8 hours ago · @pcedarman · Cancerous Lymph Nodes in Colon & Rectal Cancer

Is there any significance to the number of removed colon area lymph nodes that are cancerous? [...]

Posted by charles, 3 days ago

Yes - in the absence of metastatic disease the number of nodes is very prognostic and helps determine therapy. Stage 1 to 3 cancer is determined by number and size of nodes. https://news.cancerconnect.com/colon-cancer/treatment-of-stage-i-iii-of-colon-cancer-XLwM72DrGUaAWLZQfP5Tlw Best C

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Posted by pcedarman, 8 hours ago

Thanks.

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Sun, Aug 2 9:15am · @pcedarman · Right Hemicolectomy (colon) / MWA (liver) in Colon & Rectal Cancer

Just had these procedures in open procedure. It took about 5 days for my colon to "wake-up" after surgery. And 9 days for digestive system to start working more smoothly and go home from the hospital. It will take more time for bowel function to return to normal. Everything went [...] [...]

Thu, Jul 9 10:55am · @pcedarman · Differences between MRI - quality and contrast in Colon & Rectal Cancer

Does anyone know about the differences between MRIs and the contrasts used? As lay people we can hear "MRI," and assume the process is generic and standard. So an MRI at one facility is the same, basically identical to one at another facility. I'm thinking this is an incorrect assumption. [...] [...]

Posted by slgja5, Wed, Jul 8 8:14pm

The contrast is a type of dye that they use for the test. It goes in the IV
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Posted by pcedarman, Thu, Jul 9 10:54am

Thanks. Sorry my message wasn't clear. Has anyone found that MRIs are NOT always "apples-to-apples." The CONTRAST and MACHINE USED, and the TECHNICIANS, make a difference. I'm dealing with an MRI (in March 2020) and an MRI (in June 2020) from different facilities that used different CONTRASTS, MACHINES and TECHNICIANS. [...]

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Wed, Jul 8 11:19am · @10christa · colon cancer after 6/29 colonoscopy in Colon & Rectal Cancer

Hello, June 29th I had colonoscopy which shows a obstructing mass at hepatic flexure. I am 52 yr old female and have been having lower crampy abdominal pain. I feel like I was just given a death sentence, it is 3cm x 12 mm in diameter in size. Going to [...] [...]

Posted by georgebeker, Wed, Jul 8 8:58am

A question - have they done an MRI (or CT)?

As an aside, I had a Stage 1 CRC 8 years ago. No lymph or other involvement and it was surgically completely removed (the gold standard). Should have stopped there. Unfortunately, 18 months later, we found the CRC had [...]

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Posted by pcedarman, Wed, Jul 8 11:18am

Great advice and congrats on your success! Great encouragement for we who are on a similar journey. Thank you.

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Tue, Jun 30 10:35am · @pcedarman · Right Hemicolectomy - Why such Large Section for Small Mass? in Colon & Rectal Cancer

A right hemicolectomy removes the entire ascending colon. I have a mass in the bend between the ascending and traverse colon. Does anyone know why they remove the entire right colon even if the colon mass is local? Might have something to do with blood flow to the colon, but [...] [...]

Posted by pcedarman, Tue, Jun 30 10:26am

thank. I will request that the medical team consider NGS testing.

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Posted by charles, Tue, Jun 30 10:34am

Its best done on tissue and if positive for MSI-H will avoid chemo altogether. (other markers impact treatment as well) They may have done already if you had a biopsy. Its also is the basis for the next generation of treatments should you experience a recurrence.
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Sun, Jul 19 12:26pm · @charles · CRC Clinical Trials in Colon & Rectal Cancer

Posted by nikip @nikip, 3 minutes agoIn reply to @charles "Jamie the site is to learn, share information and experiences and provide..." + (show)Hello. My name is Niki and I have stage 4 colon cancer and have exhausted all approved treatments and am now researching test trials. Is stem cell [...]

Posted by charles, Sun, Jul 19 12:03pm

They are mostly local and sometimes take the form of a "second opinion" where a leading doctor in a specific area will put a treatment plant together with a community oncologist and work to jointly manage the patients. This of course doesn't help with clinical trial or treatment selection that [...]

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Posted by pcedarman, Sun, Jul 19 12:25pm

All the issues cited are because of the problems and do not seem to be scaleable, industry accepted standard solutions. For example, not one MD, i.e., GP, cancer surgeon, oncologist, interventional radiologist, general surgeon, etc, in the metro area that I live in suggested any accepted industry process or steps [...]

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Wed, Jun 24 4:09pm · @HesterBIDMCModerator · Financial impact of cancer and COVID-19 in Colon & Rectal Cancer

Has has the pandemic made your financial concerns more pressing? There are resources that can help, and I write about them in today’s blog. Here is the start and a link: Financial burden is another pressing problem created by cancer and COVID-19. Going through cancer is always expensive and [...] [...]

Mon, Jun 22 1:17pm · @pcedarman · Experience with Ablation MWA vs Resection for Colon Cancer Metastasis in Colon & Rectal Cancer

Any one have insights on the advantages/disadvantages? Experience? How you decided?1. Resection is "gold standard," but removes a large section of liver.2. Ablation works, but often does not, and then could make future treatment tougher, scarring hides tumor regrowth...need to catch it asap.

Posted by kristyshan, Mon, Jun 22 10:00am

As far as maintaining a positive attitude, that is key! I actually have a blog about it called whoinvitedcancertomyparty.com

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Posted by pcedarman, Mon, Jun 22 1:16pm

@kristyshan - Great blog. Your story and attitude are encouraging. I never expected to be on this journey either. Cologuard, "oh, those things are always wrong," not for me, "just snip, snip, piece of bad colon and you go to go," not for me. For now on chemo-surgery-chemo plan, with [...]

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Wed, Jun 3 9:15am · @kristyshan · Y90 in Colon & Rectal Cancer

Hi all. I was diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer in December of 2017 at age 48. I have been on chemo every two weeks since then. I am fortunate that it has been highly successful. We are down to one tumor in my liver that is still quite large, [...] [...]

Mon, May 25 10:23am · @emmanuelmwambwa · institutions that donate medication and blood to patients in need? in Colon & Rectal Cancer

Dear CancerConnect, Does anyone know any institutions that donate medication and blood to patients in need? Dad has been diagnosed late with stage four colon cancer, it has spread to his spine and liver. He is on chemotherapy, in Zambia. However, it's extremely costly and before every cycle of [...] [...]

Tue, Jul 28 3:17pm · @hope12 · Metatasised Colorectal Cancer in Colon & Rectal Cancer

Hello, my brother was diagnosed with Colon Cancer which had metasasised to his lungs and liver in March 2019. Liver and lungs he was told were inoperable but surgery to the colon was completed right away due to its 95% blockage. Just completed 23 round of chemo and now told [...] [...]

Posted by pcedarman, Sun, Jul 19 9:12am

glad it went well. good luck.

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Posted by sallystrong123, Tue, Jul 28 3:16pm

Thank you.

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Fri, May 15 9:22am · @rae1215 · Ostomy bag in Colon & Rectal Cancer

Hello Has anyone had or cared for anyone who's had a ostomy bag placed? My husband found out yesterday that was needed due to a internal infection from being constipated and his chemotherapy was pushed back two weeks due to emergency surgery yesterday. I was just wondering if anyone else [...] [...]

Posted by carolcowan, Thu, May 14 10:07pm

rae1215,
When he gets the colostomy an ostomy nurse at the hospital should teach you about the care. If you have problems at home, one can come to your house to help you learn to take care of it. She/he can visit a few times to see how you're doing. [...]

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Posted by gobluegirl, Fri, May 15 9:21am

As a previous ostomy pt(reversed) after rectal cancer I agree with Carol. The ostomy nurse at your hospital is an invaluable resource. Try and get her # so if you have problems at home you can call.
There are many types of bags, 1 or 2 piece, sometimes it's just [...]

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Wed, Jul 8 8:12am · @n2xs · Cancer free diagnosis in Colon & Rectal Cancer

Just want to give a WooHoo for my husband today that his cat scan came back cancer free today! Started in latter part of 2018 with colorectal cancer and he had radiation to shrink tumor almost stage 4 and surgery to remove it, them chemo but that made him too [...] [...]

Posted by n2xs, Thu, May 7 7:02pm

Thanks!

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Posted by 10christa, Wed, Jul 8 8:11am

Such wonderful news, very,very happy for you both!!!... feels so great to hear the positive results after going through so much and the anxiety of waiting for ct scans.

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Mon, May 4 9:16pm · @rae1215 · Being pushed away in Colon & Rectal Cancer

Hello my husband was recently diagnosed with colon cancer and he has started his first round of chemo and has 3 more to shrink the tumor. Its been a range of emotions everyday but does anyone have any advice on what i can do to comfort him? He barely eats [...]

Posted by dle, Mon, May 4 9:06pm

I was diagnosed with stage 4 Colon Cancer last August. I had a hard time with the chemo, especially with the horrible taste all food had and a really bad case of heartburn that lasted the first week after treatment. I felt like I couldn't eat anything and lost at [...]

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Posted by rae1215, Mon, May 4 9:15pm

Wow thank you!! Your experience was definitely comforting for me to hear!!! How many times did you have chemo? He had a really good day today with eating some foods,ensure, and fluids. He said he looked at himself in the mirror and didn't recognize himself and he said he wants [...]

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Mon, Apr 13 7:22am · @judeye · Recurrent CRC - Now What? in Colon & Rectal Cancer

My husband was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2018. The cancer had gone to liver as well as his colon. He had chemo before surgery on both liver and colon, then post surgery chemo. He was good for 1 1/2 years. Past summer found cancer has now moved into one [...]

Posted by charles, Sun, Apr 12 1:55pm

First and foremost you need to become much more specific in how you think about his cancer. Not all colon cancers are the same. Some respond to chemo, some dont. Some benefit from more targeted medicines that require NGS biomarker testing. Has your doctor done NGS testing? If he/she hasnt [...]

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Posted by nicegal, Mon, Apr 13 7:19am

This is an awful situation for you both, I am so sorry. My first husband was terminally ill with a brain tumour and I was told he had maybe two years to live. He grew progressively ill and I asked again and was told six weeks. He died six weeks [...]

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