colon cancer surgery

[retta9865]

I was diagnosed with colon cancer (sigmoid) invading into bladder wall as well as vagina. Had a colostomy (might be reversable in future) done prior to 6 week radiation and chemo therapy.  Now my surgeon told me that strong possibility that I will have my bladder removed and about 3 cms taken from the top end of my vagina (had hysterectomy 8 years ago).  Right now going thru CT scan, MRI and PET scan to determine size of tumor after therapy.  Has anyone out there had extensive surgery like this, or living with two output bagsÉ.  I just needing a little reassurance that all will be good as I am only 47 years old and have never had any major health issues prior to this.

[jmbirds]

oh i had hysterectomy rt salpingoophorectomy , appendectomy 1993 adenomyosis no ca ,my left ovary is just hanging around had gallbladder out 2007 full of hyperplastic polyps ,benign i have not been right for many many years IBS? but i had 5 hyperplastic polyps removed 2006  and again 1 in 2008, no h pyloric no celiac, no plasia thus far no parasites no explaination for my dumping no occult bloood yet  , all bloodwork  is normal, but i'm losing wt with all this , doing the 5 hydrocloric ??/ acid level 24hr  catch  dx for sigmoid carcinoid i guess? so would i be considered early detection?
tks for any ideas,

[jmbirds]

hi help new to this nightmare, i'm 43 my ca125 is normal 9 but the cyst changed to a mass from june to oct, seeing a ono/gyno 11/10 but now my other dr thinks i have a sigmoid carcinoid i had a colo in july no ca just inflammation diverticulois , then my body's ibs got worse and worse stomach burning nausea diarrhea yellow liquid acid, or white clay stool all tests are normal liver panel cbc metabol etc now , i have lost 21 lb since july gf diet stays in longest, my gastro scope 9/08 said 1 hyperplastic polyp benign severe gastritis hiatle hernia, i am so bloated nausea  losing this wt i know its a tumor or cancerous thing ,  the upper gi yesterday with sbf they kept taking pic of my sigmoid and my transverse cause they kept making excuses oh you have long bowels  ? DUH? oh your bowels go across the abdomin DUH? i'm a cna i'm not ignorant so they must of done 7 xrays front back side diagonal's then one of my bladder so
what i wanna know is do we do a pet scan first ?if i have metastic cancer in the sm  bowel do i leave it alone slow growing?, live and let live? cause if my ovary is also pre cancer or cancer that is wildfire, so my colon and rectum and stomach are clean thus far is it safe to open me up ? for a resection? cause i dont' want chemo or radiation if its only pallatiive? not sure just need some senarios?  
i'm divorced single and gotta make some preparations but need time, months not weeks?

[PaulMD]

Hi there.

The aim of the radiation is to somehow shrink the tumor, facilitate operation, and decrease the overall chance of local tumor recurrence.  The invasion of the bladder cannot be truly concluded based on imaging scans, and I believe there is a good chance that the tumor is just abutting the bladder but not invading it (we may really not know for sure until at the time of surgery).  Having a colostomy and a cystostomy can really have an effect in your quality of life and I hope the doctors can find a way to preserve the bladder without sacrificing the quality of the cancer surgery.

Regards.