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too soon to recur?

tootsie1
tootsie1 CSN Member Posts: 5,044 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
I know I'm one of the most paranoid patients around, but I'm trying not to be. I had my surgery on Nov. 23. I was judged to be Stage I and clear at that time. Is it too soon for a recurrence, if it is going to happen? I've been having symptoms similar to what I had before the surgery, although at the time I thought it was all a manifestation of IBS. What's the soonest anyone has has a recurrence? I go for bloodwork on April 7th.
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Comments

  • kmygil
    kmygil CSN Member Posts: 876 Member
    #2
    Hi there. I don't have any reassurances for you, because I don't know the statistics, nor do I have personal experience. All I want to say is CANCER IS A #$%&*@# ANARCHIST! It doesn't follow rules, so take real symptoms seriously and have it checked out. If you were Stage I, I would remain optimistic. And you know what? It's not paranoia if they really are out to get you:)
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  • shmurciakova
    shmurciakova CSN Member Posts: 904 Member
    #3
    You could request a colonoscopy to just see what is going on in there. Your surgeon might be curious anyway just to see the resection area. Being Stage I it is highly unlikely that it would be a recurrence. I would say, most certainly not. The only thing that I can think of is that there is something going on at the incision site possibly? or it is unrelated? nerves? who knows.
    As for a recurrence, there are many of us who have things show up later on that were actually there since diagnosis but too small to see on the scans. For example, I had a liver met show up at my first checkup after finishing my chemo. It was not a recurrence per se, because they felt it had been there but was "held at bay" by the chemo. Same thing with my lung mets.
    If there is going to be a problem though, it usually happens in the first six months. The farther out you get, the less likely you are to have a recurrence.
    Just go get it checked out, give the surgeon a call, but try not to worry about. I know that is easier said than done, but in your logical mind, you know you were Stage I, so that is VERY early.
    -Susan
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  • rmap59
    rmap59 CSN Member Posts: 266
    #4
    I also had symptoms after surgery of bowel changes similar to the ones I had right before my dx with rectal cancer. My surgeon told me that since I had a resection and removal of half of my rectum that I would have differences in my bowel habits. So I dont know what kind of surgery you had but I would say this could be normal and pass or get better with time. However, just to be on the safe side I would talk to my doctors.
    Robin
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