Right side colon cancer

Vee vee 1 month ago

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Hi. I have been recently hit with the news that I have right side colon cancer at the hepatic flexure. I've been having pain in my right side for months now which during late July caused me to go to a&e thinking it was my appendix. Was given morphine (orimorph).however results came back my appendix was ok. Adviced to see my GP to find out what this pain is. So after visiting my GP she noted that last year while I was attending oncology for breast cancer (in recession) I had been losing a lot of weight. Started of at 15 stone on day 1 and ended up then at 11 stone 6. Had all types of tests blood test chest scans that all came back normal so my GP decided she would do other blood tests not done a fit test, pelvic ultrasound and a CT scan.fast forward 3 weeks. Bloods back that I am anemic ultrasound was normal. The fit test results came back as abnormal with a score of 379. CT scan showed a mass in my colon

Had the 2 week fast track I was seen for the colonoscopy where they found the mass and took 8 biopsies.

We then saw the surgeon who has taken on my case. She informed me that it's at the curve of the hepatic flexur and is the size of a tangerine however she went on to say that this tumour pulls things towards it and it would be ok if it was just fat and fluid but as it was so close to the duodenum it had caused her to stop and take a look at the situation. She said it's a daunting case as the tumour would usually be operated on but as this was in a hard area to get around they would usually decide to shrink it first with chemo. However there is a problem with that as the tumour had almost completely blocked the colon that given chemo the colon would swell up and block causing extreme pain. She has asked for doctors from Glasgow to have a look at my case and see if they would operate on it by putting a stent in first . I'm to hear back later today or early tomorrow what has been decided. But I just don't understand why they can't just cut it out and give chemo afterwards to kill any remaining cells like they did with my breast cancer so I have been wondering if this has happened B4 and if anyone can give me any idea what's going to happen. Oh I was tested for lynch syndrome and it came back negative as my mum passed from bowel cancer 13 years ago. I am 53 years old.

Kareno62 1 month ago

Hi Vee vee and a warm welcome to the board. It sounds to me like you’ve answered your own question in the post - they can’t just cut it out because it’s too close to the duodenum? Obviously you don’t want the bowel to become blocked so everything crossed that you get good news from Glasgow.

Please let us know how you get on?

Take care

Karen x

Macmillan Support Line - 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week between 8am-8pm

Susan13 1 month ago

Every case of cancer is different. Years ago I had a tumor on my pancreas. It turned out to be a very rare neuroendocrine tumor. My surgeon was wonderful and I was considered cancer free after surgery. No radiation or chemo, just 10 years of frequent CT scans to ensure no recurrence.

In Aug/Sep 2023 I was diagnosed with stage 2 rectal cancer. All I wanted was surgery. It worked so well last time! It was hard to accept that I would need both radiation and chemo to shrink the tumor before surgery would even be possible.

Your surgeon is working to get you the best possible outcome. The path to that may vary from the path taken in your breast cancer.

But I completely relate to just wanting it cut out NOW. Lol

Vee vee 1 month ago in reply to Kareno62

Hi Karen. I had phone call from my surgeon finally after the Glasgow surgeons got back to her. They are taking me on and I have my first visit with them on Tuesday. They said I had 2 choices in that 1 my surgeon here can cut the tumour only out and see about chemo or option 2. They do it and then have the surgeon who deals with the duodenum being paired to come see if and what he can do with the small intestine then see what's needed after. There's a bigger chance that something can go wrong as space can be at times only 1mm between organs so I have been warned of possible outcomes ie heart attack blood clot or even death. So we have decided to go all out and have option 2.

I asked my surgeon down here what exactly she thought going from talk that day withe to which she replied that I'm best going to Glasgow as she feels that she wouldn't be able to operate on me as it was to dangerous. This way I'm at the big hospital with specialist surgeons for both intestines which gives me a fighting chance. They are going to cut the tumour out take all the lymph nodes out as well and leave the small one for the other surgeon. I will be in hospital for a few weeks. But this way it's giving me a chance

So fingers crossed.

Kareno62 1 month ago in reply to Vee vee

Hi Vee vee Good to hear that you’ve got a plan in place. Yes it’s going to be a big op but the larger hospitals are the ones that have the expertise and recovery facilities.

Hopefully you’ll get a date through soon and please let us posted?

Take care

Karen x

Macmillan Support Line - 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week between 8am-8pm

Vee vee 1 month ago in reply to Kareno62

I googled my new surgeon and found her on YouTube talking about becoming a consultant surgeon. This has eased my mind a lot. She is even sponsored by Macmillan as well. . Hopefully as you said get a date soon as I can't eat solid food. I'm drinking ensure drinks soups custard and yoghurts. And I'm now actually being physically sick at night time.. I'm so fed up with this cos I still have cravings for normal food . Tried a fish supper the other night as I was starving and thought of well if I'm in pain may as well have it for eating normal. Big mistake. Could only eat a small amount and within 20 mins I was doubled over with extreme pain. Vowed I'd never eat again till this is resolved. Lol