Advise & suggestion for aggressive colon cancer

CApoppy · New User Joined: 23 Aug 2008 Posts: 1

Hi, I'm new to this forum and I wanted to see if I can get some advise and suggestion from you. My cousin who is 30 has been battling aggressive colon cancer this past year. Several months ago she went through a major surgery to remove her ovaries and have her colon re-attached. Everything was looking very hopeful. Doctors didn't find additional new tumors. She was completing her chemo protocol. However, last month, she discovered fresh blood in her stool. When she went in for x-ray, she found 2 new mass with one being in her colon again. Two weeks ago she finally got the doctor to exam the mass in details and learned that the cancer was back and is aggressively trying to break down her colon wall.

I'm scared for her because it seems like the cancer is even more aggressive now. Yet, her doctors seem very unconcern and are not very aggressive about treating her cancer. Strangely, her oncologist is deferring her treatment decision to her surgeon -- is this normal? Aren't the oncologist the specialist in cancer treatment?!?! The surgeon is prescribing combo of radiation and chemo, but she can't even talk to the surgeon because he only works at the hospital once a week and they refuse to allow her to connect with the surgeon directly. She won't be a able to start any treatment for another week or so! It's been over a month since the mass was discovered. Is this normal given how aggressive her cancer is? This is so frustrating for all of us because I feel like time is of the essence. I just want to know if this is normal or if she needs to get the hell out of that hospital and find a medical institution that actually cares about patients.

Would any of you have any recommendation of colon cancer oncologist down in Southern California, preferably in the Los Angeles area? Any help suggestion you could provide would be much appreciated.

We're just all really worried and scared for her.

Thanks in advance for your input.

brainman

CApoppy, I am very sorry about your cousin's cancer. It does sound like it is very aggressive.

Your cousin's situation is mixed in terms of being common. What is not common is for the treating physician to be so isolated from the patients. What is common is for a surgical patient not to see the oncologist after the end or chemotherapy... I have not seen my oncologist in a couple of years but I see my neurosurgeon every few months.

My concern is that your cousin is not being seen at a major medical center where communication between the medical team is better. You might want to suggest to your cousin to get a second opinion at a major medical/cancer research center:

http://www.usnews.com/directories/hospitals/index_html/specialty+IHQCANC/

You and your cousin are in my thoughts and prayers.
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2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendroglioma grade 3, same location.
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