Big day!

Denise1966
Denise1966 Member Posts: 90
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Well here I am, the day I finally find out the biopsy results. I woke up at 5:00 a.m. nervous and scared. My appt isn't until 6:30 tonight. This is going to be tough. Need a few opinions, should I schedule an oncologist first or surgeon? I have a ton of questions and can't seem to make myself comfortable with any answer. How did everyone get through geting these results? In my mind I have the worst stage IV (are there different symptoms for the later stages?) I'm hoping for stage I or II, but I don't have that kind of luck. Would really like it to be benign (ha-ha!) I think I'm rambling again, so sorry!

Comments

  • kmygil
    kmygil Member Posts: 876 Member
    #2
    Hi Denise,

    Let me introduce myself. I am Kirsten and I am a stage II-a colon cancer and a Grade 1-a endometrial cancer survivor. Dx'd w/colon ca on 08/18/06, surgery 08/30/06 and Folfox regime from Oct 06 thru Feb 07. Dx'd w/endometrial ca in June 07 and surgery July 07. No chemo for the endo. I asked my GI doc who he would send his own wife to for the surgery and he sent me to a super surgeon. The surgeon in turn told me which oncologist he would send his wife to, so I got really great doctors all the way through. When my gynecologist dx'd me w/the endometrial, she said she would go to a certain gynecological onc if it was her, so I got another great doctor.

    Waiting is the hardest thing, and to have to wait ALL DAY is super hard. In my case, I prepared for the worst, but hoped for the best, and it came out rather well. If you have a tendency to get depressed (which I do), don't be shy about asking for antidepressants. A strong support base is really great. My friends and family were THERE, and I will always be grateful for that.

    Everyone was right. Write down every question that comes to mind and ask away. A good doctor will be happy to answer your questions and will have no problem with you seeking second or third opinions. If you find that you need chemo, the chemo nurses are usually awesome and can answer a whole lot of questions for you since they work with chemo patients all day long & learn a lot from them.

    Take things one step at a time. If you think about the whole thing, you will get overwhelmed. This is the best place to come. Everyone here is awesome. You can vent, ask and contribute.

    I hope you are early stage and all you will need is surgery. You are in my prayers.
  • claud1951
    claud1951 Member Posts: 424 Member
    #3
    Denise,

    The Oncologist won't know what "Stage" it is until the Surgeon goes in to remove what they find and sends to the lab for testing. (Someone else can correct me if I'm wrong, please).

    The Onc can suggest (tests) before the surgery, like a PET but not tell you how to be treated until they get the results.

    You can asks about different Oncologist and get a feel for who you'd like to go to.

    Sending good vibes your way~~~~~~~~~~~
    Claudia
  • tootsie1
    tootsie1 Member Posts: 5,044 Member
    #4
    I had the surgeon first and then got the oncologist after surgery. My family doctor recommended both (all 3 are excellent). I think the surgeon should come first, as Claudia said, so the oncologist knows what stage you're dealing with.
  • apache4
    apache4 Member Posts: 272 Member
    #5
    Hi Denise,
    I will be thinking good thoughts for your diagnosis today...feel them coming your way?
    I was dx'd with Stage IV and so many mets to liver that they could not be counted. That was June of 'o6. The gastro guy who did the colonoscopy contacted a surgeon while I was still recovering from the procedure. They kept me in hospital and operated next day. That was scary and fast, but at least I did not have to prep again :) The surgeon contacted an onc friend of his at the local cancer center and he visited with me while I was still in the hospital. Explained the planned treatment, ordered the Port-a Cath and all has been well. I did 16 rounds of the Folfox regimen, was NED for awile with all those tumors looking real dead on a PET scan and now, with a small recurrance in liver, I am on Folfiri. I was lucky with no lymph node spread and, so far, everything is in the liver. I feel great except for the third day of chemo and am doing everythng I like. I do get a bit tired, but I am also two weeks away from being 64. I recently moved to Tampa, from East Texas, and going to a major center, Moffitt Cancer Center. I found them through the American Cancer Society website so you might want to try that for your options or they could refer to a local center. I was treated very well at my local center in Texas, but the bigger, major center here makes me more comfortable. Just know that whatever happens, life can go on and even though it is changed, it is well worth it :)
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #6
    Breathe. Easy, huh? You know, I was in so much pain (my tumor was pressing against my tailbone), that if they would have said "Wait over there, paint yourself yellow, and stand on your head and your pain will be gone", I would have done it...lol!

    Yes, waiting is the worst, but this is a process...not a quick fix. If nothing else, I learned patience thru my cancer journey. Find a funny movie to watch (Mel Brooks are my favs....) and realize that even tho the clock hands seem to be glued in place, they ARE moving!

    True staging, it is true, can not be done without surgery. But the biopsy will start the process...like you said, maybe it's benign!!!! You never know....

    Hugs, Kathi
  • KierstenRx
    KierstenRx Member Posts: 249
    #7
    Denise,
    I still say oncologist first. Yes the surgery will stage the cancer, but through a PET scan/CT, and blood work an oncologist can formulate the best overall treatment for you. The surgeons job is to remove the cancer, the oncologist will be over your entire treatment plan from beginning till several years in the future. The best case senario is to consult with an oncologist before you decide on anything and have your oncologist and surgeon work together for the absolute best possible outcome for you. As a healthcare professional, I have seen too many patients rush into procedures without getting additional opinions and wish later that they would have.

    No matter what your stage may be your doctors will come up with a plan. Take it day by day.

    Kiersten

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