Dad just had surgery

[sunshiney_dayz]

My gag who is 68 , just went to Houston to have a second opinion after a colonopsy or whatever its called. They did surgery 2 days later. Today, 4 days after surgery, they called to say he will have to start chemo . They got 16 polyps. His first doctor didnt get them all and check him enough the firts time around. Hes so scared. Hes SO brave. I dont know what to do.

[Booann]

Hi Sun
I am so sorry to hear about your Dad and hope he recovers from surgery fast and as pain free as possible.
Have they told him what stage he is ? or whether any of the polyps broke threw the bowel wall and into his lymph nodes ?> These are thing he and you need to know. You want them to be as aggressive as his staging allows.

My husband is the one with colon cancer was DX at age 38 with it. Hopefully your dad was caught early and the chemo is more just a extra cushion to make sure its doesn't come back.
Let me know when and if you find out about what stage hes at. They will stage him either at
1.2.3.or 4 or use the Duke stage
Duke 1, Duke 2, Duke3 or Duke 4 the higher the number the more involved his cancer is
With Duke 4 being the most and spread outside and to other organs
But from what I read it sounds like its still in the bowel area ?

Teresa

[sunshiney_dayz]

Thank you SO much for replying. I He hasnt told me what stage. Tho yes it went into his lymphnodes. He starts chemo in a couple of weeks. They are letting his body heal from that. He went to Houston TX for the surgery and will do the chemo here in OKC. He said they took 14 . This was the second time for the polyps removal. This doc told him that the first doctor just didnt follow up correctly and had they done that , he might not have been in the shape he was. The first doc wanted to take his bowel and to a colosomy. This doc only took 3 inches ( I think thats how much) I really hate talking to him about it. His younger brother died 20 years ago from this. He caught it too late and it had spread into his lungs and brain...

I really appreciate your responding !

[Booann]

Hi again,
Would your dad allow you to speak to his Onco Dr about his treatment he will have onces he is healed from surgery ? You can tell him which is the truth you want to be there for him so you want to know what to expect during his treatment. Then you can ask his Dr's what stage and what form of treatment they plan.
I can understand that the subject would be a touchy one for him since his brother passed from it. In the pass 20 years though they have come out with alot more treatment then they had in the past.. even from only a few years back which is a major plus.
Seem there is a history in your family of colon cancer which is something you really do need to know also for your own health. You may want to discuss this with your own Doctors. They may want to start screening you annually.
After chemo your dad will be watched closely with use of blood work ( cea) and scans. I would make sure they do a pet scan on your dad every 6 months


My husband went yesterday to have a port put in his chest this will be the first time hes ever had one in the 14 year battle hes had.
His was stage 3/ Duke C when he was first DX in 93. Since then he recurred 3 more time all within the pelvic has had a colostomy since 97. Till this fall when things started going really bad and he losss the use of his bladder and went into kidney failure . They did some scans right after Christmas that shows its not only in his pelvic again for the 4th time but is now in both lungs He will be 53 in Feb
Even though he might have gone threw alot in these 14 years I still believe his Onco are the best and the key was to be right there and on top of any new things that might pop up.

Keep me posted
Teresa