Change de consultant

Hi 

I am not sure why your GP said that so that’s a bit confusing and there may be a clinical policy I don’t know about so don’t wish to be inappropriate. My understanding is you are allowed a second opinion through the NHS . This is normally arranged by your consultant or you GP . You certainly can have a consultation with an oncologist. Some people do go to surgery straight away depending on the location of their tumour and if the lymph nodes are located near the primary tumour . You will see this quite a lot as they remove the offending lymph nodes at the same time they remove the primary . If required after they go for examination of pathology they may suggest post operative chemo . Can I ask if you know where the tumour is located in the colon ?

Others go for chemo radiation prior to surgery for rectal tumours !

You can also get a referral from a different health authority to avoid any conflict of interests between surgeons . If you knew the location of the tumour we could maybe get you some reading material to show the treatment options normally associated with it .

You might also like to phone our helpline staff 0808 808 0000 and they could maybe help clarify this for you as it does sound confusing.

We have a lot of medical people in our family and wider  friends but sometimes they are not specialists in that particular field . What I do to keep up with the current standards is to look at the NHS NICE guidelines . They provide the clinical guidelines and treatment options for colon cancer and available on the web ! You could look them up and see if what is being proposed is in keeping with the surgeons plan. It is quite common to remove lymph nodes .

What is really important is you have questions that need more answers and for you both to fully understand and agree to this being the best approach. That’s really important to have that trust in place .

Take care ,

Court 

Hi. Thank you being in touch with me. He has low (5 cm) rectal polyp. The polyp is 3 cm, sessile. The second report of CT show possible 6 lymph nodes affected.

Any info is welcome.

Regards,

https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/bowel-cancer/colon-cancer

https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/bowel-cancer/rectal-cancer

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/CG131

https://www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/about-bowel-cancer/treatment/

Hi 

I have included some Macmillan booklets and and bowel cancer U.K. one which goes through all the relevant approaches. These are listed by theNHS . I have also included the NICE guidelines . The last booklet from bowelcancer U.K. goes through how to access a second opinion.

I hope this gives you an overview and helps you both work out the best way forward .

Can I take the opportunity to wish him every success going forward . We are always here to assist if you need us at any time .

take care ,

Court 

Hi! Thank you so much for all info.

Do think if can ask the GP for other consultant but to be an oncologist? I feel that all surgeons will see just one solution, surgery. But we really want to try first with radio-chimio. If the tumour will be shrink, and need a small surgery without permanent colostoma,  or maybe it cure at all (I heard some cases), why have to lose the benefits of neo-teraphy?

I'm not doctor and I can not claim I know better, but I'm very frustrated cos I can't choose for my own life and the NHS dosen't help us in this way.

Hi 

My understanding is that it is possible to get a second opinion from an oncologist .

My own view is a surgeon is very much entitled to make a clinical decision on best practice based on their experience and practices. However it is entirely acceptable for a patient to check out how another clinician would approach a situation. It does not necessarily make one right or wrong but can lead to different clinical outcomes .There is a lot to process but it is allowed within the NHS to seek a second opinion . It happens a lot. 

We have done it the other way round in that we asked for a surgical opinion before and I found it beneficial as long as you are open minded and consider all sides . It can clarify things a lot . 

take care ,

Court