Re: New need info please

[Guest guest]

Your aunt would be stage 4 because more than one organ is involved.

I assume there is chance of blockage because usually with this level of

involvement they try chemo and radiation first.

It sounds like the surgery is a must. She should try to get a Colorectal

surgeon or at least a GI surgeon to do this.

I would get opinions from both your local hospital or cancer center AND a

major cancer center. And DO ask the local DRs what affiliations and

recommendations they make to the MAJOR centers.

My husband is at Regional Cancer center in Erie but they are in contact with

Cleveland Pittsburgh and buffalo for referrals and their Drs. have worked at

MD , Sloan Kettering Dana Farber etc.

In otherwords even though they are not considered a MAJOR Center they have

GOOD experience and because they are smaller they have been able to provide more

personal care.

But even if you are convinced the Drs. there are great go ahead and ask for a

second opinion.

Oh and if the surgery is not an emergency definitely Ask quality of life

issues NOW. There are risks for surgery and you want to make sure the benefits

will outweigh the risks.

I say this because my dear Grandmother suffered a stroke and was rushed into

surgery which indeed bought her several more years but at 85 it also caused

another major stroke 2 days later.

Basically she then had a very healthy heart but her quality of life was such

that she never was able to enjoy those extra 5 years.

These are rough decisions but one your Mom and the family will want to be

sure of.

Once a treatment plan is agreed upon we can give you more of an idea what to

expect.

Hang in there. We've seen many good results here. I hope I didn't scare you

but it will be to everyone's advantage to get answers NOW

Narice

[Guest guest]

Your aunt would be stage 4 because more than one organ is involved.

I assume there is chance of blockage because usually with this level of

involvement they try chemo and radiation first.

It sounds like the surgery is a must. She should try to get a Colorectal

surgeon or at least a GI surgeon to do this.

I would get opinions from both your local hospital or cancer center AND a

major cancer center. And DO ask the local DRs what affiliations and

recommendations they make to the MAJOR centers.

My husband is at Regional Cancer center in Erie but they are in contact with

Cleveland Pittsburgh and buffalo for referrals and their Drs. have worked at

MD , Sloan Kettering Dana Farber etc.

In otherwords even though they are not considered a MAJOR Center they have

GOOD experience and because they are smaller they have been able to provide more

personal care.

But even if you are convinced the Drs. there are great go ahead and ask for a

second opinion.

Oh and if the surgery is not an emergency definitely Ask quality of life

issues NOW. There are risks for surgery and you want to make sure the benefits

will outweigh the risks.

I say this because my dear Grandmother suffered a stroke and was rushed into

surgery which indeed bought her several more years but at 85 it also caused

another major stroke 2 days later.

Basically she then had a very healthy heart but her quality of life was such

that she never was able to enjoy those extra 5 years.

These are rough decisions but one your Mom and the family will want to be

sure of.

Once a treatment plan is agreed upon we can give you more of an idea what to

expect.

Hang in there. We've seen many good results here. I hope I didn't scare you

but it will be to everyone's advantage to get answers NOW

Narice

[Guest guest]

,

I'm sure you will find lots of information here.But also checkout

sites like webmd,mayoclinic.com,yahoohealth,etc.There are many good

links in the folders on the sidebar of this site.They will give you

good,factual medical information.This will enhance and help to

understand and put into context the personal experience info that

will be shared here in the group.

You are right,you will not know for sure what the stage is until the

surgery & biopsies are done.If there are indeed cancer cells found

in the liver or other organs then it would be stage 4 as you

suspect.You did not say how old your aunt is or what her general

state of health is.These may weigh heavily in her treatment

decisions,just as how advanced the cancer is will be a determining

factor.Personally,I am very big on quality vs quantity of life so I

may have views that are quite different from some of the others you

will hear on this board.(my educational/experience background is

medical,sometimes knowing " too much " can be a curse)I lost my husband

(age 52)to this disease in August,he had been diagnosed advanced

(inoperable)stage 4 just over a year previous.He chose to do

palliative chemo to control symptoms and give him the most quality

time possible.We understood from the beginning there was no cure;his

chemo doses were aimed at making him feel better so adjusted to

greatly reduce or eliminate side effects normally seen with higher

dosages.He did maintain quality and enjoy life very much until the

last few of weeks and even had some good days or partial days until

the very last.While I miss him terribly,I have no regrets about his

treatment decisions because I know he would not have wanted it any

other way.

Your aunt needs your support,whatever her decisions are,so be there

for her.We'll be here for you!

Hugs & Prayers,

H

>

> My aunt was just diagnosed with colon cancer. What I know is the

> tumor is over 4 inches. It is in her lower colon. The CT scan

show

> inlarged lymph nodes and multible spots on the liver. She has had

> symptoms for a long time. What I would like to lnow is what

should

> I prepare myself for. I am familiar with medical stuff and from

> what I heard from her surgeon today I am preparing myself for the

> worst. He scheduled her surgery right away. Also she has to have

a

> CT done of her head because we actually thought she had

eilshiemers

> diesese but now fear the cancer is in her brain. Am I wrong to

> think she is in stage 4. I know we will not know for sure until

> after the surgery but it seems to keep getting worse. I am so

> scared and she is very into natural health and really does not

want

> chemo or radiation. I know that if she is goig to have a chance of

> beating this she is going to need these treatments. Please any

> info, opinions, anything is appriciated.

>

> Thanks

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you!

She is 53 and has lost approx. 30lbs in the last 3 months she is

down to 116 pounds. She is 5'7 " never smoked,drank or did anything

that would hurt her body.

> >

> > My aunt was just diagnosed with colon cancer. What I know is

the

> > tumor is over 4 inches. It is in her lower colon. The CT scan

> show

> > inlarged lymph nodes and multible spots on the liver. She has

had

> > symptoms for a long time. What I would like to lnow is what

> should

> > I prepare myself for. I am familiar with medical stuff and from

> > what I heard from her surgeon today I am preparing myself for

the

> > worst. He scheduled her surgery right away. Also she has to

have

> a

> > CT done of her head because we actually thought she had

> eilshiemers

> > diesese but now fear the cancer is in her brain. Am I wrong to

> > think she is in stage 4. I know we will not know for sure until

> > after the surgery but it seems to keep getting worse. I am so

> > scared and she is very into natural health and really does not

> want

> > chemo or radiation. I know that if she is goig to have a chance

of

> > beating this she is going to need these treatments. Please any

> > info, opinions, anything is appriciated.

> >

> > Thanks

> >