Second Colonoscopy and Update

Dxed

Today I had my second colonoscopy (1st and history http://csn.cancer.org/node/251118). As few posters suggested in the earlier thread, the doctor seems to want to confirm and verify the first diagnosis. Having read and seen the earlier scans and colonoscopy and read the histological report, he does not seem too impressed with the earlier diagnosis. He said many promising things after my second colonoscopy. I talked to him afterwards, and he said we’ll have our own diagnosis, and I’ve been scheduled for admission on Saturday and my operation will most likely be on Sunday.


I threw at him the few things I’ve learned so far, most importantly the inclusion/exclusion of “cimetidine” and the protocol I will be following pre and post operation. He said until we are certain of what we have, it is premature to talk about what will and will not be in for me. He however said something a bit strange to me: there is a high possibility he will be doing the surgery *endoscopically*. Is that good, bad, normal, abnormal, weird?
Thanks for your thoughts and any experience you have had

Sander

Lovekitties

Sounds good
Endoscopic surgeries are minimally invasive. Rather than a large incision to open the surgical field, small holes are opened at strategic locations for the insertion of the instuments.

This type of surgery usually has a faster recovery time. It does not mean however that you won't have after surgery pain...after all they are still cutting the same amount inside, just less to get to the site.

It is not abnormal or weird, but many of us were not candidates for this type of surgery due to location of tumor or other issues from disease.

Wishing you the best as you prepare for the surgery and hope that your recovery goes smoothly.

Marie who loves kitties

Dxed

Lovekitties said:

Sounds good
Endoscopic surgeries are minimally invasive. Rather than a large incision to open the surgical field, small holes are opened at strategic locations for the insertion of the instuments.

This type of surgery usually has a faster recovery time. It does not mean however that you won't have after surgery pain...after all they are still cutting the same amount inside, just less to get to the site.

It is not abnormal or weird, but many of us were not candidates for this type of surgery due to location of tumor or other issues from disease.

Wishing you the best as you prepare for the surgery and hope that your recovery goes smoothly.

Marie who loves kitties

Thank you Marie for this
Thank you Marie for this quick response and for all the good things you've been posting; cannot find the right words to express my appreciation. It is comforting to know what it is. Let me call on your generous knowledge once more: Do you think they will batch the thing instantly or still I will be using a bag for a time?

thank you


Sander

tachilders

Hoping for good news on your
Hoping for good news on your second colonoscopy!!!

tachilders

Hoping for good news on your
Hoping for good news on your second colonoscopy!!!

Lovekitties

Dxed said:

Thank you Marie for this
Thank you Marie for this quick response and for all the good things you've been posting; cannot find the right words to express my appreciation. It is comforting to know what it is. Let me call on your generous knowledge once more: Do you think they will batch the thing instantly or still I will be using a bag for a time?

thank you


Sander

Hi Sander
No thanks necessary. I am just trying to help you as other folks helped me when I first started on the journey.

Your question is a good one as far as will you need a colostomy. I know it can be done with endoscopic surgery, however, with the new tests you have had it may be that the surgeon feels that he may be able to remove what is needed and immediately reconnect.

This is definately a question for your surgeon. Either way, I feel certain that you will do fine.

Take care,

Marie who loves kitties

Dxed

tachilders said:

Hoping for good news on your
Hoping for good news on your second colonoscopy!!!

Thanks
Childers(tedd?)

Thanks for your kind words; hope I wont be disappointed.

danker

Dxed said:

Thank you Marie for this
Thank you Marie for this quick response and for all the good things you've been posting; cannot find the right words to express my appreciation. It is comforting to know what it is. Let me call on your generous knowledge once more: Do you think they will batch the thing instantly or still I will be using a bag for a time?

thank you


Sander

surgery
It is hard to say until the go inside you. Even with the immediate reconnect, you may have a temporary ileostomy. This gives your large
intestine a chance to heal and rest being unused. Then a reversal of the ileostomy reconnects all the plumbing. Its a little bumpier, but still doable. Good luck to you!

Dxed

Lovekitties said:

Hi Sander
No thanks necessary. I am just trying to help you as other folks helped me when I first started on the journey.

Your question is a good one as far as will you need a colostomy. I know it can be done with endoscopic surgery, however, with the new tests you have had it may be that the surgeon feels that he may be able to remove what is needed and immediately reconnect.

This is definately a question for your surgeon. Either way, I feel certain that you will do fine.

Take care,

Marie who loves kitties

Thank you
thank you again. Most of the time I get ahead of myself. This once, however, I think I can wait and see.

Dxed

danker said:

surgery
It is hard to say until the go inside you. Even with the immediate reconnect, you may have a temporary ileostomy. This gives your large
intestine a chance to heal and rest being unused. Then a reversal of the ileostomy reconnects all the plumbing. Its a little bumpier, but still doable. Good luck to you!

Good points
The rationale sounds reasonable. Healing and rest should be a concern. thank you

Chelsea71

Your situation sounds very
Your situation sounds very very good. Endoscopically is good. Great that you're having this tended to so quickly. Sounds like really good news. Good luck!

Chelsea

Annabelle41415

Surgery
This is a better way to have it done, but mine wasn't able to be done that way. I'm not sure the reasons why or why not. I'm comfused, do you have cancer or are they still waiting for the report on that? Good luck on the upcoming surgery and let us know how you are doing.

Kim

dmj101

Annabelle41415 said:

Surgery
This is a better way to have it done, but mine wasn't able to be done that way. I'm not sure the reasons why or why not. I'm comfused, do you have cancer or are they still waiting for the report on that? Good luck on the upcoming surgery and let us know how you are doing.

Kim

that was my question in his
that was my question in his last posting.. there have thus far been no pathologies he has spoken to.. they haven't biopsied so how can they be sure.. unles DX has not told us

Dxed

Chelsea71 said:

Your situation sounds very
Your situation sounds very very good. Endoscopically is good. Great that you're having this tended to so quickly. Sounds like really good news. Good luck!

Chelsea

hope so

I hope i've attended to the problem soon enough. Thanks for the reassuring remarks.

Dxed

Annabelle41415 said:

Surgery
This is a better way to have it done, but mine wasn't able to be done that way. I'm not sure the reasons why or why not. I'm comfused, do you have cancer or are they still waiting for the report on that? Good luck on the upcoming surgery and let us know how you are doing.

Kim

Hi Kim & dmj101
Thanks for your wishes. I am diagnosed with sigmoid cancer, had all the necessary scans. my first doctor referred me to the university hospital with the following results:

The biopsies (of a 7cm sigmoid area targeted for surgery) were 12 tan tissue fragments averaging 0.4x0.2x0.2 cm. Their histological report reads “Colon mass biopsies (rectal sigmoid ulcer): Invasive adenocarcinoma” [details under #3 below].

The colonoscopy showed also a 6mm proximal sigmoid polyp and a tiny 3-4mm rectal polyp. The results of all four specimens are below:

1. Colon biopsies (proximal sigmoid polyp): Tubular adenoma with focal high grade dysplasia.

2. Colon mass biopsies (rectal sigmoid ulcer): Invasive adenocarcinoma
3. Colon biopsies (rectal):
a. focal active colitis, mild, with focal cryptitis and occasional superficial granulation tissue formation; consistent with erosion
b. No granuloma or significant crypt architecture distortion noted.
c. No evidence of malignancy.
d. Clinicopathological correlation is advised

4. Colon polyp biopsies (rectal polyp): Cauterized colonic tissue, with features consistent with hyperplastic polyp. No evidence of malignancy.

The university group asked for blood tests which I gave last Wednesday. Last Monday I had a colonoscopy there, then was scheduled for an endoscopic surgery next Sunday. I met the surgeon who told me they cannot start the treatment until they they've excised the 7cm part and sent it to the lab.

Please feel free to comment, advise, suggest and give voice to your thoughts. I do appreciate any help I get.

Ajax

Dxed said:

Hi Kim & dmj101
Thanks for your wishes. I am diagnosed with sigmoid cancer, had all the necessary scans. my first doctor referred me to the university hospital with the following results:

The biopsies (of a 7cm sigmoid area targeted for surgery) were 12 tan tissue fragments averaging 0.4x0.2x0.2 cm. Their histological report reads “Colon mass biopsies (rectal sigmoid ulcer): Invasive adenocarcinoma” [details under #3 below].

The colonoscopy showed also a 6mm proximal sigmoid polyp and a tiny 3-4mm rectal polyp. The results of all four specimens are below:

1. Colon biopsies (proximal sigmoid polyp): Tubular adenoma with focal high grade dysplasia.

2. Colon mass biopsies (rectal sigmoid ulcer): Invasive adenocarcinoma
3. Colon biopsies (rectal):
a. focal active colitis, mild, with focal cryptitis and occasional superficial granulation tissue formation; consistent with erosion
b. No granuloma or significant crypt architecture distortion noted.
c. No evidence of malignancy.
d. Clinicopathological correlation is advised

4. Colon polyp biopsies (rectal polyp): Cauterized colonic tissue, with features consistent with hyperplastic polyp. No evidence of malignancy.

The university group asked for blood tests which I gave last Wednesday. Last Monday I had a colonoscopy there, then was scheduled for an endoscopic surgery next Sunday. I met the surgeon who told me they cannot start the treatment until they they've excised the 7cm part and sent it to the lab.

Please feel free to comment, advise, suggest and give voice to your thoughts. I do appreciate any help I get.

Endoscopy
I was dx with sigmoid and rectal cancer last year. Had my sigmoid colon removed and half of my rectum with laparoscopic surgery. In on dec 15 home Dec 18. Successfull connected everything up and did not need a colostomy Path staged me at stage 3A. Had 6 month of FU5 and am all clear on my first anniversary of cancer.

If your doc can do it with minimal invasive surgery, it's a good thing. Recovery is quicker. If not, it's not bad just different. Should have no impact on your cancer prognosis.

Best of luck to you.

Dxed

Ajax said:

Endoscopy
I was dx with sigmoid and rectal cancer last year. Had my sigmoid colon removed and half of my rectum with laparoscopic surgery. In on dec 15 home Dec 18. Successfull connected everything up and did not need a colostomy Path staged me at stage 3A. Had 6 month of FU5 and am all clear on my first anniversary of cancer.

If your doc can do it with minimal invasive surgery, it's a good thing. Recovery is quicker. If not, it's not bad just different. Should have no impact on your cancer prognosis.

Best of luck to you.

Thanks Ajax


Happy free anniversary and many future free returns. Thanks for sharing your experience. My surgeon was optimistic, he said nothing about colostomy, but he also said nothing about anything else. I asked about the treatment plan afterwards and he said we have to send the excised part to the lab first before we decide on a plan. At that moment my impression was that he intended to connect things immediately; only after leaving the hospital did I wish to have asked.

Thanks again, wish you all the best

Sander

thxmiker

Dxed said:

Thanks Ajax


Happy free anniversary and many future free returns. Thanks for sharing your experience. My surgeon was optimistic, he said nothing about colostomy, but he also said nothing about anything else. I asked about the treatment plan afterwards and he said we have to send the excised part to the lab first before we decide on a plan. At that moment my impression was that he intended to connect things immediately; only after leaving the hospital did I wish to have asked.

Thanks again, wish you all the best

Sander

Congrats that you caught it
Congrats that you caught it early! No one wants to hear they have cancer. When it is caught early, then one needs to be monitored for a few years closely, to get them out of the higher risk time. (Usually 3-5 years. Then one is back to low risk again.)

Best Always, mike

LivinginNH

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Dxed

thxmiker said:

Congrats that you caught it
Congrats that you caught it early! No one wants to hear they have cancer. When it is caught early, then one needs to be monitored for a few years closely, to get them out of the higher risk time. (Usually 3-5 years. Then one is back to low risk again.)

Best Always, mike

Thanks Mike

 

By now you already know the rest of the story so far ("please comment on my options). oncologist and surgeon are optimistic and think things are "OK+" at this point.

 

I just bought myself "Milk thistle"; found it at GNC.

 

Best of luck

 

Sander

 

Dxed

LivinginNH said:

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thanks for bringing the post

thanks for bringing the post back to life.