Why Does It Take So Long????
My daughter who was recently diagnosed with Colorectal Cancer a week ago, won’t actually begin her chemo until the 19th of March (today is the 10th). She had her "port" put in on the 8th (Friday). Why does it take so long before they can start the treatments??? This is so incredibly scary!!!
To whomever answered my other questions regarding her cancer… God Bless you…. you told me that colorectal cancer was easily treated (which is what she said her Oncologist told her) because so far, the cat scan (done last Sunday on the 4th) showed that her other vital organs were clear so far. We are praying so hard that she comes through this… but why is it they can’t "stage" her cancer until the surgery… and why is it taking so long to start her treatment??? Aren’t these cells spreading in the meantime???? (I’m freaking out, I’m sorry!!) Thanks for any insight and for whomever sent me all those links… God Bless you…. I will be checking each one out.
Tagged with: cancer • cells • chemo • colorectal • god • insight • last sunday • oncologist • vital organs
Filed under: Colorectal Cancer
Denisedds (88)
I understand exactly how you feel. My 11 year old son was diagnosed with cancer this past summer. The waiting and not knowing was by far the worst of it all. I thought I would die with fear and worry.
It did seem an eternity before they started anything but don’t worry, the type of cancer she has is easily manageable, and if they are doing surgery to remove the affected part then that is better, less cancer to have to beat back with chemo.
My guess is until they do the surgery they won’t know if it’s spread from the original source (which is stage 1) elsewhere in the body (stage 2 or higher). Usually the longer you’ve had it the more likely it’s metastesized (spread) and when it has there is no telling if it’s affected surrounding tissue or lymph nodes.
With colorectal cancer, the stages depend on many factors because the colon has many layers so until they view them microscopically and see how many layers it’s penetrated, they won’t be able to stage it.
I know it’s a frightful ordeal but have faith that it will all turn out well in the end. You need to be strong and don’t show her your fear. She needs to believe that YOU believe she will be ok. I used to run out in the middle of the night and cry in the street so my kids wouldn’t see my fear.
Thank God it turned out ok and he is well now.
One thing this teaches you is that life is precious and you really need to live each day to the fullest and not take anything for granted.
Will send a prayer your way. Have faith and it will be ok.
the port has to heal before the chemo can be administered through it – thats why you’ve got to wait a few weeks. i wish you and your daughter the best of luck, you are both in my prayers.
im very very sorry about the news! i hope that shes doing ok. but theres lots of other people in line for treatment. doctors are busy people who are booked up solid most of the time. just be paitent. at least you only have to wait 2 or 3 weeks. some people have to wait longer.
best wishes to you and your daughter!
They can’t stage her cancer until they get actual pieces of the tumor/cancer and study it under a microscope. They also need to see if there appears to be metastasis to the surrounding tissue.
They need to make sure the port "takes", that the area heals and the port is usable. In the meantime she should try to get as healthy as she can. Eat a proper diet including enough protein and green vegetables and whole grains to build up her iron, take a multi-vitamin, drink enough fluids, and stay healthy.
Good luck to you and your daughter. Have faith and build a positive, hopeful attitude.
Everybody who gets a diagnosis of cancer obviously is scared, and just want to start treatment right away.
Unfortunately, there are practical limitations you aren’t considering. There are literally thousands of other people who feel exactly
the same way as you do, all wanting special individual care for themselves ahead of everybody else, right away. It is physically impossible to organize things as quickly as you want, given the demands on the system..Also, there are likely many people who have far more advanced cases than your daughter, and they deserve higher priority. There is a sort of triage process for deciding on who gets what, and when.
This is a process she has to go through, and a sequence of events that have to happen before she can start active treatment. The porta-cath has to be given a chance to heal, she has to be booked into the OR for the biopsy, the pathologist has to report on the specifics of the tumour cells so that the oncologist can decide on the appropriate chemotherapy. These things all take a certain amount of time. I realize it is frustrating and anxiety inducing to have to wait. But you do.
Colorectal cancer is relatively slow growing, there is no evidence that hers has spread beyond its origin, and a delay of a few weeks will make no difference at all. From my point of view, she is getting very timely care, you should be grateful.
You should also be grateful she is alive in a time when there are lots of good treatments for colorectal CA, and if caught early enough it can be cured. 20 years ago the outcomes were much worse.
I know how you feel, I used to think the same thing. My teenage son was diagnosed with stage IV abdominal sarcoma. Fortunately he was diagnosed immediately on entering the hospital. It took one long week to send the biopsy away to confirm the diagnosis. One of the reasons we had to wait was to make absolutely sure that he had what we suspected and to begin the appropriate chemotherapy protocol. He started his chemotherapy approximately a week or so later and it had an immediate impact. That was two years ago. He has come a long, long way since that time.
My advice to you is to start reading as much as you possibly can about this disease. The more you know the better able you will be to make decisions and talk to her doctors.
Stay strong. I understand.
i know ..i waited 3 months to get on transplant list before the resection of my liver takeing out tumor..I was freaking out.AAAHHHH i got cancer ..why are the waiting…ahhhh god bless