Giday GE, never good to be told we have cancer.

Just reading what you have said above sounds very similar to my journey. I had a MRI, internal ultra sound and the initial treatment was from memory 5 doses of radiation prior to surgery followed by chemo which in my case was xeloda.

One thing I have learnt on this site everyone/s journey is a bit difference. I was found to have the cancer as described as ultra low very close to the end of the bowel. I had to have a gauci bag for 3 months then reversal. At this stage I am 7.5 years post surgery and going great (touch wood).

If you like have a read of my profile.

If you are happy will add you to me prayer list, wishing you well and if you have any questions please ask.

G8

Hi Gr8ful,

I had a chest,abdominal, pelvic ct with contrast. I was allergic to the contrast so I had to take prednisone and benadryl before my scan. I believe that the cancer would be at the junction of my sigmoid colon and rectum? The doctor showed me a diagram but my mind was reeling. I was in the twilight zone for a few minutes and felt like I was there but not there if that makes sense. I do know it's lot. The doctor said the surgery would involved cutting out the cancerous portion of my colon and then reattaching the two ends together. He said if the cancer had spread further up the bowel wall or if it was too low that I would need a temporary colostomy to the right. Also it would depend if the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes. I forgot there were lymph nodes in that area.

I get the MRI done this coming Monday and then see the doctor when he has the results. He said the radiologists decided whether I need to have chemotherapy or radiation before surgery. I read some people have chemotherapy and radiation following surgery.

I will take a look at your profile. I appreciate your response, your message and your support! Thank you very much! :)))

Glad I'm not the only one that's allergic to CT contrast!, just a word of caution, you'll probably have contrast with the MRI and this can affect your eyes, if it does then they recommend that you don't drive, so you may want to make sure that you have somebody with you.

markarina:

I wasn't aware that I would have contrast for the MRI. I can't have anyone with me as my boyfriend will be at work. I take the bus though. Hope it doesn't affect my eyes too much. Does the effect on the eyes last long? I'm supposed to be at the hospital at 9am Monday but my scan isn't until 9:30am. Please let me know of any other effects of the MRI contrast. I will post on here after I get my MRI and I will update once I know what's going to happen with the surgery and possible chemotherapy and radiation.

The effect on the eyes only lasts a couple of hours, it's nothing too drastic makes them water and itch a little bit.

You'll be fine on the bus, you'll still be able to see and focus it's just driving they recommend that you don't do.

They give a medication to stop the bowel from moving around so much during the MRI and a contrast medium, at least that's what happens in my experience.

markarina,

Thank you for sharing your experience, it's very helpful! My abdominal pain is back again today and I feel weak and tired. It's like my body doesn't have much strength. I find it really helpful posting on here.

Are bowel spasms common with colon cancer? I had them again last night. Like dry heaves when you're sick but with my bowels. It was very painful but thankfully it subsided. Also is chemotherapy and radiation usually always necessary?

Bowel Spasms could be a sign of a blockage, it's the body's way of trying to push things through. As to chemo and radiation, it's all done on a case to case basis, radiation is usually done pre-surgery to shrink tumours, chemo is usually done to mop up any bits that the surgeons can't remove, there is no hard and fast rule.

My GI doctor did say that it was narrower in my colon due to the tumor. I've been having very narrow stools when I do have them. When it comes to chemo and radiation I have to do them in another city almost an hour and a half away.

The earlier the cancer stage the less time the cancer has been in the body? The later the stage the longer it has been there? I remember the GI doctor mentioning that it can take a polyp 10 years to develop into cancer. I'm find it really difficult to wait for the MRI then more waiting for the results. Does it usually take more than a week for MRI results to come back?

DE, sorry to hear about your diagnosis. It could take a week for the MRI to come back, but it might be less. Why don't you call Monday?
Good think, thinking of you.

I have my MRI on Monday. I hope it's less than a week.

It all depends on the workload of the hospital, I'm very lucky being in Switzerland I get my results within 24 hours, but unfortunately that is the exception rather than the rule.

Polyps can take a long time to transform into cancer as your Doc says it can be as long as 10 years

As for stage see here http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/type/bowel-cancer/treatment/dukes-stages-of-bowel-cancer

And here http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/cancers-in-general/what-is-cancer/grow/the-stages-of-a-cancer for how staging is determined/described.

Thanks for the links markarina! You're lucky that you get your results right away. Switzerland must be beautiful! I love your avatar! Once I know my cancer stage I'm going to join this group.