Guest guest Posted August 22, 2005 Report Share Posted August 22, 2005 So sorry that you are going through this but PLEASE do not beat yourself up with the " what if's " . It will change nothing and I had to sound glum but 'shit happens'. A small polyp may have been missed for a variety of reasons, but it also may very well not have been there at that time. (IF there are photos and/or tissue samples available from that colonoscopy you should have them examined by another oncologist for a second opinion. More often than not, they are not available or were never even taken if they thought all was clear) I do understand your frustration very well. I lost my husband(age 52)to this disease a year ago. He had been diagnosed 1 year and 2 weeks prior at an advanced, inoperable, stage IV with multiple liver mets. He had had an 'all-clear' colonoscopy only 17 months prior to his diagnosis. Frustrating, YES, sad, YES, but I cannot change it and at least he did not have to suffer for years as some do. With palliative chemo he was able to enjoy the majority of time he had, doing the things he wanted to do. Stage IIIs are sometimes curable and/or able to experience long-term remissions to go on living normal lives. So get the best treatment possible and enjoy every moment you have rather than lamenting the past. Hugs & prayers, H --- ssgolden811 ssgolden811@...> wrote: > My husband had a " clean " colonoscopy in May of 2002. > Told to come > back in 10 years. On May 17, 2005 we were stunned to > arrive at the ER > expecting a diagnosis of appendicitis or gall > bladder. 6 hours and 2 > tests later. " You have colon cancer " . Almost total > blockage. > Surgery confirmed, stage III, 17 of 22 nodes > positive. " reconnection " > after tumor removal didn't hold, another surgery, > temporary iliostomy, > chest abscess and 4 bacterial infections. Left > hospital after 23 > days. MD who did the colonoscopy appeared several > times to be sure we > knew " these things happen....sometimes things are > missed, or it could > have just started not long after his exam " . Has > anyone else had this > experience? I can't let go of this feeling that > this didn't have to > happen! > He is being treated with oxaliplatin, 5-FU and > leukovorin. 2 cycles > down, 4 to go. Any idea where I can get statistics > on how often > polyps are " missed " ? Thanks for reading my ranting > and for info or > experiences anyone has had........ > > > ____________________________________________________ Start your day with Yahoo! - make it your home page http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 22, 2005 Report Share Posted August 22, 2005 So sorry that you are going through this but PLEASE do not beat yourself up with the " what if's " . It will change nothing and I had to sound glum but 'shit happens'. A small polyp may have been missed for a variety of reasons, but it also may very well not have been there at that time. (IF there are photos and/or tissue samples available from that colonoscopy you should have them examined by another oncologist for a second opinion. More often than not, they are not available or were never even taken if they thought all was clear) I do understand your frustration very well. I lost my husband(age 52)to this disease a year ago. He had been diagnosed 1 year and 2 weeks prior at an advanced, inoperable, stage IV with multiple liver mets. He had had an 'all-clear' colonoscopy only 17 months prior to his diagnosis. Frustrating, YES, sad, YES, but I cannot change it and at least he did not have to suffer for years as some do. With palliative chemo he was able to enjoy the majority of time he had, doing the things he wanted to do. Stage IIIs are sometimes curable and/or able to experience long-term remissions to go on living normal lives. So get the best treatment possible and enjoy every moment you have rather than lamenting the past. Hugs & prayers, H --- ssgolden811 ssgolden811@...> wrote: > My husband had a " clean " colonoscopy in May of 2002. > Told to come > back in 10 years. On May 17, 2005 we were stunned to > arrive at the ER > expecting a diagnosis of appendicitis or gall > bladder. 6 hours and 2 > tests later. " You have colon cancer " . Almost total > blockage. > Surgery confirmed, stage III, 17 of 22 nodes > positive. " reconnection " > after tumor removal didn't hold, another surgery, > temporary iliostomy, > chest abscess and 4 bacterial infections. Left > hospital after 23 > days. MD who did the colonoscopy appeared several > times to be sure we > knew " these things happen....sometimes things are > missed, or it could > have just started not long after his exam " . Has > anyone else had this > experience? I can't let go of this feeling that > this didn't have to > happen! > He is being treated with oxaliplatin, 5-FU and > leukovorin. 2 cycles > down, 4 to go. Any idea where I can get statistics > on how often > polyps are " missed " ? Thanks for reading my ranting > and for info or > experiences anyone has had........ > > > ____________________________________________________ Start your day with Yahoo! - make it your home page http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 22, 2005 Report Share Posted August 22, 2005 I am so sorry that your husband is going through this. I too would be upset that in a three year time the colon cancer took over. And then to have so many problems in the hospital. My he spent a lot of time in there. I bet he was glad to get out of there and back home. This is so sad that somehow the cancer was missed or grew that fast. My heart and Prayers are with you and your husband. How is he handling the chemo? Most here had to do 12 cycles (6 months) of the same drugs your husband is taking. I wonder why your husband's chemo is only 6 cycles? I am sending a Prayer for your husband. What is his name? Ingrid > My husband had a " clean " colonoscopy in May of 2002. Told to come > back in 10 years. On May 17, 2005 we were stunned to arrive at the ER > expecting a diagnosis of appendicitis or gall bladder. 6 hours and 2 > tests later. " You have colon cancer " . Almost total blockage. > Surgery confirmed, stage III, 17 of 22 nodes positive. " reconnection " > after tumor removal didn't hold, another surgery, temporary iliostomy, > chest abscess and 4 bacterial infections. Left hospital after 23 > days. MD who did the colonoscopy appeared several times to be sure we > knew " these things happen....sometimes things are missed, or it could > have just started not long after his exam " . Has anyone else had this > experience? I can't let go of this feeling that this didn't have to > happen! > He is being treated with oxaliplatin, 5-FU and leukovorin. 2 cycles > down, 4 to go. Any idea where I can get statistics on how often > polyps are " missed " ? Thanks for reading my ranting and for info or > experiences anyone has had........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 23, 2005 Report Share Posted August 23, 2005 I am so sorry to hear about your husband's missed diagnosis. However, when I had my colonoscopy in May, they went in knowing that they would find cancer (and even expected it had spread to the liver based on my elevated liver function tests). Even knowing that this would be the outcome, my doctor had difficulty finding the tumor in my colon. It was " hiding " in the corner at a point where it curves and descends. The doctor told me that if this had been a routine colonoscopy, he would have missed it. in California > My husband had a " clean " colonoscopy in May of 2002. Told to come > back in 10 years. On May 17, 2005 we were stunned to arrive at the ER > expecting a diagnosis of appendicitis or gall bladder. 6 hours and 2 > tests later. " You have colon cancer " . Almost total blockage. > Surgery confirmed, stage III, 17 of 22 nodes positive. " reconnection " > after tumor removal didn't hold, another surgery, temporary iliostomy, > chest abscess and 4 bacterial infections. Left hospital after 23 > days. MD who did the colonoscopy appeared several times to be sure we > knew " these things happen....sometimes things are missed, or it could > have just started not long after his exam " . Has anyone else had this > experience? I can't let go of this feeling that this didn't have to > happen! > He is being treated with oxaliplatin, 5-FU and leukovorin. 2 cycles > down, 4 to go. Any idea where I can get statistics on how often > polyps are " missed " ? Thanks for reading my ranting and for info or > experiences anyone has had........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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