Hi folks, so just recently joined the club stage 2 bowel cancer - T2 N0 M0 but with lymphovascular invasion.
Had a right-hand hemicolectomy back in July and things have returned to relative normalcy, I was hoping it would be a one an done kind of thing but it turns out my biopsy showed that they removed all of the cancer but the biopsy showed lymphovascular invasion and the cancer they found was pretty rare (and aggressive) from the sound of things, adenosquamous carcinoma.
They tested 18 lymph nodes and did not find cancer in those, but my concern is how likely is this to metastasise, I am 43 so not sure what the long term prognosis is like in this situation.
I have an oncology appointment at the beginning of September to discuss adjuvant chemotherapy, has anyone been in or is in a similar situation to this, I cannot find out much online and what I can find out suggests the prognosis is not good.
Thanks for any replies or help people can offer...
Hi Yama
Welcome to the online community.
I am sorry to hear of your diagnosis of bowel cancer and hope that you have recovered ok from the surgery.
My own cancer was endometrial however I was in the same position as you where I thought that surgery would have sorted the issue. When my post op results came through they also showed an aggressive type of cancer and I also had lymphatic and vascular invasion.
My treatment was adjuvant chemotherapy and adjuvant radiotherapy.
Having a diagnosis of a rarer and more aggressive cancer particularly where LVSI is present can be scary.
It was explained to me that LVSI is where tiny cancer cells have spread into the tiny vessels leading away from the main cancer. It is the very earliest sign that the cancer is trying to spread. Hopefully if these tiny cells did try and move further away, they would be dealt with by the lymphatic system however there is a chance, in some people, in time that they could potentially travel around the body and set up elsewhere. It does not mean they will definitely do this, but the potential is there. Therefore they normally recommend adjuvant treatment to mop up any stray cells whilst they are still so tiny that they are not visible on scans. its very much a preventative treatment.
My consultant explained that without adjuvant chemo that the chances of recurrence would be more likely. She also said it is better to try to do everything to prevent a recurrence than to treat one once it has happened.
For me the toughest part was that I felt quite well after surgery and the thought of having further treatment that would potentially make me feel unwell and have side effects was hard. However I am now 3 years post treatment and have not had a recurrence.
The chemo being offered will hopefully mop up anything left behind that could cause problems in the future.
Hope this helps a bit. Do give the Support Line a call if it would help to talk things through with one of the nurses.
Jane
