Bowel Cancer - What next post surgery?

Anonymous — Mon, 27 Nov 2017 22:10:51 GMT

Hi All. My name is Jack and a little under two weeks ago a tumour was found in my (33 year old) wife's colon during a colonoscopy investigating some adominal pain. A week later and she's had an extended right hemicolectomy and is now home recuperating well. It's been a whirlwind and I don't think it's really sunk in for either of us, but we've just just had the pathology results and have a follow-up meeting with our surgeon next week, then a referral to an oncologist.

The good news is it appears to have been caught early. The tumour was large (T3) but hadn't gone through the serosa (wall of the colon) and crucially it hadn't affected any lymph nodes (N0). I think that makes it a stage 2a, though that's just me googling. The histology also seems encouraging.

Ahead of our meeting next week I'd love to hear from anyone else that has gone through something similar. What should we be asking our oncologist, and is chemotherapy a given for a stage 2a?

It appears all the cancerous tissue was removed with a decent margin, and the CT scan and bloods were clear. However is chemo normally still recommended as a de-risking/insurance policy?

Pre-surgery (and pre-pathology results), it was said that any follow-up chemo would be less intensive than other forms, but what does that mean in reality?

Thank you for any help and advice,

Jack

Manly, Sydney

Re: Bowel Cancer - What next post surgery?

Katekat — Mon, 27 Nov 2017 22:06:13 GMT

Hi Jack, it looks like you've removed your account?

I do hope your wife is doing well and you're coping with everything.

We have some fantastic information on bowel cancer available here that you may like to read, it contains sections on treatment, after treatment as well as a handy section containing questions that you may like to ask your doctor - I think you might find that area, in particular, very handy.

We also have some great publications that you may find useful:

We'd also be happy to send out a hard copy of any of these, as well as any others that interest you!

Wishing you and your wife all the best

topic Bowel Cancer - What next post surgery? in I've just been diagnosed

Bowel Cancer - What next post surgery?

Re: Bowel Cancer - What next post surgery?