Looking for help

Kato34
Kato34 Member Posts: 15
in Colorectal Cancer #1
My father complained of major pains in his upper abdomen all last weekend. He thought it was gastro pain not going to the bathroom. Tues. pains were unbearable, his family dr. sent him to E.R. were they did Ct scan and saw a abnormality. They performed a colonoscopy on wed. Thurs. he was diagnosed with a tumor of 3cm thought to be cancer. They were going to remove the tumor until they scan revealed multiple spots on liver. They performed a biopsy on liver thurs. afternoon. Results will not be available until late next week. I have been reading a ton of information on this, and my mind is going in circles. Any advice or information will be greatly appreciated. Is it normal to wait for liver results before removing tumor? Is Chemo before surgery more effective if it has spread to liver?

Comments

  • PhillieG
    PhillieG Member Posts: 4,866 Member
    #2
    Hi Kato
    Sorry to hear that news, I know how numbing it is.
    My suggestion is that you wait and see exactly what he is up against. To go in and operate on this and that without knowing what your dealing with would unlikely be done by any surgeon. If they WOULD operate without knowing the whole story, I'd find a different doctor.

    Also, once you have a good idea what he's up against, it is often a very good idea to get a second opinion that can either confirm the first diagnosis or give you other things to check out.

    Just so you know, there are many people here who are at later stages of colon cancer and have done well or are doing well while dealing with cancer. I hope that all goes well and that it's something on the minor side...
    -phil
  • buckeye2
    buckeye2 Member Posts: 428 Member
    #3
    I will share with you what I
    I will share with you what I learned from another discussion board on this topic. May or may not be true but makes sense to me. Original tumors are slow growing but once it is outside the colon the cancer cells mutate and become a more aggressive cancer so that the cells outside the colon then take priority. Chemotherapy attacks those mutated cells and if surgery is done too soon the patient is going without the very thing they need for a period of time. Lisa
  • PhillieG
    PhillieG Member Posts: 4,866 Member
    #4
    buckeye2 said:

    I will share with you what I
    I will share with you what I learned from another discussion board on this topic. May or may not be true but makes sense to me. Original tumors are slow growing but once it is outside the colon the cancer cells mutate and become a more aggressive cancer so that the cells outside the colon then take priority. Chemotherapy attacks those mutated cells and if surgery is done too soon the patient is going without the very thing they need for a period of time. Lisa

    My Experience Was
    The tumor in my colon was against the wall and not causing a blockage. The larger threat to me was with my liver so I did chemo to shrink the tumors, then get to a place where I could be operated on. My first doctor wanted to operate immediately. I'm certain that if I did NOT get the second opinion and deal with my liver first, the more important issue, I would not have had the positive results that I've had.
    Of course, one never knows what might have been but I feel that what you do first makes a huge difference in your outcome.
  • Goldie1
    Goldie1 Member Posts: 264 Member
    #5
    Hi Kato...
    My husband was dx last June with Stage IV colon cancer with mets to the liver. Six weeks of daily radiation and chemo through an infusion pump 24/7. We thought that surgery would come right after to remove the tumor, but 8 weeks later (to recover from radiation), the surgeon advised 12 weeks of in-office chemo (treatment once every other week) and two days on infusion pump. Because the concern was more about the liver, than surgery to remove the tumor, the surgeon did not want to delay treatment to the liver. My husband's tumor was 7cm. Recently, he had a CT scan and the results were positive. The hepatic metastasis (in the liver) have decreased in size and number and the mass on the colon has resolved, which means the scan is not showing it anymore. Back to the surgeon on Nov 23rd to discuss surgery. So, his experience has been treatment first then surgery.
    Please let us know how things go for your father and take care!
    Ellen
  • Kato34
    Kato34 Member Posts: 15
    #6
    PhillieG said:

    My Experience Was
    The tumor in my colon was against the wall and not causing a blockage. The larger threat to me was with my liver so I did chemo to shrink the tumors, then get to a place where I could be operated on. My first doctor wanted to operate immediately. I'm certain that if I did NOT get the second opinion and deal with my liver first, the more important issue, I would not have had the positive results that I've had.
    Of course, one never knows what might have been but I feel that what you do first makes a huge difference in your outcome.

    Thank You for your time. My
    Thank You for your time. My father is having severe pain above his belly button. Is that normal? I can tell he is very scared. The Dr.s cant answer any questions. We don't know what to do. He doesn't want to be on any prescription pain meds. I am bringing him over 800mg IB profen. He has no appetite and hasn't gone to the bathroom much. I have never been so frustrated in my life. I am trying to lift his spirits but am running out of things to say. Is this normal in your experience? I really appreciate your help and concern. You are the only help we have had.
  • Goldie1
    Goldie1 Member Posts: 264 Member
    #7
    Kato34 said:

    Thank You for your time. My
    Thank You for your time. My father is having severe pain above his belly button. Is that normal? I can tell he is very scared. The Dr.s cant answer any questions. We don't know what to do. He doesn't want to be on any prescription pain meds. I am bringing him over 800mg IB profen. He has no appetite and hasn't gone to the bathroom much. I have never been so frustrated in my life. I am trying to lift his spirits but am running out of things to say. Is this normal in your experience? I really appreciate your help and concern. You are the only help we have had.

    This is how it began...
    for my husband. Pain under the belly and in the groin. He thought he pulled a muscle. He also had a stent inserted to keep the tumor off the colon so going to the bathroom would be easier. Honestly, at the start, my husband did not want to take pain meds either but he relented to have some relief. He also started taking Zoloft (something he swore he would never do) and he admits it has helped greatly.
    Please feel free to e-mail me if you ever need to talk!
    Ellen
  • Brenda Bricco
    Brenda Bricco Member Posts: 579 Member
    #8
    Goldie1 said:

    Hi Kato...
    My husband was dx last June with Stage IV colon cancer with mets to the liver. Six weeks of daily radiation and chemo through an infusion pump 24/7. We thought that surgery would come right after to remove the tumor, but 8 weeks later (to recover from radiation), the surgeon advised 12 weeks of in-office chemo (treatment once every other week) and two days on infusion pump. Because the concern was more about the liver, than surgery to remove the tumor, the surgeon did not want to delay treatment to the liver. My husband's tumor was 7cm. Recently, he had a CT scan and the results were positive. The hepatic metastasis (in the liver) have decreased in size and number and the mass on the colon has resolved, which means the scan is not showing it anymore. Back to the surgeon on Nov 23rd to discuss surgery. So, his experience has been treatment first then surgery.
    Please let us know how things go for your father and take care!
    Ellen

    My husband was dx Feb. this
    My husband was dx Feb. this year. It was chemo first, I wanted them to get the cancer out of him but I obviously and not a dr and it seems that they knew best.
    Sometimes there is just not anything to be said that will make him feel ok or happy. It's ok to have quiet time and just be by his side. Everyone reacts so differently, I cried ALOT in the beginning because I was so afraid. It's strange how you learn to live with all of this always in the back of your mind but you can. If you don't know what to say then just be there, tell him what he means to you.
    GOD bless you and your Dad.
  • Kato34
    Kato34 Member Posts: 15
    #9
    Goldie1 said:

    This is how it began...
    for my husband. Pain under the belly and in the groin. He thought he pulled a muscle. He also had a stent inserted to keep the tumor off the colon so going to the bathroom would be easier. Honestly, at the start, my husband did not want to take pain meds either but he relented to have some relief. He also started taking Zoloft (something he swore he would never do) and he admits it has helped greatly.
    Please feel free to e-mail me if you ever need to talk!
    Ellen

    Thank you for the caring
    Thank you for the caring words. He is sleeping now. I will pass along the info. My father is 20 years sober so I think the thought of taking any kind of pain killer scares him also. He has been there for my mom and I for ever and to see him like this is tearing me from inside. He was completely healthy. In good shape and followed his dr.s advice on having his colon checked every ten years. His next appt. was set for next month. It kills me to see that is so preventable if caught early. Why is the guidelines every 10 years? I know none of that makes a diff. now but I know it is on his mind because he was religious with his physicals.
  • Kato34
    Kato34 Member Posts: 15
    #10
    buckeye2 said:

    I will share with you what I
    I will share with you what I learned from another discussion board on this topic. May or may not be true but makes sense to me. Original tumors are slow growing but once it is outside the colon the cancer cells mutate and become a more aggressive cancer so that the cells outside the colon then take priority. Chemotherapy attacks those mutated cells and if surgery is done too soon the patient is going without the very thing they need for a period of time. Lisa

    Thank you. That makes sense.
    Thank you. That makes sense. Sense is hard to find right now.
  • Kato34
    Kato34 Member Posts: 15
    #11
    Brenda Bricco said:

    My husband was dx Feb. this
    My husband was dx Feb. this year. It was chemo first, I wanted them to get the cancer out of him but I obviously and not a dr and it seems that they knew best.
    Sometimes there is just not anything to be said that will make him feel ok or happy. It's ok to have quiet time and just be by his side. Everyone reacts so differently, I cried ALOT in the beginning because I was so afraid. It's strange how you learn to live with all of this always in the back of your mind but you can. If you don't know what to say then just be there, tell him what he means to you.
    GOD bless you and your Dad.

    Thank you for your words.
    Thank you for your words. How is your husband doing?
  • Brenda Bricco
    Brenda Bricco Member Posts: 579 Member
    #12
    Kato34 said:

    Thank you for your words.
    Thank you for your words. How is your husband doing?

    He is doing quite well... he
    He is doing quite well... he just had rectum resected two weeks ago (the week before that they froze a tumor in his liver) and is recovering from that. You are not alone, there are lots of us out here that know what you are going through so holler when you need someone to lift you up. :)
  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    #13
    Waiting
    Waiting and waiting and waiting is all we do with this journey. I'm glad the surgeon didn't go in first and do it until finding out exactly what is going on. A couple of weeks isn't going to change anything. We always want it out now, but that's not always the best option. Keep us posted and post here whenever you have a guestion.

    Kim
  • Kato34
    Kato34 Member Posts: 15
    #14
    Annabelle41415 said:

    Waiting
    Waiting and waiting and waiting is all we do with this journey. I'm glad the surgeon didn't go in first and do it until finding out exactly what is going on. A couple of weeks isn't going to change anything. We always want it out now, but that's not always the best option. Keep us posted and post here whenever you have a guestion.

    Kim

    Thank you Kim. I have told
    Thank you Kim. I have told my father and mother everything you guys have said today. It has been very comforting. It brings a tear to my eye to think people I don't even know could be so comforting and helpful. I truly appreciate all of your support.
  • herdizziness
    herdizziness Member Posts: 3,624 Member
    #15
    Pain in Stomach
    I went to the hospital for pain in my abdomen as well over a year and a half ago. The chemo helped to shrink the tumor in my colon as well as the ones in liver and other places. I was dx in February and had surgery this past December for resection of colon, liver and ureter.
    I'm not sure what they will do in your father's case. But do know this isn't the end of the world. There are many of us still here, that had cancer spread to many other different areas of our bodies and are doing just fine.
    I appreciate your father not wanting pain medicine, but eventually when he gets the cancerous tumors removed, pain killers are going to be quite necessary, absolutely necessary, if he needs the pain killers to ease the pain now, it would be best if he did so, it will ease quite a bit of stress that he is under, and stress isn't good when you have cancer.
    My best thoughts and vibes are sent your and your father and mother's way.
    Winter Marie
  • buckeye2
    buckeye2 Member Posts: 428 Member
    #16
    My husbands abdominal pain
    My husbands abdominal pain lessened within one week after his first chemo. It works fairly quick so relief for your dad is close and make him take those pain meds. Reassure him it is a short term fix. Lisa
  • buckeye2
    buckeye2 Member Posts: 428 Member
    #17
    My husbands abdominal pain
    Double post
  • Kato34
    Kato34 Member Posts: 15
    #18
    buckeye2 said:

    My husbands abdominal pain
    My husbands abdominal pain lessened within one week after his first chemo. It works fairly quick so relief for your dad is close and make him take those pain meds. Reassure him it is a short term fix. Lisa

    Thanks for the info. I
    Thanks for the info. I learned a ton of information since joining this site yesterday. It has been great. My father has really appreciated the information. He is doing great today. No pain and ate a ton. He even shoveled some of the crazy Oct. snow. It seems like the pain comes and goes. I guess that's normal. But it was good to see him somewhat back to normal. We see the head of colorectal surgery at Penn on tues. But I guess we really won't have a game plan till we get the liver biopsy. Is it normal to take a week for results?
  • herdizziness
    herdizziness Member Posts: 3,624 Member
    #19
    Kato34 said:

    Thanks for the info. I
    Thanks for the info. I learned a ton of information since joining this site yesterday. It has been great. My father has really appreciated the information. He is doing great today. No pain and ate a ton. He even shoveled some of the crazy Oct. snow. It seems like the pain comes and goes. I guess that's normal. But it was good to see him somewhat back to normal. We see the head of colorectal surgery at Penn on tues. But I guess we really won't have a game plan till we get the liver biopsy. Is it normal to take a week for results?

    Mine was in 4 days maybe 3 if I recall rightly, it does take a while to do the testing, and after that (the staining) it has to go to the pathologist for him to read it, in some places it could take up to a week, you may get it back sooner, they may have just said a week in case it did take that long. As for the pain, mine came and went for almost a year before I ended up in the ER, I don't know how many people told me to go to the hospital when I was in pain, and I just wouldn't do it, until finally I could no longer lay done or stand up without tremendous pain for two days in a row. How foolish we are sometimes. I'm glad he's out doing the snow shoveling instead of me (we're barefoot and in sleeveless shirts the past three days)
    Winter Marie
  • drakelouis29
    drakelouis29 Member Posts: 1
    #20
    i think you should wait for
    i think you should wait for the result because we cant take any judgment until we know the truth. so go to your doctor and ask him. as i heard that chemotherapy is very effective for cancer. but still liver spot seems to be something else. till then ask doctor for any medicines for his upper abdominal pain, so that he can get a relief.

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