I am so glad I found this site! Being able to read some of your concerns and questions have really helped. My mom was diagnosed 6 years ago, at 39 yrs, with colon cancer and has a colostomy. The surgery was extreme ( cancer had invaded alot), but wasnt in lympnodes. She responded really well to treatments( she had radiation and chemo). Well, a few months ago she got what she was told was a virus. They did all the blood work to check for cancer return but nothing. I'm grateful for the doctor who decided to keep looking. She just returned home from the hospital and they found more cancer. This time the lymph nodes were effected. They say that there are better chemo treatments available this time around, so I am trying to stay hopeful and praying for the best.
My question that i would like to ask is this... everything I can find about survival rates seems like it only adresses the original diagnosis. Does anyone out there have any info about if it is the 2nd time around?
Thank you all and I will be remembering everyone in my prayers! :angel:

Hi:
In my understanding, recurrences are treated as original... what is the staging... then check 5 year survival stats. You have to keep in mind though that a lot of these 5 year survival studies DON'T account for the new medications that have only been available for a few years. So you have to keep faith... some can look grim. Just keep fighting day by day with the arsenal available. There is a lot in the pipeline for use just in the next couple years.

So, although it doesn't look good that it came back, keep your spirits up, AND talk with her oncologist.

Best of Luck and God Bless,
CancerDad

*ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING*

Hi tweetandtaz,

I just have to say, first, I Love Your Name! Now, my FIL has had colon cancer 4 times in his life. He is now 90 yrs. old. Each time, they just cut out more of his colon. So far, he has not had colon cancer for at least 20 yrs. He gets colonoscopies every 1 or 2 yr. just to be sure. He does not have much colon left, so he gets a lot of diahrea, but does not have a colostomy, yet. If he got colon cancer again, he would not be treated for it, except for pain, because of his age.

Just wanted you to know that some people can keep on living, despite the odds.

Take care and try not to worry too much. Just enjoy your mom while you have her.

Wannabe

Hi tweetandtaz - I was diagnosed last year with Stage II colon cancer and had a resection along with follow-up chemo. I am also relatively young for that diagnosis (I was 42) and I also had no cancer in any of the lymph nodes. I am just curious about your mom regarding how often she has had colonoscopies since her diagnosis and whether they have all been negative for anything recurring. I am terrified of the cancer returning and would just like to be sure that I'm doing all the possible tests to detect it soon (before it goes to lymph nodes or other areas). Thanks.

Thank you everyone for your responses. To answer ftlaudmom's question, her last colonoscopy was over a year ago( the routine one befor all this).