Re: Colon cancer & pain

[Guest guest]

2 1/2 is a relatively small tumor, (THANK GOD it is NOT 22+) to be causing

any blockage or that much pain.

That is not to minimize the cancer but this just sounds fishy. I would

really want a 2nd opinion from a major cancer center. Also I think another CT

scan

is in order.

Make sure they are talking with Oncologists colorectal surgeons and

gastroentrologists

Narice

In a message dated 12/16/2005 9:38:10 PM Eastern Standard Time,

kidsncritters123@... writes:

Hi Narice,

Thank you for your reply. The tumor in my father-in-laws colon was 2 or 2

1/2 cm when he was diagnosed (not 22 1/2cm ouch!) Do you think a tumor of

this size would cause the burning pain I mentioned. The pain has not changed

one bit in four months. It has been the same intensity since the day it

started. I have no idea how large the tumor might be now as they have not done

a

follow up scan of the colon since the original scan was done. He also has a

colostomy so dont know if the tumor is blocking anything at this point.

Thanks again.

Trase

flipper759@... wrote:

Yes, colon cancer and metastatic disease can be extremely painful, but

burning pain. I don't think I've ever heard of that. Is that a 22 1/2 cm

tumor

OUCH!!!!! Yes, that would cause lots of pain and blockage. Now with that

big a

tumor he could have some serious hemorrhoid problems That would of course

be a

burning kind of pain and cause unbearable pressure in the rectum. And by

the

way tumors press on nerves so for them to say no way it is that is kind of

crazy. But it is hard to say whether or not it was the colonoscopy or the

cancer that has damaged the nerve.

In the meantime whatever the cause he needs pain relief. If he is on

Oxicodene and that doesn't work ask your doctor about a Fentanyl patch.

Ativan is

another drug that can help with both pain and anxiety. Just be aware that

Ativan will make him very tired as it is the active ingredient from most

sleeping

pills. But if he needs that much relief it is worth it.

For the record he can't become addicted if he is in pain. Only if you use a

drug when you no longer need it.

I think I'm rambling a little but hopefully this helps.

Take Care

Narice

In a message dated 12/16/2005 1:03:24 PM Eastern Standard Time,

kidsncritters123@... writes:

I have a question regarding colon cancer & pain. My father-in-law is

stage

4 & was diagnosed approx. four months ago. My sister-in-law said his

doctor

told her that colon cancer is very painful. I would like to know is it the

colon tumor itself that causes the pain or is it from met's to the bone

that

is so painful? He also has involvement in the abdomen, lungs & liver.

The

only pain he has is a severe burning coming from the rectum. It started on

the day he had his colonoscopy & has not gone away since. It has not

gotten

any better or worse since the day it started four months ago. The week

following the test he was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. His colon

tumor at

that time was approx. 2-21/2 cm. His colon was not blocked as he could

still

pass stool, but doctor recommended a colostomy be put in as a preventive.

Do you think a tumor of this size could be the cause of the severe burning?

He no longer passes stool past the tumor yet the burning remains even after

the colostomy surgery. I explained in an earlier post that my

father-in-law

believes that a nerve was damaged during the colonoscopy test as he felt

pain during the test & tried to pull away. He has not been the same since

that

day & has become depressed because the doctors keep telling him the pain

is

from the tumor not nerve damage. I have since found a support group on

line

of other people with the same burning pain & all the same triggers for the

pain that my FIL has & they do not have cancer. They have a condition

called

PNE pundendal nerve entrapement. If anyone knows if this type of pain is

to

be expected from colon cancer or not I would appreciate hearing from you.

It

would help FIL accept that his doctor is right & he needs to find a way to

cope. On the other hand if this is not common for colon cancer, it would

be

valuable information for FIL to be able to demand they search further for

the

cause of this unbearable burning. Thanks to all for any info you can

provide us.

Strongs,

Trase

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[Guest guest]

Trace,

My husband had a similar pain as your father in law. He complained

constantly and we could not get anyone to pay a lot of attention to

him.

The surgeon had advised a colostomy at the time of the original

surgery to remove the tumor. , refused and paid the price for

3 years. He finally got so sick and the pain was uncontrollable

even with morphine and the pain patch. It finally got so bad that

on Thanksgiving Day we had to help him to my car and lay him down to

get him to the hospital. He almost died and had to have

transfusions and finally the dreaded colostomy.

He sailed along for a few months and we thought we had the pain

licked. We were wrong, it was back with a vengance.

He had to be admitted again and this time they found what was

causing the pain. He had developed a fistula and a abscess.

He battled the fistula for two more years until his death.

The only real relief he got was to use a sitz bath and he would do

that day and night. The problem was that once he got off the sitz

the paid was immedately back.

I am going to make a long story short, after several admissions, the

radiologist went in and guided a tube into the badly abscessed part

and put a tube in so that it could drain it and relieve the

pressure. He had a tube about 12 " long and a bulb hanging off of

that. They taught me how to empty the bulb and inject saline water

up into the fistula to clean it out. We did this four times a day.

We had to go to the hospital every 2 weeks and they would put him

out for about five minutes and replace the tube.

We did this for about 9 months. We were there so much they called

us frequent fliers.

They finally got it to a point where it quit draining and he got it

removed. I felt so sorry for him because he could not get

comfortable. His colostomy was on the left side and the drain and

bulb on the right side. There was just not a good way for him to

lay down and get a good nights sleep.

Unfortunately we lost him two months after the drain was removed.

This may not be your FIL's problem but I would insist that his

doctor talk to the Radiologist and run some test's to see if this is

what he may have going on.

I don't know if you have ever had a boil, but they fill up and hurt

until you get them lanced. The fistula is very similar, except that

they can form many tunnels off of each other.

Long story short, the drain was a pain in the neck, but at least it

relieved the pressure.

I don't know if I am making any sense right now because this is my

first Christmas without my Best Friend and Husband and I am not

dealing with it as well as I thought I would.

I would be happy to answer any question you might have. It may not

even be a abscess of fistula but it is worth asking his doctors

about.

Best Wishes,

Joyce

>

> I have a question regarding colon cancer & pain. My father-in-law

is stage 4 & was diagnosed approx. four months ago. My sister-in-

law said his doctor told her that colon cancer is very painful. I

would like to know is it the colon tumor itself that causes the pain

or is it from met's to the bone that is so painful? He also has

involvement in the abdomen, lungs & liver. The only pain he has is

a severe burning coming from the rectum. It started on the day he

had his colonoscopy & has not gone away since. It has not gotten

any better or worse since the day it started four months ago. The

week following the test he was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer.

His colon tumor at that time was approx. 2-21/2 cm. His colon was

not blocked as he could still pass stool, but doctor recommended a

colostomy be put in as a preventive. Do you think a tumor of this

size could be the cause of the severe burning? He no longer passes

stool past the tumor yet the burning remains even after

> the colostomy surgery. I explained in an earlier post that my

father-in-law believes that a nerve was damaged during the

colonoscopy test as he felt pain during the test & tried to pull

away. He has not been the same since that day & has become

depressed because the doctors keep telling him the pain is from the

tumor not nerve damage. I have since found a support group on line

of other people with the same burning pain & all the same triggers

for the pain that my FIL has & they do not have cancer. They have a

condition called PNE pundendal nerve entrapement. If anyone knows

if this type of pain is to be expected from colon cancer or not I

would appreciate hearing from you. It would help FIL accept that

his doctor is right & he needs to find a way to cope. On the other

hand if this is not common for colon cancer, it would be valuable

information for FIL to be able to demand they search further for the

cause of this unbearable burning. Thanks to all for any info you can

> provide us.

> Strongs,

> Trase

>

> __________________________________________________

>