Second Opinion?

Nolelovr
Nolelovr Member Posts: 12
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
I had a resection on 4-21-06 with 6 lymph nodes removed. All were negative and the surgeon said no further treatment was needed. I have had a few friends say I need to follow up with an oncologist to make sure he/she would be in agreement. No cancer cells were found outside the mucosa...the surgeon said it was staged at 1A. What do you guys think? Thanks in advance for your input! Joyce

Comments

  • lfondots63
    lfondots63 Member Posts: 818 Member
    #2
    Hi Joyce,

    First I want to say CONGRATS that no nodes were positive. Take that as a good thing. It is always ok to get a second opinion. It is your body and everyone worries about the beast rearing it's head again. Go to an onc and see what they say. They would also be good to continue watching you. Did the surgeon say you should come back again for a check up? Good vibes your way!

    Lisa
  • spongebob
    spongebob Member Posts: 2,565 Member
    #3
    Joyce -

    In my opinion, the answer to your question is in your question itself. Who was it that said the surgery cured all of your cancer? I respectfully submit it was THE SURGEON! What is a surgeon's specialty? Doing surgery. I agree with your friends... go see the cancer expert to get an opinion on your cancer - of course the surgeon (often considered the fighter pilots of the medical world) thinks he got 'er done. Make sure...

    - SpongeBob
  • AuthorUnknown
    AuthorUnknown Member Posts: 1,537 Member
    #4
    Hello Joyce,

    This sounds strange to me: if lymph nodes were negative, why did the surgeon remove them?

    The surgeon should have referred you to an oncologist. This is the usual procedure any time cancer is found. It is the oncologist who would determine the stage and recommend the treatment if necessary. So, you should ask the surgeon for the referral if he/she did not give you one.

    Best wishes, Eleonora
  • rt44
    rt44 Member Posts: 5
    #5
    We have a similar story...My surgery was on the 10th of April. I am interested in knowing how your post op is going particularly in respect to your bowels. Trying to get a handle on what to eat, etc. to speed the process along. I never considered an oncologist was too happy to hear they got it all.
  • Joy1216
    Joy1216 Member Posts: 290 Member
    #6
    I had a right hemicolectomy on 03/22 (oh, well, I got a free appendectomy) and my tumor was also staged at 1A. My surgeon recommended no further treatment, but he referred me to an oncologist at the cancer center. The oncologist agreed with the surgeon about no treatment. I go back for another colonoscopy in 6 months (my first colonoscopy - no symptoms - was how they found the cancer in the first place. What a shock!). I also met with a dietitian at the cancer center. Going to the oncologist and dietitian was invaluable to me. Joy
  • rt44
    rt44 Member Posts: 5
    #7
    Joy1216 said:

    I had a right hemicolectomy on 03/22 (oh, well, I got a free appendectomy) and my tumor was also staged at 1A. My surgeon recommended no further treatment, but he referred me to an oncologist at the cancer center. The oncologist agreed with the surgeon about no treatment. I go back for another colonoscopy in 6 months (my first colonoscopy - no symptoms - was how they found the cancer in the first place. What a shock!). I also met with a dietitian at the cancer center. Going to the oncologist and dietitian was invaluable to me. Joy

    Joy, would be interested in hearing what the dietician recommended you eat
  • Joy1216
    Joy1216 Member Posts: 290 Member
    #8
    rt44 said:

    Joy, would be interested in hearing what the dietician recommended you eat

    She said that exercise (30-45 minutes a day 4-5 days/week), maintaining a proper weight, taking a multivitamin such as Centrum Silver, taking Calcium with Vitamin D, and eating 25 grams of ground flax seed were as important as diet acccording to recent studies. That surprised me because I had been reading how much diet and heredity contributed to the development of colon cancer. She recommended a low fat diet, 25-30 grams of fiber (including the 10 from the flax seed), 8 glasses of water, 3-5 servings of veggies, 2-4 servings of fruit, 6 servings of whole grains, 1500 calories, and 72-84 grams of protein (to promote healing). The ground flax seed tastes like cardboard no matter what I mix it with. She said to grind it in a coffee grinder right before eating it. She said that recent studies had not shown any benefit from organic fruits, veggies, and meats, but they wouldn't hurt. In case you are impressed with my great memory, she wrote most of this info in the back of a booklet from the National Cancer Institute called "Eating Hints for Cancer Patients Before, During, and After Treatment." She also said that the diets for preventing breast and colon cancer are the same and she gave me a copy of an article called "Life after Breast Cancer-Diet, Nutrition, and Lifestyle Factors." Joy
  • rt44
    rt44 Member Posts: 5
    #9
    Joy1216 said:

    She said that exercise (30-45 minutes a day 4-5 days/week), maintaining a proper weight, taking a multivitamin such as Centrum Silver, taking Calcium with Vitamin D, and eating 25 grams of ground flax seed were as important as diet acccording to recent studies. That surprised me because I had been reading how much diet and heredity contributed to the development of colon cancer. She recommended a low fat diet, 25-30 grams of fiber (including the 10 from the flax seed), 8 glasses of water, 3-5 servings of veggies, 2-4 servings of fruit, 6 servings of whole grains, 1500 calories, and 72-84 grams of protein (to promote healing). The ground flax seed tastes like cardboard no matter what I mix it with. She said to grind it in a coffee grinder right before eating it. She said that recent studies had not shown any benefit from organic fruits, veggies, and meats, but they wouldn't hurt. In case you are impressed with my great memory, she wrote most of this info in the back of a booklet from the National Cancer Institute called "Eating Hints for Cancer Patients Before, During, and After Treatment." She also said that the diets for preventing breast and colon cancer are the same and she gave me a copy of an article called "Life after Breast Cancer-Diet, Nutrition, and Lifestyle Factors." Joy

    are you following these recommendations now? my bowels are so screwed up; am almost afraid to eat anything...my surgery was on 4/10

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