Advice please?

Jesskap
Jesskap Member Posts: 8 Member
edited November 2017 in Colorectal Cancer #1

I am 41 and had a colonoscopy Thursday for bleeding. They found and removed a 30x50mm tumor from mid rectum. dr Says she is very confident it’s malignant but says she believes she got it all. I know I have to wait for pathology report to see if It is malignant and if margins are clear. My question is if margins are clear then what. Do I see oncologist. Get a second opinion? A pet scan? Or do I say good she got it all and call it a day? It was a pretty large tumor and I believe it was there awhile as I ignored symptoms thinking it was hemorrhoids. any Advice would be greatly appreciate.

Comments

  • BRHMichigan
    BRHMichigan Member Posts: 368
    #2
    Can you call your Gastro?

    I get upset when I hear of doctors not giving patients any indication of what happens next.  It may be as simple as awaiting pathology results before he can advise on next steps.  If it were me, I would call and see if the dr. could call back to answer your questions.  

    I was fortunate that my Gastroenterologist literally laid out everything on the day of my colonoscopy.  

    I hope you getsome answers soon.  Anxiety is tough on us!

  • Jesskap
    Jesskap Member Posts: 8 Member
    edited November 2017 #3
    Another question

    is it normal for my GI to have removed a tumor that is 30x50mm which she called “huge” during colonoscopy Instead of referring to a surgeon? If the margins are clear can it still of spread beyond that and how would I know? 

  • Ruthmomto4
    Ruthmomto4 Member Posts: 708 Member
    #4
    They can tell

    By looking at them if they are cancerous, but they can't tell always if they are not. If that makes sense? Did she call

    it a tumor or a polyp? They remove them all the time.  when the pathology comes back with more information I am sure they will tell you what your options are. I know this does not help you But the honestly the fact that she got it out is a good thing.

  • abrub
    abrub Member Posts: 2,174 Member
    #5
    If it's cancerous consult with an oncologist

    You need to take the next step. You'll need more tests to ensure that it hasn't spread elsewhere - there is still stuff to do even if she thinks she got it all and the margins are clean.  Being pro-active now can help protect you in the future.

  • Mikenh
    Mikenh Member Posts: 777
    #6
    I assume the person that did

    I assume the person that did the colonoscopy and removal was a GI person. He or she should work on finding you an oncologist if he feels that you need one (and I'd guess that to likely be the case), unless you already have one. My GI guy told me the general plan of treatment and asked me if I wanted to meet woth the oncologist and radiation doctor and I proceeded to do so.

  • Jesskap
    Jesskap Member Posts: 8 Member
    #7
    abrub said:

    If it's cancerous consult with an oncologist

    You need to take the next step. You'll need more tests to ensure that it hasn't spread elsewhere - there is still stuff to do even if she thinks she got it all and the margins are clean.  Being pro-active now can help protect you in the future.

    That’s my thinking too.

    That’s my thinking too. Thanks

  • Jesskap
    Jesskap Member Posts: 8 Member
    #8
    Ruthmomto4 said:

    They can tell

    By looking at them if they are cancerous, but they can't tell always if they are not. If that makes sense? Did she call

    it a tumor or a polyp? They remove them all the time.  when the pathology comes back with more information I am sure they will tell you what your options are. I know this does not help you But the honestly the fact that she got it out is a good thing.

    Thanks for your reply. She

    Thanks for your reply. She called it a tumor. Hopefully pathology will be back tomorrow and I’ll know more. 

  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,796 Member
    #9
    Benign or malignant

    Interesting!

    First, I would wait for the pathology report. 

    But how can one get clear margins without resecting? That would be my question. Obviously I'm not a Doctor, but I thought (therefore I don't know for sure) getting clear margins meant cutting clear each side of the tumour. 

    I presume pathology doesn't take too long. I got mine in two days.  When you get the results, and if they do indicate Cancer,  then I would consider a second opinion from another GI Doctor and or getting set up with an Oncologist. 

    Here's hoping that you get the all celar. 

    Keep us posted. 

    Tru

     

  • Jesskap
    Jesskap Member Posts: 8 Member
    edited November 2017 #10
    Trubrit said:

    Benign or malignant

    Interesting!

    First, I would wait for the pathology report. 

    But how can one get clear margins without resecting? That would be my question. Obviously I'm not a Doctor, but I thought (therefore I don't know for sure) getting clear margins meant cutting clear each side of the tumour. 

    I presume pathology doesn't take too long. I got mine in two days.  When you get the results, and if they do indicate Cancer,  then I would consider a second opinion from another GI Doctor and or getting set up with an Oncologist. 

    Here's hoping that you get the all celar. 

    Keep us posted. 

    Tru

     

    During the colonoscopy she

    During the colonoscopy she removed the entire mass not Just a biopsy. I assume since she said the pathologist would check margins that she took more then just the mass.  Hopefully I’ll have path report tomorrow and know more. 

  • Ruthmomto4
    Ruthmomto4 Member Posts: 708 Member
    #11
    I could be wrong here

    but I don't how she could be sure she got clear margins, unless it was a polyp. Those are easily removed during a colonoscopy but a mass is not.  I am sure you will get much more information when they call with the pathology results. If not, I would see another gi Dr or an oncologist or both either way no matter what. Thinking positively for you!

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