Brother DIagnosed

[nanci]

My brother (52) was just diagnosed with colon cancer.  He had a colonoscopy and initally, the doctor said all looked good.  He was just about finished when he noticed something and took a piece for biopsy.  It was a flat polyp (only one) and it's cancerous.  He met with the surgeon and is having surgery tomorrow.

The doctor told him it looked good, the polyp is 8" from the rectum so it's fairly close.  

Of course, they can't say anything definitive until after surgery, etc.  Do you think his chances are good because it's so close to the rectal opening?

[JackieG]

I think his chances are excellent because it appears that the cancer was diagnosed very early. Early diagnosis of colon cancer can result in a "cure" rate in the range of 95%. Will they do any chemo following surgery as a precaution?

I will keep both you and your brother in my thoughts.

[eveningstar]

Your brother's diagnosis sounds very similar to mine a year and a half ago.  Mine was also the flat type of polyp (sessile), and it was 8 inches up from the rectum.  Had your brother had any symptoms, or was this just a routine colonoscopy screening?  I was 53 at diagnosis.  How did the surgery go?  If you have any questions about recovery, etc. I would be glad to answer.  You will probably get pathology results in a few days.  This tells if any cancerous cells were found in lymph nodes.  If there is any lymph node involvement, then chemotherapy is recommended.  I have read that this is well tolerated.  I did not have to have any.  Best of luck with everything.

[nanci]

Thanks for the kind note.  My brother's surgery went well.  He's still in alot of pain.  The doctor feels he got it all but waiting for the path report which is due on Monday.  

I think the biggest issue with my brother right now is eating - he hasn't had any solids for five days.  And, of course, the first bowel movement.

Can you shed some light on this - how can he have a bowel movememnt if they won't give him solids?  His operation was this past Tuesday

Thanks

[eveningstar]

That is exactly what I asked my surgeon - I couldn't imagine how I could possibly have a bowel movement!  He said the body is always producing waste....even with just an I.V. for nourishment.  It became a huge deal, waiting to pass gas and have a bowel movement.  This did not happen for me until the 8th day after surgery.  I passed gas and had a bm simultaneously.  It was not until then that they took out the i.v. and I finally got to eat.  They had just taken out the n.g. tube on the 7th day.  I went home on the 9th day.  It is normal to have a lot of pain.  Actually my main complaint was that n.g. tube.  It is very important to walk as much as possible.  This helps the bowels to wake up and the body to heal.  Looking back, I realize I should have done a lot more of that when I got home.  My recovery was pretty uneventful and normal I guess.  I hope your brother is doing well.  If I can be of further help, please ask.

[nanci]

Hi- thanks again.  You are very kind to respond to my questions.

I spoke to him yesterday - he's in Boston, I'm in Chicago.  Still no BM but they have him walking.  He feels pretty terrible both from the tube in his troat and not eating.  He tells me his throat is pretty sore.

The results of his biopsy were negative and they found no cancer elsewhere other than the polyp they removed.  So, it sounds similar to what you had.  But, his doctor did say that maybe down the road he may want my brother to have chemo.  This I don't undestand.  Chemo is debilitating so I don't understand why the doctor would consider it, even as precautionary.  Chemo does as much damage as it does good so in my mind, it's not the first course of treatment unless totally necessary.

Did you have this experience?

[eveningstar]

My colon cancer was classified as Dukes B1.  There are four layers of intestinal wall.  My tumor had gone to the second layer.  My surgeon was very definite in his thinking that no chemo would be necessary.  However, I think there are different opinions on this.  It would be a very good idea for your brother to see an oncologist to discuss all this.  This is pretty standard procedure.  Chemo for colon cancer is very well tolerated.  I have learned so much from the colon cancer support group message board on Webmd.  It would be very helpful for you and your brother to read some of the postings there and ask questions.  The people there are wonderful.  You just go to webmd.com and go to message boards and then the colon cancer board.  It is also important to have follow up exams.  Mine include CBC blood test, CEA blood test and chest x ray. Also liver function tests.  The CEA is important and your brother should have had this tested before surgery.  Then they compare future testing of CEA to that one done before surgery.  It is a "tumor marker" test that is supposed to show any possibility of colon cancer.  Anyway, it is GOOD news that your brother's lymph nodes were negative.  That is so important.  It sounds like he is going to be just fine.  The tube is a real pain.  Just tell him to hang on, this will soon be just a distant memory.  The passing of gas and bowel movement WILL happen.  My doctor told me a week was about average.  Just tell him to keep walking, even tho it is painful I know.  Also is he still using morphine or a lot of pain killers?  These can sometimes slow things down in the intestinal tract.  But he shouldn't let the pain get the upper hand, so he needs to still use pain relief, just not to an extreme.   Having no food did not bother me in the hospital.  The IV is supposed to provide complete nutrition.  But when they finally took the IV out I have never been so hungry in my life.  I'll bet your brother is home by the end of this week.  Let me know how things are going.