Post-Surgery Update
Sorry for no news since I went into the hospital on May 6th - I forgot my LJ password!
My surgery started about 4 hours late ( 6 p.m. rather than 2 p.m.) and became pretty complex.
The gyn/oncologist performed a hysterectomy using robotic surgery - turns out there were masses in both my right ovary and my uterus, and I'm still not entirely clear what kind of cancer they were (uterine and/or ovarian). More on that later. Then a gastroenterologist surgeon removed 18 inches of my colon including a walnut-sized Stage 2 tumor - it would have been Stage 1 but for its size and its encroachment into the colon wall. The reason he had to remove so much colon was the entire section supplied by the same blood vessels as the tumor area had to go. This surgery was done laparoscopically, so I have only about a 3-1/2-inch incision in the center of my belly along with four very small other incisions (about 1/2 inch each) used for the robotic surgery. These are all fastened with staples.
I was originally scheduled to be released on Tuesday but was kept until Wednesday, when my plumbing finally started to work correctly!
The good news is that there will be no need for chemotherapy or radiation to address the colon cancer - that is GONE!! They removed 54 lymph nodes from the surgery areas and they were all clear. I will see the gastroenterologist on Friday to have the staples removed and to set up a few tests - we're pretty sure I have Hereditary Non-Polyp Colorectal Cancer Syndrome (HNPCCS), which means it's possible the colon cancer could return, so I'm going to have to be scanned at pretty frequent intervals for the next several years to make sure it doesn't. I have no problem with that, other than the nasty stuff one must drink prior to a colonoscopy!
Tomorrow (Monday) I have an appointment with the gyn/oncologist. Chemo and possibly radiation is indicated to address the uterine and/or ovarian cancer just to make sure all of that evil stuff is gone. Probably a six-month protocol beginning at the end of May or beginning of June. I'm not scheduled to return to work until June 20th so it'll be helpful to see how I handle the drugs without having to worry about work.
I know this is getting terribly long so I'll keep the rest short. I'm doing well, able to eat whatever I want (plumbing is working just fine now!), and have no trouble getting around, although I must still determine what is the right amount of activity rather than too much (I have a tendency to the latter).
Thanks again for all your prayers and good wishes. They are such a source of strength and comfort to me that I'm sure I'm going to beat this thing!
Love to all,
Kristen
My surgery started about 4 hours late ( 6 p.m. rather than 2 p.m.) and became pretty complex.
The gyn/oncologist performed a hysterectomy using robotic surgery - turns out there were masses in both my right ovary and my uterus, and I'm still not entirely clear what kind of cancer they were (uterine and/or ovarian). More on that later. Then a gastroenterologist surgeon removed 18 inches of my colon including a walnut-sized Stage 2 tumor - it would have been Stage 1 but for its size and its encroachment into the colon wall. The reason he had to remove so much colon was the entire section supplied by the same blood vessels as the tumor area had to go. This surgery was done laparoscopically, so I have only about a 3-1/2-inch incision in the center of my belly along with four very small other incisions (about 1/2 inch each) used for the robotic surgery. These are all fastened with staples.
I was originally scheduled to be released on Tuesday but was kept until Wednesday, when my plumbing finally started to work correctly!
The good news is that there will be no need for chemotherapy or radiation to address the colon cancer - that is GONE!! They removed 54 lymph nodes from the surgery areas and they were all clear. I will see the gastroenterologist on Friday to have the staples removed and to set up a few tests - we're pretty sure I have Hereditary Non-Polyp Colorectal Cancer Syndrome (HNPCCS), which means it's possible the colon cancer could return, so I'm going to have to be scanned at pretty frequent intervals for the next several years to make sure it doesn't. I have no problem with that, other than the nasty stuff one must drink prior to a colonoscopy!
Tomorrow (Monday) I have an appointment with the gyn/oncologist. Chemo and possibly radiation is indicated to address the uterine and/or ovarian cancer just to make sure all of that evil stuff is gone. Probably a six-month protocol beginning at the end of May or beginning of June. I'm not scheduled to return to work until June 20th so it'll be helpful to see how I handle the drugs without having to worry about work.
I know this is getting terribly long so I'll keep the rest short. I'm doing well, able to eat whatever I want (plumbing is working just fine now!), and have no trouble getting around, although I must still determine what is the right amount of activity rather than too much (I have a tendency to the latter).
Thanks again for all your prayers and good wishes. They are such a source of strength and comfort to me that I'm sure I'm going to beat this thing!
Love to all,
Kristen