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MAC - 29 Apr 2004 03:15 GMT

My MOM had her colon cancer surgery today, minimally evasive Laparoscopic.
Spoke with Dr Weiser(very gifted) her surgeon at Sloan-Kettering, the
operation went extremely well, a little over 4 hours to remove a larger
tumor in her Mid-Sigmoid. He also ordered an ultrasound on her liver before
surgery which showed no mets. Her chest x-rays were also
normal, what a relief. She feels good with no pain at all, she is recoving
very well. Just waiting for the pathology report to see what stage her
cancer was at and if adjunct therapy is needed. I felt good this morning
while she was in surgery that I made the right decisions bringing her to
Sloan. Dr Weiser is a top notch minimially evasive surgeon rated as one of
the best in the book "Best Doctors, the kindest cut". Laproscopic is the way
to go provided the Doc is past his learning curve.
So far so good!

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Jamo - 29 Apr 2004 03:35 GMT

> My MOM had her colon cancer surgery today, minimally evasive Laparoscopic.
> Spoke with Dr Weiser(very gifted) her surgeon at Sloan-Kettering, the
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> to go provided the Doc is past his learning curve.
> So far so good!

This is great news, MAC. I'm very glad for you and your mother.
How long do you tihnk it may be before you receive the test results?
Here's wishing you both the best,
Morgs

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J - 29 Apr 2004 08:03 GMT

Excellent ! Excellent news !
You've come a long way MAC since first posting here.
If you talk to a radiation oncologist about adjuvant chemo, ask him/her whether
cancer is slower growing (or recur) in your mother's age group. Why? Well, I'd
be weighing the "wait and see" approach on chemo in someone that age.
On the other hand, maybe not everyone is as lucky as my Dad (no chemo, no
radiation, no spread, no recurrence).

I'm not sure if I'm explaining properly. If she's less likely to have a
recurrence early, if she has adjuvant chemo now and has a recurrence later,
she'd have to have stronger chemo then? (and older and less able to tolerate
it). OR if I flip that question to "if she has adjuvant therapy now, is that a
guarantee that she won't have a recurrence later"?

Does that make sense?
J

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MAC - 29 Apr 2004 10:37 GMT

> Excellent ! Excellent news !
> You've come a long way MAC since first posting here.
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> On the other hand, maybe not everyone is as lucky as my Dad (no chemo, no
> radiation, no spread, no recurrence).

I think were going to be as lucky as your Dad. :)
Also since I went the Laproscopic route a tumor suppressor protein remains
at higher levels when compared with traditional open surgery because her
immune system wasn't shut down due to trama of larger incisions.
There is a research paper by Dr Whelan MD of Columbia Univerisity Department
of surgery about better tumor supression and better long term benefits.
The Chemo if needed is benign, unlike her breast cancer chemo which really
made her sick.

> I'm not sure if I'm explaining properly. If she's less likely to have a
> recurrence early, if she has adjuvant chemo now and has a recurrence later,
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> Does that make sense?
> J

I must wait to see if that large tumor penetrated the colon wall and if it
did wheteher the lymph nodes were affected.
The chemo if needed like I said is benign with minimal side effects so I
will tend to lean toward having it after weighing the risks. My mom may be
75 but she is feisty, strong willed and very active.

Thanks J for all your help, it's really appreciated.
I'll keep you guy's informed.

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Steph - 29 Apr 2004 16:35 GMT

> I must wait to see if that large tumor penetrated the colon wall and if it
> did wheteher the lymph nodes were affected.
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> Thanks J for all your help, it's really appreciated.
> I'll keep you guy's informed.

We treat people of 75 if there are good indications and they are fit, but
don't kid yourself that the chemotherapy is "benign". Most people tolerate
it well, but it does have side-effects, and sometimes people get very sick
or die..........
I'm not saying don't consider it, just go into the decision with your eyes
open.

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