stage 3c colon cancer
Melanie
Comments
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Thats what i thought also. Idamama24 said:stage 3 colon cancer
I was dx with stageIV colon cancer in Aug.09. Have not had any surgery started chemo Sept 02. I have had 3 ct scans since then and will have anothwer in one month. march seems like a long time to wait. I would ask questions.
Thats what i thought also. I dont understand how they know if the treatment is working if they dont do scans..0 -
HI Melanie,
I assume your husband had a scan before surgery and his staging.... right? I'm also Stage III, completed chemo this past August and will have a scan in April. The new recommendations are 1 scan a year.
Sorry your husband had such an awful time of it!
It's very different for Stage IV. When other organs are involved, chemo is used to possibly shrink the tumors there, first.
Diane0 -
He did have a CT scan afterdianetavegia said:HI Melanie,
I assume your husband had a scan before surgery and his staging.... right? I'm also Stage III, completed chemo this past August and will have a scan in April. The new recommendations are 1 scan a year.
Sorry your husband had such an awful time of it!
It's very different for Stage IV. When other organs are involved, chemo is used to possibly shrink the tumors there, first.
Diane
He did have a CT scan after surgery. It didnt show any tumors anywhere else, it was just in the lymph nods.0 -
Sounds rightMelanieT said:He did have a CT scan after
He did have a CT scan after surgery. It didnt show any tumors anywhere else, it was just in the lymph nods.
Sounds like his onc is following the new guidelines.
) I'm sure they're doing bloodwork alongside his chemo and that will show any changes in his tumor markers and liver enzymes, etc.
Diane0 -
Ostomy
Melanie -
Make sure he drinks water frequently. An average of 4oz per hour
is good. It is very, very easy for Ileostomates to become dehydrated.
He can't wait to "feel thirsty", or for the common signs of dehydration
to appear. Drinking too much at any one time is useless, since
it will only go into the bag; his body can only absorb a specific
amount at one time. Drinking small amounts of water more frequently
is better than more all at once.
I was diagnosed with colon cancer 3+ years ago, staged at 3c/4.
The tumor consumed and totally blocked the colon, and grew through
that section of colon and into the next section of colon where it folds back.
Due to surgical errors, I had to be re-operated/opened a week after
the initial surgery, and received an ileostomy at that time.
It took me months to recover, so your spouse shouldn't expect too much.
Each case is different; each cancer is different. The statistics are
grim for all of us, regardless (if you believe the statistics).
I prepared for the worst, and remain thankful for seeing today.
The UOAA website for ostomates is here:
http://www.uoaa.org/
My best to both of you.0 -
Yes they do lots of blooddianetavegia said:Sounds right
Sounds like his onc is following the new guidelines.) I'm sure they're doing bloodwork alongside his chemo and that will show any changes in his tumor markers and liver enzymes, etc.
Diane
Yes they do lots of blood work more so because he is on coumadin.. Thanks for your help.. I just worry because he has been complaining alot of back pain lately and the whites in his eyes look a little yellow to me.. I am probubly seeing things that are not there just because i am so scared from all this..We have 4 daughters and this is so hard on all of us..thank you0 -
john23John23 said:Ostomy
Melanie -
Make sure he drinks water frequently. An average of 4oz per hour
is good. It is very, very easy for Ileostomates to become dehydrated.
He can't wait to "feel thirsty", or for the common signs of dehydration
to appear. Drinking too much at any one time is useless, since
it will only go into the bag; his body can only absorb a specific
amount at one time. Drinking small amounts of water more frequently
is better than more all at once.
I was diagnosed with colon cancer 3+ years ago, staged at 3c/4.
The tumor consumed and totally blocked the colon, and grew through
that section of colon and into the next section of colon where it folds back.
Due to surgical errors, I had to be re-operated/opened a week after
the initial surgery, and received an ileostomy at that time.
It took me months to recover, so your spouse shouldn't expect too much.
Each case is different; each cancer is different. The statistics are
grim for all of us, regardless (if you believe the statistics).
I prepared for the worst, and remain thankful for seeing today.
The UOAA website for ostomates is here:
http://www.uoaa.org/
My best to both of you.
thanks so much... It is a challenge everyday with having both the colos and the illiost... He has not been back to work and between healing from all the surgeries and now the chemo he is just to weak.. He gets very dehydrated very easy and has to go get fluids once a week from his oncologist.. your imput really helps.. thank you
Melanie0 -
More..MelanieT said:john23
thanks so much... It is a challenge everyday with having both the colos and the illiost... He has not been back to work and between healing from all the surgeries and now the chemo he is just to weak.. He gets very dehydrated very easy and has to go get fluids once a week from his oncologist.. your imput really helps.. thank you
Melanie
Melanie -
The UOAA site is great for ostomates in general, just as this site
is great for cancer victims in general.
You mentioned he has a colo and an ileo? Does he have a colostomy
and a urostomy, or "had" a colostomy and now has a ileostomy?
(I confuse easily) ( age, ya'know?) (it's the 2nd thing to go)
Generally, when they resect to an ileostomy, they remove the
ileocecal valve. I'll make this simple..... That's the valve between
the upper and lower intestines. The "valve" has two functions;
it keeps waste from backing up from the colon and into the
upper intestines.... and.... it allows the brain to control the flow
from the upper into the lower. So without that valve, everything
from the upper portion just flows down and out as fast as it can.
It presents two problems for the ileostomate. We become dehydrated
very easily (it's a constant battle), and we don't get the benefits
from our food intake as well as we should (it's going in/out faster).
Eating smaller portions more frequently, can be of benefit. But
much of the nutrients and minerals are absorbed in the colon,
and that's now missing.
The bigger problem is the hydration, though. So he has to make
sure he takes in water at least hourly. Remember, too much at
one time goes through and out. Small amounts more frequently
are best.
Good health!0 -
he has both right now but weJohn23 said:More..
Melanie -
The UOAA site is great for ostomates in general, just as this site
is great for cancer victims in general.
You mentioned he has a colo and an ileo? Does he have a colostomy
and a urostomy, or "had" a colostomy and now has a ileostomy?
(I confuse easily) ( age, ya'know?) (it's the 2nd thing to go)
Generally, when they resect to an ileostomy, they remove the
ileocecal valve. I'll make this simple..... That's the valve between
the upper and lower intestines. The "valve" has two functions;
it keeps waste from backing up from the colon and into the
upper intestines.... and.... it allows the brain to control the flow
from the upper into the lower. So without that valve, everything
from the upper portion just flows down and out as fast as it can.
It presents two problems for the ileostomate. We become dehydrated
very easily (it's a constant battle), and we don't get the benefits
from our food intake as well as we should (it's going in/out faster).
Eating smaller portions more frequently, can be of benefit. But
much of the nutrients and minerals are absorbed in the colon,
and that's now missing.
The bigger problem is the hydration, though. So he has to make
sure he takes in water at least hourly. Remember, too much at
one time goes through and out. Small amounts more frequently
are best.
Good health!
he has both right now but we just cap off the colost.. it only puts out a small amount of mucus.. thanks for the advice on keeping him hydrated that has been a huge strugle:)
my best,
Melanie0 -
stage 3 myselfMelanieT said:he has both right now but we
he has both right now but we just cap off the colost.. it only puts out a small amount of mucus.. thanks for the advice on keeping him hydrated that has been a huge strugle:)
my best,
Melanie
Melanie,
I was diagnosed with Stage 3 rectal cancer, had the scans right away, 6 weeks of oral chemo and radiation, then surgery to remove the tumor, a temporary illeostomy, then iv chemo for 6 months. Then I got the second set of scans and then the reversal of the ileostomy was done. So, not getting scans can be normal until treatment is complete.
Kathy0 -
Hello Melanie
Welcome to the board. My husband (Stage IV) had a CT scan right before surgery and then was not scanned until he completed his first 6 months of chemo. I asked midway about scans, etc. and our onc just said for his stage, we wait until after the chemo so we have a good picture of where we stand. Blood work was done weekly. Special blood work was done once a month. All indicators were that the chemo was working during treatment and the onc was right, the chemo definitely was working. Sometimes you just have to give it a little time. We all want it gone when surgery is done but sometimes it just takes some time but the waiting for results can be torture. George does not have a colostomy so I can offer you no information on that. I wish you well in your journey - Tina0 -
thats good to know,khl8 said:stage 3 myself
Melanie,
I was diagnosed with Stage 3 rectal cancer, had the scans right away, 6 weeks of oral chemo and radiation, then surgery to remove the tumor, a temporary illeostomy, then iv chemo for 6 months. Then I got the second set of scans and then the reversal of the ileostomy was done. So, not getting scans can be normal until treatment is complete.
Kathy
thats good to know, thanks... i think one of the hardest parts is waiting...0 -
thank you:) they seem togeotina said:Hello Melanie
Welcome to the board. My husband (Stage IV) had a CT scan right before surgery and then was not scanned until he completed his first 6 months of chemo. I asked midway about scans, etc. and our onc just said for his stage, we wait until after the chemo so we have a good picture of where we stand. Blood work was done weekly. Special blood work was done once a month. All indicators were that the chemo was working during treatment and the onc was right, the chemo definitely was working. Sometimes you just have to give it a little time. We all want it gone when surgery is done but sometimes it just takes some time but the waiting for results can be torture. George does not have a colostomy so I can offer you no information on that. I wish you well in your journey - Tina
thank you:) they seem to only do blood work once a month to check is CEA levels. Most of the time he does not even tell us the results of that.. I assume they are good and it is working or he would tell us... i hope anyways..0 -
question about treatmentJohn23 said:Ostomy
Melanie -
Make sure he drinks water frequently. An average of 4oz per hour
is good. It is very, very easy for Ileostomates to become dehydrated.
He can't wait to "feel thirsty", or for the common signs of dehydration
to appear. Drinking too much at any one time is useless, since
it will only go into the bag; his body can only absorb a specific
amount at one time. Drinking small amounts of water more frequently
is better than more all at once.
I was diagnosed with colon cancer 3+ years ago, staged at 3c/4.
The tumor consumed and totally blocked the colon, and grew through
that section of colon and into the next section of colon where it folds back.
Due to surgical errors, I had to be re-operated/opened a week after
the initial surgery, and received an ileostomy at that time.
It took me months to recover, so your spouse shouldn't expect too much.
Each case is different; each cancer is different. The statistics are
grim for all of us, regardless (if you believe the statistics).
I prepared for the worst, and remain thankful for seeing today.
The UOAA website for ostomates is here:
http://www.uoaa.org/
My best to both of you.
Hi John,
I too was Dx almost 3 years ago with stage IIIc rectal cancer. I've done the surgery, radiation and chemo but it's come back. I am interested in alternative treatments because I know that the poisons given will one day kill me if the cancer doesn't. Could you please tell me what treatment and where you found it? I am totally lost about Eastern meds. Thank you so much for any info you can pass on.
God bless you
Jill0 -
Always ask for your own copy of bloodwork, etcMelanieT said:thank you:) they seem to
thank you:) they seem to only do blood work once a month to check is CEA levels. Most of the time he does not even tell us the results of that.. I assume they are good and it is working or he would tell us... i hope anyways..
that way you can also track your progress. I always question my onc or nurses about my cell counts and I compare current with prior results.... Your immune system definitely is compromised due to the chemo (among other side effects).....Steve0
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