fistula anyone?

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jillpls
jillpls Member Posts: 238
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Yesterday I had my yearly colonoscopy. Very happy to report that there was nothing to biopsy and no polyps. However, I now have a fistula in the rectum. The dr suspects it's from damage due to radiation back in 06. I also have one in the perineal area. I have apt with surgeon next Monday to discuss what to do. Maybe a colostomy or repair?? I just hope it's not a preforation from Avastin. That would be bad news for me. I have been on Avastin for two years now and am doing well except for this. Anyone have this experience before???
JIll

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  • coolvdub
    coolvdub Member Posts: 408 Member
    #2
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    Hi Jill,
    I just went through
    Hi Jill,

    I just went through having a fistula last month. Had emergency surgery to remove abscess in the lower abdomen. Turned out I also had a fistula they missed. Four days later had a diversion colostomy, it should be temporary. I will keep it for a year minimum, my choice. No time left at work and just need to fully recover, so I will keep it for a while and then decide what to do. Radiation is brutal on the body, so the fistulas could very well have been caused by it.

    Don
  • jillpls
    jillpls Member Posts: 238
    #3
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    coolvdub said:

    Hi Jill,
    I just went through
    Hi Jill,

    I just went through having a fistula last month. Had emergency surgery to remove abscess in the lower abdomen. Turned out I also had a fistula they missed. Four days later had a diversion colostomy, it should be temporary. I will keep it for a year minimum, my choice. No time left at work and just need to fully recover, so I will keep it for a while and then decide what to do. Radiation is brutal on the body, so the fistulas could very well have been caused by it.

    Don

    radiation is bad for body
    Hi Don,
    Thank you for your comments. I agree that radiation is very hard on the body and the dr said the fistula was caused by the radiation. I was never informed this could happen but then I probably would have still done the radiation. I go in on Monday to discuss with my surgeon. Thank you for your input.
    JIll
  • wifeandmom
    wifeandmom Member Posts: 31
    #4
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    jillpls said:

    radiation is bad for body
    Hi Don,
    Thank you for your comments. I agree that radiation is very hard on the body and the dr said the fistula was caused by the radiation. I was never informed this could happen but then I probably would have still done the radiation. I go in on Monday to discuss with my surgeon. Thank you for your input.
    JIll

    Good luck
    Hi Jill,
    I also developed a fistula. The radiation oncologist blamed it on the surgery. The surgeon blamed it on the radiation. Who knows? I did have to have another temporary ileostomy so that I could finish the chemo. My surgery to fix the fistula and redo the anastomosis is currently scheduled for early September.

    I hope that the surgeon is able to help you ASAP with getting rid of the fistula. Wishing you lots of good luck!
    Regards,
    Dorothy

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