unable to remove tumour.....any ideas? - Cancer: Colon Message Board

maria_z · 08-10-2005, 12:08 AM

As always I return to this board for advise (for which we are truly grateful).

Hubby was scheduled for ultra low anterior resecetion on 1st August, unfortunately, when the colectral surgeon went in, he assessed that the tumour was stuck to the wall of the bowel and it was not in hubby's best interests to continue so he elected to not continue.

Hubby now has a permanant colostomy bag (which he can live with ......he says he has grown accustomed to his bum bag ....gotta love his sense of humour

The surgeon told us that the there was no change to the liver (after 6 weeks of chemo) and that the mets remain.

He is home now and resting until we go back to the onc. any suggestions as to what questions to ask the onc would be very much appreciated.

Thank you as always for your comforting and informative suggestions and advise

Maria_z

ktee_uk · 08-10-2005, 01:50 AM

Hi maria

That news must have been such a blow to you both. Do you know anything else as to why they would not remove the primary tumor? You say he said it was not in hubbys best interests but was this due to the capabilities of the surgeon? Could another specialist colo-rectal surgeon perform the resection? I think I would be banging on someones door about that one maria.

As for the liver and chemo. I cannot remember what type of chemo your husband is/was on (sorry). There are other types of chemo that may be worth investigating. My husbands was Oxaliplatin/5fu/leucrovin which he had for 6 cycles over 3 months. This shrank his previously un-resectable liver tumors down enough to allow a resection. Please push for more options.

They will not resect the liver until the primary cancer is taken care of but because he already has mets you need to be adament and pushy and loud about finding out what they will do for him.

sorry this post seems not very comforting ........ but hopefully helpfull

take care
ktee

maria_z · 08-10-2005, 02:35 AM

ktee

On the contrary your post was very comforting. The surgeon said he did not remove the tumour because and I quote " I did not remove the tumour because it was stuck to the bowel wall and also because it's a mess in there" unquote.

We have an appointment with the onc on 29th August and I will definitely be jumping up and down and asking for answers. As for hubby he has been amazing ........his strength through all of this floors me, although he did break down today .......and to be honest I don't know how to help him.....sometimes I just don't know what to do to help him.

One thing I do know is I won't sit back and take what the doctors say as gospel....this room has taught me that.

I don't often do many posts....but I do sit and read a lot of them ......and they comfort me a lot.

Thanks for your input as always it's much appreciated.

Maria_z xxxx

CancerDad · 08-10-2005, 09:30 PM

Maria:
I wholeheartedly agree with Ktee... go knock down another door... much more reputable with better skilled surgeons. What rectal tumors are NOT stuck to the wall??? And I've never seen a "pretty" case of colorectal cancer. This is definitely an example of surgeon talent. You NEED to take him elsewhere.

I am glad he is adjusting to the colostomy, but that primary tumor AND the mets need to go.

Best of luck.

Regardsm
CDad

ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING

sue71 · 08-12-2005, 08:08 AM

Maria,
I think I am in the same boat as you are. My mother has advanced colon cancer and the surgeon who repaired her ruptured colon said that the tumor needs to come out. The hospital admin would not let him do the operation. She was transfered to another hopsital and the Onocologist doctor does not want to remove it. That doctor says that she only has about two more years with treatment. With the treatment being concentrated on the liver. I am at a loss on how to help. What questions should I be asking the doctor? He wants to meet with the family to discuss her treatment options. Any ideas?