Stomach Polyps

[Rebekah89]

7 years ago my husband was diagnoised with colon cancer, because of complications he has undergone 6 different surgeries and now has only his small intestine left.  On June 9th he had an endoscope and which showed that his stomach from top to bottom is full of polyps.  There were sever biopsies performed and they came back non cancerous
but the Dr. said that he would not attempt to do surgery on my husband because he would have to remove the whole stomach.  What if any other options does he have?  Will the polyps eventually develop into cancer?  He already is having problems eating, no matter how little or how much he feels full and has nausea most of the time.

[boron]

Intestinal absorption tests would show if intestine is also affected (inflammed). But capsule endoscopy (a pill with a camera is swallowed, and images of entire small intestine are done) would maybe bring more answers.

Hyperplastic polyps are in inflammation, like Crohn's disease. It is likely, that these polyps are in other parts of the bowel. So this should be checked, and an exact diagnosis given, before deciding for any treatment.

It is the doctor's task to find exact diagnosuis, and it's your task to insist in getting it. So, your question is, what is underlying disease here.

Some tips:
http://www.thedoctorsdoctor.com/diseases/stomach_hyperplasticpolyps.htm

Also do your own search for "hyperplastic polyps in stomach" or "hyperplastic gastric polyps", or just "hyperplastic polyps".

It may be autoimunne gastritis (pernicious anemia), H. pylori infection, Crohn's disease etc...

[Rebekah89]

As far as iron supplements he has been taking ferrous sulfate twice a day since October 2007.  His iron builds back up some but not to what it should be.

The polpys in his stomach are hyperplastic polyps and  the endscopy stated that it was carpeted throughout the stomach.  The gastroenterologist and the surgeon has determined that a total stomach removal is not an option for him.

What would the intestinal absorption test show?

[boron]

One of reasons for tiredness is anemia. If she solves this (iron supplemments or whatever is required) it may help a lot.

I still don't know, if polyps are adenomas (benign tumors) or are pseudopolyps as occur in Crohn's disease or in other inflammation. I think he needs a diagnosis of a whole condition not only a diagnosis of a polyp. Inflammation may be treated with antiinflammatory drugs. If polyps are adenomas, some of them may be removed during endoscopy.

Anemia may be from impaired absorption of iron in the duodenum (from inflammation) or from bleding from polyps. Malabsorption of other nutrients may lead to malnutrition, what may be another cause of tiredness. Now I can't say what it is, doctors should give detailed explanation.

Your questions for doctor may be:
1. What's exact cause of anemia?
2. Are polyps "adenomas" or inflammatory polyps" and is it worth to remove them one by one?
3. What is exact diagnosis of his condition?
4. Is it worth to do intestinal absorption tests?

[Rebekah89]

Also I was wanting to know if all the polyps in the stomach is what is causing him to be so tired all the time.  All he has left of colon is small intestine.

[Rebekah89]

They did tell us that the polyps are not the kind that cause cancer.  However he has a family history of cancer, mom dad and brother have all died from cancer.  There are so many of the polyps that cover the entire stomach, the surgeon and gastroenterologist both feel it would be to dangerous for his to have the total stomach removed.  He is having a hard time eating because not matter how little or how much he feels nausea and full, he is tired all the time and is anemic off and on.  They will  be doing a ultra scan and hida scan of the gall bladder on Monday.

[boron]

He should get exact diagnosis. If biopsies were made, they checked the samples under the microscope, and they should tell what it is, not only what it isn't.