Surgery good or bad?

Hi Dogsrule. To be honest peoples first meeting seems to vary from hospital to hospital. I met with a member of the surgical team first and they confirmed that it was cancer and discussed the treatment plan with me. Because I had a rectal tumour I started with 5 weeks chemoradiotherapy so then met with the oncologist and radiography consultant.

Hope the meeting goes well - I’ve attached a copy of a booklet that I was given at my first meeting which may be of interest?

https://bowelcancerorguk.s3.amazonaws.com/Publications/YourPathway_BowelCancerUK.pdf

Take care

Karen x

Like Karen, my first appointment was with a surgeon.I went straight to surgery a few weeks later and didnt meet an oncogist until after surgery to discuss mop up chemo.there was no mention of an mdt meeting which many people on here have.

All hospitals have their own system so best to just "go with the flow"

Best to take a notebook and pen to the meeting as really hard sometimes to remember all they say.they dont usually mind you taking notes to refresh your memory afterwards

All the best

Kath

Hi Dogsrule,

I followed the same path as Karen and I already had been told it was cancerous before the meeting with the surgeon but was surprised when I checked in to the clinic that I had an appointment with the oncologist as well. The surgeon explained the treatment plan then passed me to the oncologist who organised the chemoradiotherapy, then back to the surgeon for the operation and back to oncology for the follow up chemo.  All well organised and the surgery team has now been monitoring me four four years with clear scans.

So good luck tomorrow, if it is cancer they will have a plan for you and I hope it works as well for you as it has done for me.

All the best, John

I was diagnosed with Colon cancer in January. I was given the options and went for surgery on the 19th April. My own personal opinion. my surgeon said he got it all out. I think I've recovered well and feel quite normal again If I'd gone for Chemo' I'd still have it in me.  

I had all the diagnosing tests, then my case was discussed at MDT, then appt with the surgeon, followed by surgery, then 7 weeks later, chemo. Following my colonoscopy they stated definitely cancer but at this stage no oncology appt arranged

Chemo, I understand is often offered before surgery to shrink the tumour so clear margins can be achieved in surgery. Sorry can't comment re if it is cancer but let us know how your meeting went today. Wishing you good luck on your recovery journey

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