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Delmette2.0

(4,154 posts)
Sun Feb 9, 2020, 09:07 PM Feb 2020

A week ago I had a mass removed from my colon.

It's going to be another week+ for my first oncologist visit.
This is when I find out what stage I'm at (hopefully stage 2) and the recommended treatment.

I know I don't know enough to ask important questions, so I am hoping a few folks here can offer up suggestions.
Anything at all would be helpful. Thanks.


21 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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A week ago I had a mass removed from my colon. (Original Post) Delmette2.0 Feb 2020 OP
Wishing you all the best... please let it be good news!! InAbLuEsTaTe Feb 2020 #1
Thank you. Delmette2.0 Feb 2020 #14
Fingers crossed!! 🤞🤞 Keep us posted. InAbLuEsTaTe Feb 2020 #19
When I had cancer Ohiogal Feb 2020 #2
Also Timewas Feb 2020 #5
My son is coming with me. Delmette2.0 Feb 2020 #8
That's great that your son is coming with you. Ohiogal Feb 2020 #12
It's good to hear about successful treatment. Delmette2.0 Feb 2020 #16
I had no cancer in my family history either Ohiogal Feb 2020 #18
"Did you get all of it" and "what do we do next." marble falls Feb 2020 #3
The surgeon took care of all that. Delmette2.0 Feb 2020 #13
Here is a very helpful forum you might check out. Croney Feb 2020 #4
Thank you! I will check it out. Delmette2.0 Feb 2020 #9
I'm holding in the healing light, through prayer. wendyb-NC Feb 2020 #6
Thank you Delmette2.0 Feb 2020 #11
Not a doctor Lithos Feb 2020 #7
These are great! Thank you. Delmette2.0 Feb 2020 #10
Not a doctor or nurse, but these are my thoughts: Atticus Feb 2020 #15
Thank you. Delmette2.0 Feb 2020 #17
a Whole Foods plant based diet can help MLAA Feb 2020 #20
Thanks for the tip. Delmette2.0 Feb 2020 #21

Ohiogal

(31,876 posts)
2. When I had cancer
Sun Feb 9, 2020, 09:19 PM
Feb 2020

It was incredibly helpful to have my husband come with me to my first few appointments, because I was so shell shocked I would have never absorbed all the information the doctors were throwing at me. My best advice is to have a spouse, family member, or good friend go with you for moral support and to help you keep track of everything they are telling you.

Good luck! I’ll keep good thoughts for you.

Timewas

(2,190 posts)
5. Also
Sun Feb 9, 2020, 09:23 PM
Feb 2020

Along with that just record all of it and then you can go over it when you are more settled and can listen..I did that and was damn glad I did as I had missed some important info..

Delmette2.0

(4,154 posts)
8. My son is coming with me.
Sun Feb 9, 2020, 09:29 PM
Feb 2020

He records doctor visits like this. His wife has had her own medical issues and listening again later is helpful.
Shell shocked is exactly how I feel. The terminology is so confusing and decisions need to be made.

Ohiogal

(31,876 posts)
12. That's great that your son is coming with you.
Sun Feb 9, 2020, 09:35 PM
Feb 2020

Try not to be too scared - many people get through this. If I can get through chemo and radiation, anyone can. Just follow your orders and speak up if something doesn’t seem right.
Be good to yourself and let others take care of you for a while. Wishing you all the best!

Delmette2.0

(4,154 posts)
16. It's good to hear about successful treatment.
Sun Feb 9, 2020, 09:50 PM
Feb 2020

There has been no cancer is my huge family so I have only heard about the failures of coworkers and people in the news.
I guess the family history is a plus for me.

Ohiogal

(31,876 posts)
18. I had no cancer in my family history either
Sun Feb 9, 2020, 09:58 PM
Feb 2020

When I was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer 12 years ago. Hence I was like a walking zombie when they told me they found it on a routine mammogram. I just couldn’t believe it.

I Don’t know why others think it’s okay to tell you stories about their family members who didn’t make it. That’s about the stupidest most inconsiderate thing I can think of.

Treatments are even better now than when I had mine. They are discovering new drugs and therapies all the time. Side effects are minimized more so than even 5 years ago. Don’t be afraid of the scary terminology and the huge amount of information they will be imparting. If I ever had to go through with it again, I would in a heartbeat. Beats the alternative!

Delmette2.0

(4,154 posts)
13. The surgeon took care of all that.
Sun Feb 9, 2020, 09:38 PM
Feb 2020

She removed several inches of colon on both sides to keep the mass intact. She also got lymph nodes to be examined. The oncologist will tell me what he found in his pathology.

Croney

(4,656 posts)
4. Here is a very helpful forum you might check out.
Sun Feb 9, 2020, 09:23 PM
Feb 2020

When my sister had colon cancer, we found this site to be informative and supportive. She was Stage 4 at diagnosis and died in 2011, but I still follow the stories here. Many members are long-term survivors. Good luck!

http://coloncancersupport.colonclub.com/viewforum.php?f=1

Lithos

(26,402 posts)
7. Not a doctor
Sun Feb 9, 2020, 09:24 PM
Feb 2020

But, some general questions come to mind:

1) Will I need more evaluations before treatment begins?
2) Who will I need to see (any other specialists?)
3) Where was it discovered - exactly
4) What can I do now while waiting? (Examples below)
- Should I be taking particular vitamins? Some treatments exhaust a body's supply.
- Should I lose weight, or exercise more?
- Stop certain medications?
5) Where can I go to get more information - I assume you are not wanting to let Dr. Google inform you. Dr. Google is a quack.

This is not in my personal experience - just a set of notes I have done when I was helping my dad go through this.

Delmette2.0

(4,154 posts)
10. These are great! Thank you.
Sun Feb 9, 2020, 09:34 PM
Feb 2020

I need to worry about gaining weight before treatment. I have always been very thin.

Atticus

(15,124 posts)
15. Not a doctor or nurse, but these are my thoughts:
Sun Feb 9, 2020, 09:43 PM
Feb 2020

I'd want to know what TYPE cancer they found. What is its name? How is it spelled?

I'd ask how my cancer is characterized as to how likely it is to have metasticized or spread. Are any other organs involved? Am I now cancer free?

What type of screening tests have been done to determine if cancer has spread? Will I have scheduled follow-up screenings to insure I'm cancer free?

What are the treatment options? Pros and cons of each including success rate or effectiveness and side effects.

Finally, I would take a family member or trusted friend with me if at all possible to be another pair of ears listening to the answers to all the above. If the doctor is agreeable, use a small recorder to tape what is said so don't have to memorize unfamiliar terms and exactly what was said. If doctor does not want to be recorded, take the recorder anyway and dictate a summary of what was just said ad soon as you leave doctor's office.

Best of luck.

Delmette2.0

(4,154 posts)
17. Thank you.
Sun Feb 9, 2020, 09:55 PM
Feb 2020

This is all a big help. I'm a planner. Plan for the worst and hope for the best is my motto. Questions is the only plan I have.

MLAA

(17,230 posts)
20. a Whole Foods plant based diet can help
Sun Feb 9, 2020, 10:33 PM
Feb 2020

You can simply google vegan or plant based diet and colon cancer or if you’d like a few resources send me a direct message. Best of luck!

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