Colorectal Cancer

Question: How rare are stomach and/or colorectal cancer occurances in teenagers? Also, does obesity dramatically increase the chances of a teen getting stomach and/or colorectal cancer?

Answer: Those two are extremely rare in a teen. Colorectal cancers are usual in the elderly, or tend to run in families. Stomach cancers are as well, very rare in teens. My husband, in general family practice, has never seen either in 25 years of practice.

Question: what are my chances with colorectal cancer? I am having a colostomy for colorectal cancer.There is some indications my liver may be also cancerous although 2 ct assisted biopses have been performed both coming back negative. what do you think my chances are.

Answer: I'm sorry to hear about your diagnosis. Prognostic factors (life expectancy) are based on the staging of your cancer. This is dependent on how far it has spread, and whether things called lymph nodes are involved. It would be really irresponsible for someone to try and give you an estimate of your chances without knowing all of your clinical history. I'm glad you are being treated now, and i hope that you recover well from any treatment you receive.

Question: Is a 26 year old female is too young to have colorectal cancer and to had a partial coloectomy done? Could it possibly be a genetic for someone to have colon cancer and needs a partial coloectomy and they dont need no treatment at this time such as, radiation or chemotherapy? Will this young person to have normal bowels again? Do doctors really recommend the person to be on a special diet? Does that means they have to wear a bag through their skin?

Answer: You have several individual questions: 1. 26 is generally too young to worry about colorectal cancer, however some rare congenital condition can make it a possibility 2. Treatment would be designed around location and severity of the cancer. If surgery is indicated, a colectomy would involve a colostomy (bag at the skin) which may be temporary and reversible. 3. Normal bowel function would depend on extent of surgery, but is possible after reversal of colectomy.

Question: In colorectal cancer, how does it metasise to the bones? I understand that the cancer can metastise into the blood then to the liver and lungs due to their continuous blood supply... But why the bones?

Answer: Just as cancer cells are metasticised through you blood from it's primary site to other organs and tissues, so as your bones are living tissues they have to be fed with blood also.

Question: Do you support colorectal cancer legislation in all 50 states? Only 25 states mandate insurance companies to pay for colon cancer screening. See what your state's grade is for colorectal cancer screening: http://www.eifoundation.org/national/nccra/report_card/flash_movie.html You can go to www.myspace.com/dmsteach and sign my guestbook if you support colorectal cancer legislation. You can also email your congress reps and senators especially if your state has a failing grade. Thank you.

Answer: Yes I do. Cant believe so many states dont have the mandates.

Question: How effective is Avastin as targetted therapy for the metastatic colorectal cancer? What could be the possible side-effects? I would appreciate personal experiences very much! Thanks! The loved one is none other than my precious mom. She has already had 2 doses of Avastin within a gap of 15 days...on 21st Apr. & 5th May. No serious side-effects so far. But the doctor says to wait till the third dose on 20th May. If she withstands that, things would hopefully perk up.

Answer: Taking Avastin, an FDA-approved monoclonal antibody and anti-angiogenesis drug (almost always in combination with intravenous 5-FU), for metastatic colorectal cancer is NOT exactly like the old Doc's advice: "Take two Aspirins and call me in the morning!" This is a serious medical issue/decision that must be thoroughly discussed with the patient's attending physician/oncologist and other members of the interdisciplinary treatment team. As with any chemotherapy regime the side effects could vary from patient to patient; BUT they are potentially VERY SERIOUS (e.g. gastrointestinal perforation, hemoptysis, severe wound healing complications, etc.) ... One of my most precious friends is currently on it, and I can tell you, it has NOT exactly been a walk in the park for him! :-( :-( You may find the following web sites quite informative (if you haven't seen them already, that is): http://www.avastin.com/avastin/index.jsp?hl=en&q=Avastin http://www.gene.com/gene/products/information/oncology/avastin/ http://www.drugs.com/avastin.html Be well always, and all the best to your "loved one". .

Question: How many phases does the progress of colorectal cancer have? I mean from the beginning polys to metastasis. could you talk about more specific?

Answer: It has four stages: 1. Just a tumour. Treatment is usually just surgery. 2. Cancer spread to wall of colon but still confined to colon. Treatment is surgery and sometimes chemo is recommended. 3. Cancer has spread to lymph nodes outside of colon. At this point surgery takes place and chemo is strongly recommended. 4. Cancer has spread to other organs. Treatment becomes more difficult.

Question: Do you know anyone who ever had colorectal cancer?and did it come right back or wait a while? I mean did they have like chemo or radiation and did it still come back or stay away.And does colorectal come back in the same place again?

Answer: I only deal with cancer and must see 50 colon cases a month. Many patients never receive chemo or radiation and the cancer doesn’t come back. This is because their cancer was caught early. When it’s caught in a more advanced stage there is really no way to know if it is really gone. When it returns in these patients it has metastasized an therefore found in another part of the body. It cannot come back to the same area as that part of the colon has been removed.

Question: How long can a person live if he has a colorectal cancer? My grandfather is 84 years old and found he has a colorectal cancer a year ago. He did the surgery right away Now, the doctor found that there are two tumor in his liver 3 months after a exam If he takes the surgery again, will the tumor grow again? How long can he live? If he decides not to take the surgery, how long can he live? By the way, will you suggest him to take the surgery or not (becase he is very old now)

Answer: check out this research group....someone one the message board might be able to help http://boinc.bakerlab.org/rosetta

Question: How to differentiate between colorectal cancer and hemorrhoids?

Answer: 3 Big deference between .hemorrhoids Does not cause pain inside your Colon when you go to the restroom .Anther deference is that with hemorrhoids you will see blood in the stool but with hemorrhoids it will stop after a week or 2.As with colorectal cancer it not stop.Also anther deference between colorectal cancer and hemorrhoids is that with colorectal cancer you will lose wight and with hemorrhoids you will not lose wight.Please keep in mind that no one in here can give you a Diagnosis on if you have Colon cancer or just Hemorrhoids .You need to call a Gastroenterology and fix an appointment for a colonoscopy.colonoscopy might not be the most fun thing to do in life but it will save your life

Question: Colorectal cancer? Hey everyone! My mom was diagnosed with colorectal cancer a few weeks ago. She is starting chemotherapy today, and I don't know much about the treatment. Does anyone know about it? I would appreciate any help! Thanks! If you need any more info about it, check my most recent blog entry on my 360.

Answer: GO TO WWW.MAYOCLINIC.COM AND SEARCH THIS TYPE OF CANCER

Question: How to distnguish between bleeding piles and colorectal cancer other than undergoing colonscopy?

Answer: I say that Colonoscopy is probably the best method to find out about those 2.

Question: What is the guide for determining the amount of xeloda PILLS that are given during chemo for colorectal cancer? Microscopic cells that technology could not "see" three years ago were found in 3 out of 34 lymph nodes after surgery removed the entire stage 1 tumor...I know it is directed by body weight ; but I can find no guidelines...

Answer: If you have a T1 tumor and 3 of 34 lymph nodes positive you have a stage 3A cancer, assuming there are no mets. Xeloda is chemotherapy and I’m not sure the dosage is determined by body weight. I believe it is determined by the disease. Prescribing drugs is not part of my job or something I need to know, but if you have questions about any prescribed to you, you should speak to the doctor who prescribed it. If you need to know right now you can ask your pharmacist.

Question: What are the long term side effects of radiation therapy for colorectal cancer?

Answer: Side effects vary from person to person. The side effects of radiation therapy may include diarrhea or frequent bowel movements, fatigue, appetite loss, and redness of the skin where external x-rays enter the body. Generally, side effects stop gradually once treatment is discontinued, but often bowel function remains altered from what it was before the disease started. Look here for a very very detailed list of potential side effects: http://www.rush.edu/rumc/page-R12758.htm…

Question: What would be a good name for colorectal cancer prevention program?

Answer: Hey Just wanted to suggest a lengthy url of information about this question I will check and let you know

Question: I have a family history of colorectal cancer. When should I start geting tested and how often.? Please, only health professionals or persons with credible sources reply. Thanks!

Answer: My family is also struck by the same affliction and the specialist told my sister and i that once we reached the age of 30 we should get tested once a year..and once we get closer to the age of 40 then we should get tested every six months..I'm now 38 years old and i go every six month for a colonoscopy and as embarassing as it is..it's worth it just for my piece of mind and health..i have allwasy tested clean but the last time i had it done they found polyps and took the lazer to them right away ..so thank god i get tested because that's the way the cancer starts..