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caseyarm
caseyarm Member Posts: 8
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
I have been dx on Dec. 1 2008 with colon cancer. I am a male 58 years of age and had a colonoscopy which lead to dx. My doctor said I will need surgery but first wants a cat scan to see if it has spread any further. My cat scan is set for Jan.9th with followup on Jan. 16th. This seems long to wait for this news although I understand it is christmas. I had a quad heart bypass in June 2008 so I feel I can fight this the same. My children are very upset and I regret having to put them through this again so soon. It is still sinking in and I am happy to find this site asc it has sdo much information that will be helpful in the upcoming months. Thanks for letting me vent.

Comments

  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #2
    Welcome...
    There are so many different experiences here...from real, live people!!!

    Welcome to the group! Please keep us posted about the results. It sounds like you are a true warrior, and have the fighting spirit!!!

    Hugs, Kathi
  • PGLGreg
    PGLGreg Member Posts: 731
    #3
    That's slow.
    I was diagnosed almost exactly 3 years before you were, but had a ct scan, ultrasound and other tests, then surgery, all in the next 5 days. I suppose there could be some good reasons you are being made to wait so long -- maybe your tumor looks so nice and small that your doc just doesn't see any need to rush, or maybe he's waiting for some top-notch surgeon to become available. Here's hoping, and good luck.
  • Faith4Cure
    Faith4Cure Member Posts: 405 Member
    #4
    Welcome
    Welcome to this site, but so sorry you had reason to find us. This is a great source of information, encouragement, and support. There are many positive stories to help you remain optimistic through out this journey. My prayers are with you and your family as you continue with your tests to find out what your treatment will be. Have faith and God Bless!

    Faith
  • pamness
    pamness Member Posts: 524 Member
    #5
    It is a long wait.
    I was diagnosed with colon cancer via colonoscopy and had CT and MRI the next day - got the results the next day. They showed nothing. I had one cancerous polyp. I had surgery two weeks later and the biopsy did take five days - it showed two positive lymph nodes.

    After surgery, chemo and radiation - I am 17 months ned.

    A week between CT scan and results is long. Usually they are reported the next day.

    I wish you well.

    Are you being treated at a major cancer center. By the way my colonoscopy was January 8, 2007. I was treated at Mass General in Boston.

    Pam
  • msccolon
    msccolon Member Posts: 1,917 Member
    #6
    welcome
    Sorry you had to find us, but we are glad to welcome you. I had a CT scan as soon as the drugs from the colonoscopy wore off; had my colonoscopy at the day surgery at the hospital, so it was just a small trip down the hall to the scanner. I was originally diagnosed back in 2004. When I was first diagnosed, things went pretty quickly. The colonoscopy was on August 12, my surgery was 25th. As I have travelled along with the beast, usually I'll get scans and the results appointment a week later; more to do with doctor days/hours at the clinic I go to than the length of time it takes to get the results. I agree with others, the results are usually actually ready the next day. Maybe you can ask your doc for a sooner appointment to get the results, or pick up the results at the place the scans are done yourself (although since you are a newbie, probably better to have a doctor to help you translate the scan results). Good luck with everything and we look forward to getting more information as you move along this journey. We are always open, come as you are!
    mary
  • lisa42
    lisa42 Member Posts: 3,625 Member
    #7
    Hello,
    Sorry you had the
    Hello,
    Sorry you had the need to find this group- so sorry for your dx. Anyhow, I wanted to comment that they are definitely making you wait a long time to get your CT scan results. You actually shouldn't have to wait for your follow up appt. to get the results. You know, I never wait to get the CT scan results at my follow up because the results should be faxed to your Dr.'s office by that next day. Instead of waiting, I'd call the office and ask if you could go by the office and pick up a copy of the results. My oncologoy office knows to have a copy of the report made and waiting for me now! Hopefully, your results will be "all clear"! If everything is clear, then you shouldn't have to wait so long to hear about it. But, in the chance that they aren't, I still think it would be better to find out that news ahead of time, let it sink in, read the report for yourself, then be fully prepared with the information and questions on the day of the follow up appt. I'm dealing with already knowing mine spread, so my scan news each time is finding out what has shrunk, what's still there, etc. I've found that my oncologist doesn't tell me all the details from the report during my appt, then I end up with more questions afterwards when I finally see the CT scan or PET scan report for myself.

    Best wishes to you- there are so many advances lately in this disease- you WILL be okay!!
    Take care,
    Lisa
  • Buzzard
    Buzzard Member Posts: 3,043 Member
    #8
    lisa42 said:

    Hello,
    Sorry you had the
    Hello,
    Sorry you had the need to find this group- so sorry for your dx. Anyhow, I wanted to comment that they are definitely making you wait a long time to get your CT scan results. You actually shouldn't have to wait for your follow up appt. to get the results. You know, I never wait to get the CT scan results at my follow up because the results should be faxed to your Dr.'s office by that next day. Instead of waiting, I'd call the office and ask if you could go by the office and pick up a copy of the results. My oncologoy office knows to have a copy of the report made and waiting for me now! Hopefully, your results will be "all clear"! If everything is clear, then you shouldn't have to wait so long to hear about it. But, in the chance that they aren't, I still think it would be better to find out that news ahead of time, let it sink in, read the report for yourself, then be fully prepared with the information and questions on the day of the follow up appt. I'm dealing with already knowing mine spread, so my scan news each time is finding out what has shrunk, what's still there, etc. I've found that my oncologist doesn't tell me all the details from the report during my appt, then I end up with more questions afterwards when I finally see the CT scan or PET scan report for myself.

    Best wishes to you- there are so many advances lately in this disease- you WILL be okay!!
    Take care,
    Lisa

    CT Scans and MRIs.........
    Results withing 2 hours of them being done. I have contacts in my imagery center here. My Dr told me results in 3 days , I ask my friend at the Imagery center how long and they told me 2 hours. I immediately walked back over to the Oncs office and informed them that I wasn't going anywhere until I talked to him personally. I was told he was gone to another office for the day. I told them that it takes 2 hours to get the results back and how would you feel if you had 4 young kids and a wife counting on you to stay alive and you had to wait 3 days to find out something you can know in 3 hours. I told them I better hear something today....I was called at 3:15 the very same day and was told the MRI was fine. It makes a difference how educated you are in these areas. If you stay on this forum for very long you get very well versed in all ares of care and expectations.......You have to become your own care treatment person and stay off the internet sites except for this one. They are normally 10 years behind and will scare the bejeesus out of you. This site has all the answers except for the cure........and we'll have that too before long...........Good Luck God Bless and have a Merry Christmas.....its in the Lords hands now, let him have it and you enjoy his birthday....

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