posts: 7
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Does anyone understand this: Poorly differetiated squamous carcinoma involving submucosa and mucosa. Angiolymphatic invasion identified.

We meet with the doctor monday but I don't think I can wait that long without going crazy

Comments

  • jsabol
    jsabol Member Posts: 1,145 Member
    #2
    Hi jewel....sorry to hear about your mom's diagnosis; it was such a shock to hear the words from my G.I. doc; I don't blame you for not wanting to wait til Monday; this whole process is such an emotional roller coaster.
    I'm sorry that my cancer medical knowledge is weak; I believe that most colon cancers are adenocarcinomas, not squamous cell, but I have no idea what the difference means in terms of treatment, prognosis, etc.
    The mucosa is the lining of your colon; the submucosa is the next layer. Your lymph glands are part of the lymphatic system, so it sounds like some cells have "invaded" a lymph node. The doctor WILL be able to put the whole picture together. Be sure to take notes.
    2 suggestions....the main ACS site has much info available; it may be worth a search if you are up for it. They also maintain a hot line, and may be able to put the results into understandable english. Good luck to you both; keep us posted; your mom is on my prayer list.
    Judy
  • jewelbabejcj
    jewelbabejcj Member Posts: 7
    #3
    jsabol said:

    Hi jewel....sorry to hear about your mom's diagnosis; it was such a shock to hear the words from my G.I. doc; I don't blame you for not wanting to wait til Monday; this whole process is such an emotional roller coaster.
    I'm sorry that my cancer medical knowledge is weak; I believe that most colon cancers are adenocarcinomas, not squamous cell, but I have no idea what the difference means in terms of treatment, prognosis, etc.
    The mucosa is the lining of your colon; the submucosa is the next layer. Your lymph glands are part of the lymphatic system, so it sounds like some cells have "invaded" a lymph node. The doctor WILL be able to put the whole picture together. Be sure to take notes.
    2 suggestions....the main ACS site has much info available; it may be worth a search if you are up for it. They also maintain a hot line, and may be able to put the results into understandable english. Good luck to you both; keep us posted; your mom is on my prayer list.
    Judy

    Judith thank you so much for your information. I have found a few sites with some helpful information but nothing to really ease my mind. Hopefully the doctor on monday will put my mind at ease. Thank you for your prayers and kindness it means alot!
  • Kanort
    Kanort Member Posts: 1,272 Member
    #4
    Hi,

    I don't have anything to add but to say that I'm sorry for your mom's diagnosis. Let us know if we can help in any way.

    We will be praying for you both.

    Kay
  • jewelbabejcj
    jewelbabejcj Member Posts: 7
    #5
    Kanort said:

    Hi,

    I don't have anything to add but to say that I'm sorry for your mom's diagnosis. Let us know if we can help in any way.

    We will be praying for you both.

    Kay

    Thank you Kay. We will take all of the pryers we can get! I am a true believer in miracles and I pray we have a positive outcome. I also forgot to mention that my mom is 52 and is in otherwise great health!!:)
  • kangatoo
    kangatoo Member Posts: 2,105 Member
    #6
    jewelbabejcj said:

    Thank you Kay. We will take all of the pryers we can get! I am a true believer in miracles and I pray we have a positive outcome. I also forgot to mention that my mom is 52 and is in otherwise great health!!:)

    Hiya Jewels from OZ. Waiting is really a pain and I know very frustrating. Don't go jumping the bridge 'til you get to it! There have been so many medical advances that our cancers can be very effectively controlled. In a lot of cases it is not until surgery that the "whole outlook" can be ascertained. Having said this it is important to seek as much info as possible to understand what is happening but also to keep an open mind until the doctors appointment on moday--very hard to do but sometimes medical terms can make us jump to conclusions which may/may not be correct. For example--for my surgery I was told I could probably end up with a colostomy--that didn't happen.
    Waiting is a real strain on you and your mum. We hope that the outcome on monday is good news and that your worries will be answered favourably. Our very best and prayers for you both, kanga n Jen
  • jewelbabejcj
    jewelbabejcj Member Posts: 7
    #7
    kangatoo said:

    Hiya Jewels from OZ. Waiting is really a pain and I know very frustrating. Don't go jumping the bridge 'til you get to it! There have been so many medical advances that our cancers can be very effectively controlled. In a lot of cases it is not until surgery that the "whole outlook" can be ascertained. Having said this it is important to seek as much info as possible to understand what is happening but also to keep an open mind until the doctors appointment on moday--very hard to do but sometimes medical terms can make us jump to conclusions which may/may not be correct. For example--for my surgery I was told I could probably end up with a colostomy--that didn't happen.
    Waiting is a real strain on you and your mum. We hope that the outcome on monday is good news and that your worries will be answered favourably. Our very best and prayers for you both, kanga n Jen

    Thank you! It is very hard not to jump to conclusions from what I have been reading. But, I have also read ALOT of positive information that has given me alot of hope! I am happy to hear you did not need the colostomy!! My mom says she can handle anything as long as she is alive! She is in good spirits today and not as glum as she has been the past few days. (May be she is a bit high from the pain medicine) But we know she is in God's hands! That is a comforting thought!!
  • steved
    steved Member Posts: 834 Member
    #8
    Welcome to the site jewelbabe- sorry you have to be here but I hope you find it useful. You will be seeing teh oncologist today so won't add anything more to general info already given except to say it is very early days getting your and your mum's head around this so do accept the next while is going to be a bit of rollercoaster. Six months on from my diagnosis I still have ups and downs about it and my wife and I really dread the trips to the docs for fear of bad news. We rememeber very well the initial faze when we were very angry at the whole thing and got really down at times. Roll with the emotions- time does heal them- and do try and educate yourself as much as possible. talk to your mum too and jsut be there for her when she needs you.
    Let us know how things go and best of luck,
    Steve

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