u/Different_Road_4569

We had our first oncology appointment. It did not go well. It was basically a pointless appointment. She told us that the original operation note from the exploratory lap does say specifically where the biopsies were taken. My mom’s CT showed an omental lesion, the exploratory lap did show some omental lesions but didn’t describe how many. So the oncologist started off the appointment telling us that if it has spread to the omentum then she will be on chemo for the rest of her life every two weeks. She said that it would not be considered curable but treatable. She ordered a PET scan and referred my mom to a surgical oncologist and GI oncologist in Atlanta at Emory. The oncologist really made us feel terrible. She also referred my mom to have a port placed. We are just so upset and distraught right now.

This is my second post today. My mom (46) just got diagnosed with colon cancer a couple of weeks ago. As I stated in my last post she was being referred to a surgical oncologist. Well, the general surgeon who originally was referring her actually talks with the surgical oncologist and he is recommending my mom go to Emory in Atlanta to potentially have HIPEC done. She has one omental nodule that showed up on her CT. No distant spread according to the CT. We see her oncologist on Monday who is gonna order a PET scan. As to be expected my mom is distraught and overwhelmed. She has not received an official staging but if they are recommending this then does that mean stage 4? The omental nodule was described as non specific on the CT so it hasn’t even been described as cancer. Please if you have any information to share I am all ears!!

So we had a consultation with a general surgeon today. He said that he is referring my mom to a surgical oncologist because the tumor is between the sigmoid and rectum. He also stated that they will more than likely do chemotherapy first before any surgery do to the lesion on her omentum and on her uterus. He also said that she has a good prognosis. He also said that oncology will be ordering a PET scan, she sees them Monday. We are still trying to process everything, we are terrified. My mom is trying to stay strong but everything is coming at us at light speed. We know that given where the lesions are on her uterus and the one on her omentum that it does affect staging. I just don’t know anymore. If you have any thing to share please share your stories.

Hey all, I recently made my first post that describe my mother’s situation and her being newly diagnosed. On my last post I explained that she would be having a ct chest abdomen and pelvis with contrast to make sure those areas were okay. Well the CT gave us very good results, there were no lesions/metastases seen on any of her organs. They not see any significant lymph node swelling. Her colon looked unremarkable and there was no obvious bowel wall thinking. The only thing they did see (which we already knew about) was a tiny 11mm omental nodule that the radiologist described as non specific (the surgeon who did her exploratory lap described this same nodule.) Fast forward to today, she had a colonoscopy. The GI doc came and spoke to us after. They did find the primary tumor, he did not say where exactly it was but he did describe it as sitting beside her uterus which is why it invaded that way. He took some biopsies, tattooed the tumor, and took out two polyps that were a little higher up. He was able to visualize the entire colon. He said that he did have to use a pediatric scope to get past her tumor because he did say it is starting to close, he said that it’s not gonna close in 24 hours or anything like that but it does need to come out. He said it’s in a good spot that it can be taken out with no problems. I did ask him if it was low and he said it was not and that it would not require a colostomy bag. I also asked him what he thought about stage wise and he said he would estimate stage 3 (I know he’s not an oncologist but I was grasping for answers). He said chemo will be required. So they consulted surgery, we see the surgeon this Thursday for a consultation to schedule surgery. The GI doc said we could even possibly get an obgyn on board to do a hysterectomy as well. The emotions did hit us all over again but my most importantly my mom is okay. She is hurting which is to be expected. She is glad they found the source but at the same time she is devastated. She is ready to have surgery and get it taken out. I know this is not the news we were hoping for BUT it hasn’t spread anywhere else, the GI doctor sounded very optimistic. I know we have a long road ahead but we are gonna make it. If anyone has anymore tips/ things we should be asking or doing please let me know. Please also if you have a similar experience please share your stories!

It has been a rough couple of weeks. My mom is 46. A few weeks ago she started having some lower abdominal pain. Went to her obgyn who did an ultrasound and saw an ovary with a cyst that was more than likely causing her pain. So the next day they did a laparoscopy. They found “lesions” that the surgeon/obgyn thought was endometriosis with some of the spots near the right pelvic sidewall near the pelvic rim and also lesions in the pouch of Douglas between the rectovaginal septum and the perineum beneath. They took some biopsies, told my mom is was endometriosis and referred her to have a hysterectomy with a obgyn who collaborates with a colorectal surgeon. Well we thought that was that. Until last Monday. My mom got a call for her to come in that day so I went with her. They told us the biopsy came back as adenocarcinoma. They immediately referred her to GI and Oncology. To say it was a gut punch is an understatement. The pathology says poorly differentiated consistent with lower GI primary. We have seen the gastro doc and she has a colonoscopy scheduled for Monday the 29th. Oncology has not seen her yet (she’s already a patient there for a whole different issue) they have ordered a CT chest,abd, and pelvic with contrast that was supposed to be done this Friday but her obgyn saw her this morning and got it moved to today. GI did draw a CEA level which came back at a 5 (it’s worth noting my mom vapes). So as of right now we do not know the stage. Oncology is going to be seeing her as soon as they have something to go by. It just feels like time has slowed down. Something else worth noting is that I am a nurse and all the possibilities stormed my brain. The past few days have been good for my mom though, she has been in relatively decent spirits. I’ve tried my best to reassure her that once we have a plan the anxiety and scariness will ease some. I’ve been reading some posts on here and to say it has given me hope is an understatement. Please feel free to share any tips or things we should be doing. I would really appreciate anything!