I am so scared............

gerryo
gerryo Member Posts: 50
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
This is my first time posting. My husband was diagnosed 6/2008. Stage 1, T2, N0, Mx. He had colon resection, but no chemo. He was doing great until a few months ago when his cea started going up. The highest is has been is 4.9, high enough for his onc to have a pet/ct done on 7/7/10. IMPRESSION: 2.8 x 2.0 soft tissue mass within the right mesentery. Highly suspicious for recurrent metastatic colon carcinoma likely with mesenteric lymph nodes. Appt with surgery onc on 7/19 at emory university in atlanta. By the way, my husband looks and acts like the picture of health. No ca signs at all.
What I need to know: what should I ask the surgeon.

Comments

  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #2
    I'm sure there will be others more familiar...
    But I send good, strong vibes to you both!!!

    (I was dx'ed stage III rectal cancer, never sick, looked great...just goes to show you how sneaky this beast is!!!)

    Hugs, Kathi
  • dorookie
    dorookie Member Posts: 1,731 Member
    #3
    Praying for your hubby
    I will be praying for your hubby, there is so many things that you will come to know about, I would ask about possibility about chemo, radiation and what kinds? Right now you need to get through the surgery, then deal with what comes...I would suggest you get a notebook, and every time you have a question for the doctor, write it down so you dont forget it. Take that pen and paper with you to each appointment, so you can write down the answers, so many things will be going on your going to need a little help keeping everything straight.

    Stay strong and keep the Faith..

    HUGS
    Beth
  • John23
    John23 Member Posts: 2,122 Member
    #4
    The rarity of Mesenteric Tumors being malignant.

    Days prior to my massive colon tumor nearly killing me,
    I was the picture of health.

    Overweight perhaps, and the usual health of a guy in his 60s,
    but decent health. I thought I had IBS, and a western medicine
    doc confirmed my suspicions. He said I was "too healthy to have
    cancer". Imagine that.

    That was over three years ago, and I'm still the picture of health.
    The "before" of the "before and after" picture, that is....

    Mesenteric tumors are not always malignant, and apparently
    not all that uncommon.

    (I did not have Mesenteric Tumors)

    See here: Mesenteric Tumors

    I would strongly suggest a second opinion, and even a third opinion,
    from a colorectal surgeon outside of the association of your present
    physicians. I personally feel that other "outside" opinions are imperative
    whenever any invasive surgery or medical practice will be involved.

    Basing your life's outcome on one person's opinion, or the general
    opinion of all physician's belonging to the same association, is not
    a good idea. Mistakes are often made, and sometimes procedures are
    ordered arbitrarily; often not needed and often leading to more complex
    and costly procedures.

    Don't allow fear to guide you; fear can all too often lead people
    off cliffs. Use your intuition and common sense; trust in that. It's
    what wild animals trust to stay alive, and all we are, are animals.

    Take your time, and get other opinions.

    Good health!

    John
  • Sonia32
    Sonia32 Member Posts: 1,071 Member
    #5
    Praying as well...
    ...for both you and your husband. You both beat this beast once, you'll do it again. Hugs
  • Brenda3.16
    Brenda3.16 Member Posts: 209
    #6
    Sonia32 said:

    Praying as well...
    ...for both you and your husband. You both beat this beast once, you'll do it again. Hugs

    Welcome to the board. You
    Welcome to the board. You found an amazing group of people that will help you get through this. I was DX in March 2009 with stage 4 colon cancer. I was terrified. I couldn't sleep, eat or think straight. Finding this board really helped me. There is a lot of hope on this board for all stages of cancer. People are beating cancer, and some people , like me and many others, are living good lives with long term treatment.

    Brenda
  • tootsie1
    tootsie1 Member Posts: 5,044 Member
    #7
    Very sorry
    I'm so sorry this has happened. I, too, was diagnosed at Stage 1 (Nov. '07). Also did not have chemo.

    I do pray that everything will turn out GREAT in this case.

    *hugs*
    Gail
  • gerryo
    gerryo Member Posts: 50
    #8
    John23 said:

    The rarity of Mesenteric Tumors being malignant.

    Days prior to my massive colon tumor nearly killing me,
    I was the picture of health.

    Overweight perhaps, and the usual health of a guy in his 60s,
    but decent health. I thought I had IBS, and a western medicine
    doc confirmed my suspicions. He said I was "too healthy to have
    cancer". Imagine that.

    That was over three years ago, and I'm still the picture of health.
    The "before" of the "before and after" picture, that is....

    Mesenteric tumors are not always malignant, and apparently
    not all that uncommon.

    (I did not have Mesenteric Tumors)

    See here: Mesenteric Tumors

    I would strongly suggest a second opinion, and even a third opinion,
    from a colorectal surgeon outside of the association of your present
    physicians. I personally feel that other "outside" opinions are imperative
    whenever any invasive surgery or medical practice will be involved.

    Basing your life's outcome on one person's opinion, or the general
    opinion of all physician's belonging to the same association, is not
    a good idea. Mistakes are often made, and sometimes procedures are
    ordered arbitrarily; often not needed and often leading to more complex
    and costly procedures.

    Don't allow fear to guide you; fear can all too often lead people
    off cliffs. Use your intuition and common sense; trust in that. It's
    what wild animals trust to stay alive, and all we are, are animals.

    Take your time, and get other opinions.

    Good health!

    John

    Thanks for your help. It
    Thanks for your help. It has made me feel better. Will let you know what the outcome is after we see the surgeon.

    Hang Tight, Gerryo
  • gerryo
    gerryo Member Posts: 50
    #9
    All of you are amazing. You
    All of you are amazing. You give me such home. Guess I was alittle down yesterday and had no one to vent to. I appreciate all of you. I will keep you posted.

    Thanks again, Gerryo
  • snommintj
    snommintj Member Posts: 601
    #10
    gerryo said:

    All of you are amazing. You
    All of you are amazing. You give me such home. Guess I was alittle down yesterday and had no one to vent to. I appreciate all of you. I will keep you posted.

    Thanks again, Gerryo

    Get the Pet/CT
    If it lights up and they confirm it's cancer. Go see an interventional radiologist. Get stereotactic radio surgery first. It will almost be like nothing is going on. Get some chemo. Things should be good.
  • John23
    John23 Member Posts: 2,122 Member
    #11
    gerryo said:

    All of you are amazing. You
    All of you are amazing. You give me such home. Guess I was alittle down yesterday and had no one to vent to. I appreciate all of you. I will keep you posted.

    Thanks again, Gerryo

    All things in general..


    "Survival time and recursive partitioning analysis class were not
    correlated. Patients with more extensive surgical interventions
    survived longer, especially those who underwent total tumor
    resection vs. biopsy. There is no apparent survival advantage in
    using CyberKnife in initial management of glioblastoma patients,
    and it should be reserved for patients whose tumors recur or
    progress after conventional therapy. "

    http://www.springerlink.com/content/alu762275036qr79/

    Subjecting oneself to radiation isn't always the best answer.

    Get other opinions, always. The more data you have, the better
    your odds.


    Stay well.


    John
  • gerryo
    gerryo Member Posts: 50
    #12
    John23 said:

    All things in general..


    "Survival time and recursive partitioning analysis class were not
    correlated. Patients with more extensive surgical interventions
    survived longer, especially those who underwent total tumor
    resection vs. biopsy. There is no apparent survival advantage in
    using CyberKnife in initial management of glioblastoma patients,
    and it should be reserved for patients whose tumors recur or
    progress after conventional therapy. "

    http://www.springerlink.com/content/alu762275036qr79/

    Subjecting oneself to radiation isn't always the best answer.

    Get other opinions, always. The more data you have, the better
    your odds.


    Stay well.


    John

    So you are advising to
    So you are advising to always get a 2nd and 3rd opinion? What I don't understand is: if the onc surgeon advises to remove the mass, shouldn't we just do that. Why waste time seeking other opinions. I feel pretty confident with this doctor after checking him out.

    Gerry
  • John23
    John23 Member Posts: 2,122 Member
    #13
    gerryo said:

    So you are advising to
    So you are advising to always get a 2nd and 3rd opinion? What I don't understand is: if the onc surgeon advises to remove the mass, shouldn't we just do that. Why waste time seeking other opinions. I feel pretty confident with this doctor after checking him out.

    Gerry

    Always other opinions?
    I would suggest that it should be mandatory to get other opinions.

    What if..... that "mass" is absolutely nothing to be concerned
    with? Wouldn't you have allowed an incredible amount of
    invasive surgery, that will likely result with adhesions and
    hernias, for nothing?

    It takes so little to get other opinions, and most all good physicians
    welcome it. It allows them to learn of new techniques and
    practices that they may have not had time to research.

    An opinion, is just that, an opinion. Doctors are just humans;
    they hold no special magic or "sixth sense" that enables them
    to go through day to day without making a wrong call.

    If one chooses to entrust their life to one person, so be it.

    But once invasive surgery, chemicals, or radiation is begun,
    there are no options to undo the processes.

    Personally, I would take the time to see what other physicians
    have to say first. If you've come here for advice, why not go to
    a different qualified physician for advice?

    Whatever your choice, my very best wishes for the very best
    outcome are headed to you!


    John

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