Update on Colon Cancer Surgery: Mixed Pathology Report
I’m a 26-year-old male who received a colon cancer diagnosis about ten months ago. After enduring an extensive waiting period and multiple chemotherapy sessions, I underwent surgery five weeks ago. The procedure involved the removal of a significant portion of my colon, a section of my iliac artery, substantial muscle from my right leg, a part of my liver, as well as some other small areas. Additionally, I have been fitted with a stoma that I will need for at least one to two years. Biopsies were taken during the surgery for pathology testing, and I just had a follow-up appointment to review the findings. The good news is that the surgical margins are clear of cancer, which means that the edges of the removed tissue do not show signs of the disease. However, it was noted that out of the 58 lymph nodes examined, three of them tested positive for cancer. This appointment primarily focused on my recovery from surgery, so I was informed that I will need to meet with an oncologist in about a month to discuss the next steps in my treatment plan. Right now, I find myself in a position of waiting. While I have come to terms with the potential gravity of my situation, I am curious about the prognosis for someone with cancer found in three lymph nodes, especially after having undergone surgery. Additionally, I'm also concerned about the lengthy intervals between appointments and tests—typically around a month—which I worry may adversely affect the chances of survival, particularly with the presence of cancer in multiple lymph nodes.
Answers (1)
7/23/2025, 2:10:46 PM
OpenHealth AI
It's understandable to feel anxious after receiving mixed news about your pathology report and to have concerns about your recovery and next steps. Here’s a concise overview of your situation and some actionable steps to support you during this waiting period.
Main Points:
- Clear surgical margins are a positive sign, indicating no visible cancer at the edges of the removed tissue, but cancer detected in three lymph nodes suggests further treatment may be necessary.
- The intervals between appointments can be unsettling, but they often allow time for careful planning of your treatment strategy.
Explanation:
Your clearance of cancer at the surgical margins is a favorable outcome, indicating that the tumor was completely removed from the immediate area. However, the detection of cancer in three out of 58 lymph nodes suggests that there may still be a risk of the disease spreading. This is important information for your oncologist in determining a comprehensive treatment plan, which may include additional chemotherapy, radiation, or other therapies aimed at reducing the risk of recurrence.
Regarding your concerns about wait times for appointments and their impact on survival, it's important to understand that while prolonged waiting can be stressful, oncologists typically use these intervals to evaluate your overall health, recovery from surgery, and to strategize the most effective treatment. It often takes time to prepare tailored treatment plans based on the latest research and your specific pathology, ensuring you receive the best care.
Next Steps:
-
Prepare for Your Oncologist Appointment: Before your appointment next month, consider writing down specific questions and concerns about your prognosis, treatment options, and any lifestyle changes that may support your health.
-
Focus on Recovery: Continue prioritizing your recovery by adhering to your post-surgical care plan, which may include managing your stoma and attending to your nutrition. Staying hydrated and eating a balanced diet can help your body heal.
-
Seek Support: Reach out for emotional support from friends, family, or support groups for cancer patients. Sharing your feelings can alleviate anxiety and help you feel less isolated during this waiting period.
-
Stay Informed, But Discreet: While it's natural to seek out information about your condition and prognosis, try to focus on reputable sources. Too much information can sometimes add to your anxiety.
If you have further concerns or different questions arise, feel free to share. You're taking an important step by staying informed and engaged in your health journey.
Related Questions
Persistent Cough Following Cold – Seeking Insights
At 42 years old, I have no significant health concerns aside from a lack of regular exercise and not maintaining an ideal diet. About three months back, I experienced a common cold, and my recovery was typical. However, since that time, I've been plagued by a persistent urge to cough, which can be quite intense. There's a peculiar sensation near my diaphragm and heart that feels like a flutter, and at times, it feels as if my heart is momentarily skipping a beat during these episodes. This unsettling flutter began right after my cold, and it's a feeling that’s completely unfamiliar to me. During bouts of intense coughing, I occasionally bring up small amounts of clear mucus, but I don't experience any other symptoms. On average, I find myself coughing in short bursts about 10 to 20 times each day. Often, particularly when I’m sitting up in bed late in the evening, this fluttering sensation can feel relentless, leading to a cough approximately every 30 seconds—sometimes even more frequently—for an hour or two. I have consulted my primary care physician on two occasions, and pneumonia has been convincingly ruled out. I’ve experimented with a steroid treatment and took Claritin, along with trying virtually every over-the-counter cough remedy available, but nothing seems to provide any relief. What further steps should I consider taking to either eliminate potential issues or help find a remedy to this ongoing situation?
Cysts on Liver Detected in Chest CT: Should I Be Concerned?
I am a 34-year-old female who does not smoke or consume alcohol, and I don’t take any medications aside from vitamin D supplements. My weight is 145 pounds and I stand 5 feet 3 inches tall. Despite my healthy lifestyle, I find myself feeling anxious. Recently, I have been experiencing pain on the left side of my chest, accompanied by shortness of breath, excessive sweating, and discomfort in my back and joints. My diet has included more dairy products recently, and I am beginning to wonder if I might be allergic or if there could be a more serious underlying issue. Today, I had a sensation of post-nasal drip followed by a cough that produced dark, bloody mucus, which was alarming as I have never encountered anything like this before. Currently, I am at the emergency room, where a very understanding doctor reviewed my CT scan and confirmed that there were no signs of a pulmonary embolism or heart problems. He also stated that my blood tests appeared normal. However, he did mention the presence of some cysts on my liver. How concerned should I be about these findings? Is it advisable for me to discuss this further with my gastroenterologist?
Seeking Guidance on Complications Post Hip Replacement
I am a 59-year-old female who underwent a left total hip replacement using a Mako robotic approach in December 2024. Initially, post-operative discomfort subsided, but I have been experiencing persistent pain in the back of my left hip that has not improved. Throughout my follow-up appointments, I expressed my concerns to both the surgeon and the physician assistant, but they only suggested that I wait it out without providing further options. During my most recent visit in early May, I was informed that I might have bursitis; however, no specific treatment was recommended, and I was advised to get an MRI of my lower back. Following that, I reached out to my primary care physician for a referral for both back and hip MRIs, which were conducted at the end of June. The hip MRI revealed a defect in the posterior left pseudocapsule, with an organized collection of joint fluid extending along the back of the greater trochanter. The lumbar MRI indicated the presence of disc osteophyte complexes at the L4/5 and L5/S1 levels. I have a follow-up appointment with the orthopedic specialist next week, but I am feeling quite frustrated due to my previous experiences where my pain was not taken seriously, and the reluctance to pursue a hip MRI earlier. Although this doctor comes highly recommended in our medium-sized town, I am uncertain about my next steps and where to seek further assistance. Clearly, it’s essential to address these issues, and I would appreciate hearing from others regarding potential diagnostics or treatment options, as my confidence in the current diagnosis process has waned considerably.
Continuous Headaches: Seeking Answers
I appreciate your patience as I outline my ongoing health challenges—a situation spanning over five years that has been particularly taxing. To provide a little background about myself, I'm a 38-year-old male, weighing around 280 pounds and standing 6 feet tall. I contend with high cholesterol levels and a significant depressive disorder, both of which are currently managed with Vilazodone (40mg) and Rosuvastatin (40mg) daily. Over these five years, I've undergone regular blood tests, which have mostly returned normal results; however, I do have low levels of HDL cholesterol and testosterone, hovering around 300. My predominant issue has been persistent headaches that have afflicted me for more than five years. These headaches began without any clear trigger and consistently present with a pain level around a 3, occasionally rising to a 6, but rarely dropping below a 2. This discomfort is often coupled with symptoms such as dizziness, feelings of lightheadedness, cognitive fog, struggles with word recall, and mild tinnitus. Notably, I do not experience sensitivity to visual, auditory, or olfactory stimuli, and the only relief I find is when lying down. In addition to the headaches, I've experienced sporadic bouts of vertigo over these years—three episodes in total—which lasted from mere seconds to several days, a pattern that was unheard of prior to the headaches. Around the time the headaches began, I dealt with a pinched nerve in my neck, possibly from an awkward sleeping position. The accompanying tingling sensation in my arm subside after physical therapy. I sought the assistance of a neurologist who performed an MRI of my brain and spine. The findings were largely inconclusive, except for identifying a slightly slipped disc and the previously mentioned pinched nerve. In exploring treatment options, I consulted another neurologist, who tried various medications, including topiramate, NSAIDs, Sumatriptan, CGRP inhibitors, and Botox injections. Unfortunately, none of these remedied my symptoms. At one point, it was suggested that my symptoms might be due to the antidepressants (Effexor and Wellbutrin) I was taking, so I worked with my psychiatrist to taper off these medications. However, after six months with no improvement, I returned to a newer antidepressant due to a significant decline in my depressive symptoms. I was then referred to a cardiologist to assess whether my condition might relate to POTS or another cardiovascular issue. An ultrasound of the heart was normal, and while a stress test indicated vasovagal syncope, it ruled out POTS. Around this time, my psychiatrist considered whether anxiety was a contributing factor. I attended an outpatient anxiety support program, where I found that while some symptoms resonated with me, my anxiety seemed rather mild, as I primarily felt nervous in social settings and shied away from confrontation. Subsequently, my psychiatrist proposed trying Adderall for my attention difficulties. This medication proved to be the most effective of all, improving symptoms, but I encountered significant side effects such as sleep disturbances and irritability. Eventually, I secured a referral to a prestigious academic institution and consulted around five different neurologists, ultimately being directed to a specialized headache clinic. There, I was advised to cut down my caffeine intake from three cups daily to two or fewer, yet this did not yield any benefits. As part of their assessment, I underwent a sleep study, which revealed mild sleep apnea. I received a CPAP machine and used it consistently for over a year with no noticeable change in my condition. The headache clinic also referred me to a specialist involved in research on spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid leaks (CSF leaks). After taking assessments at home, the specialist deemed me a candidate for more intricate imaging (a CT myelogram with contrast). Although the results were negative, the doctor indicated a ~30% likelihood of a leak not detected in the scans, flagging a couple of areas of concern. Consequently, I underwent four blood patches in an effort to address these areas; improvements were only temporary and only during recovery. As part of my ongoing exploration of treatment, I was also recommended to an otolaryngologist for vestibular function tests, including VNG, vHIT, VEMP, and rotary chair assessments. The outcomes indicated slight deficiencies in my vestibular system, leading to six months of physical therapy, which unfortunately did not alleviate my symptoms. Conditions like BPPV and vestibular migraines were excluded. Having taken a hiatus from treatments and consultations for approximately six months due to sheer fatigue from relentless appointments with no clear resolutions, I am now eager to resume my quest for answers. I aim to either enhance my quality of life despite these symptoms (I’m currently practicing cognitive-behavioral therapy) or, ideally, uncover solutions to alleviate them. Thus, my inquiry is straightforward: Where should I go from here? Should I return to the headache clinic at the academic center, consult another neurologist, or seek alternative resources?
Experiencing Paralysis After SI Joint Injection
Hello, I received corticosteroid injections in both my left and right sacroiliac joints at approximately 11:30 this morning. Now, at 7:15 PM, I find that my left leg is unable to support any weight and tends to give way unexpectedly. The nursing staff advised me to wait for over an hour to see if there would be any improvement. Eventually, the charge nurse contacted my doctor, who suggested I go home, assuring me that everything should return to normal soon. However, he added that if I felt uneasy about the situation, I should visit the emergency room. Upon returning home, I took a lengthy nap, but unfortunately, my left leg still feels unstable. It continues to collapse when I attempt to place weight on it, and there's a tingling sensation that concerns me. I've had a fusion of the L3, L4, and L5 vertebrae nine years ago, which required a revision just four days later. The neurosurgeon informed me that he placed a screw too deep, resulting in nerve damage affecting my left side, leading to six months of extreme pain and unusual sensations. Has anyone else experienced something similar? I would appreciate any advice you could share. Thank you very much!