Fearing ruptured colon

[LDBottoms]

My tumor is pressing against my colon. Anyone have experience with this? Thank you in advance!

[Kryssy]

Hi

Back in July I had one large ovary sitting on my bladder so I was peeing almost constantly and the other pressed up against the bowel. It caused a bottle neck effect and I could feel as waste tried to get through the bottle neck. It was painful. At one time the bowel got blocked because chemo gives you constipation. But, as the ovaries shrank, now down by over half, everything went normal again. I still pee a lot but it's because I drink a lot of water. I can get through the night with just one or two visits to the loo now.

Keep yourself hydrated and eat plenty of food that keeps your poo soft. Prune juice does it for me. Lots of ladies have their favourite ways of keeping regular. Poo is a well talked about subject here.

Please give us some more information. We'll be able to advise you better.

Kryssy x

[LDBottoms in reply to Kryssy]

I was diagnosed with stage 3c low grade serous ovarian cancer in 2015. They did a debulking surgery, removed fallopian tubes, cervix, uterus, omentum and appendix. I did 6 rounds of chemo and had a reluctance within about 3 months. I have been on several different chemo last one avastin. Was on avastin for about a year and a half. I had to get off of it due to losing use of my hands and arms. So they put me on the hormone pill they put breast cancer patients on. My last cat scan showed my tumor pressing against my transverse colon. The doctor said that surgery is not an option for me. So now I am worried about the tumor attaching to the colon. Does this mean since they can't do surgery if it punctures my colon I am terminal? My next appt is Jan 8th to change my treatment. The pills are not working my ca125 went from 99 to 145 in one month. Very scary not knowing since they won't due surgery now . Since I know a ruptured colon can mean sudden death.

[Kryssy in reply to LDBottoms]

Please don't work yourself up into a heart attack. You need to talk to your oncologist - says me who usually forgets to ask all the right questions. I've been told that surgery isn't an option with me too, but I've no idea why. Forgot to ask. I'll ask in January. Many ladies have stomas which makes be believe that if part of the colon is removed then you will still be very much alive. I don't have one but if it was an option as the alternative was dying then I know which one I would choose.

Just be patient as there will be some really good advice coming along here soon from ladies in similar situations as yourself. Don't ask Mr Google. That will give you all sorts of nightmares. Stick to the people that live it every day and treat it every day. Good luck.

Kryssy xx

[LDBottoms in reply to Kryssy]

Thank you ! I have been reading to much of Mr. Google. I am so grateful to have found this site! This group is amazing! I will talk to my oncologist in Jan. and then give an update. By the way how are you feeling ? Wishing you a very Merry Christmas! Lisa

[koffeekat99]

Hi

Diagnosed low grade 3b in 2014. One of my tumours is wedged into my rectum. So I similarly have concern over it breaching and becoming an emergency.

There seems to be an expectation from my med team that I will notice a change in symptoms though. It's been like that for three years so far. Last time I worried at the oncologist about it she reminded me that its very very sluggish in my case.

It is potentially operable with a stoma. But they won't operate again until I am symptomatic. Possibly because it's not the only tumour I have remaining.

So yes I understand your concerns as I worry when I get any changes in feeling in my bum area. But the best thing to do is to talk to your med team and ask them whatever you feel you need to know. Will you notice symptoms, what should you look out for, if no symptoms do you need regular scans to keep an eye on it, etc. Also why is it not operable, etc.

I have an internal exam at my check ups where they feel for my problematic rectal one (named Adolf junior).

It is a very odd situation to be in at times.

One morning I thought I would be heading into hospital as I found blood in my poo. I thought it was odd though as it wasnt painful and I'd had no symptoms prior to it. Then realised I'd eaten lots of beetroot the day before. So no blood at all, just red from beetroot!!!

But yes it does mean I am very vigilant.

If you are worrying a lot before your appointment you could maybe talk to someone on the Ovacome helpline or your speciality nurse at the hospital who will be able to look at your notes.

[LDBottoms in reply to koffeekat99]

Thank you for your response, this site is so helpful. Everyone has been kind and understanding. I plan to make a list of questions to ask the doctor in Jan. I will call the helpline maybe that will give me some more information. Just when I felt I was the only one, I found out I am not, the support really helps. Wishing you a very Blessed Christmas! Lisa

[Eriksendi]

You will know if there's a problem. I was diagnosed stage 3 PPC in June 2017 and one of my main symptoms was that I was unable to go to the loo without taking laxatives. My sigmoid colon ruptured after chemo number 2. I thought it was chemo pains and didn't go to hospital initially but my temperature rose and I then went in. To cut a long story short, they operated as it had burst and gave me a stoma. Best thing that could ever have happened for me all previous pain was gone. I then had debulking surgery in sept 2017 and they did a bowel resection taking away the damaged area. There was no infiltration into the bowel it just happened as it was squashed and went through an area where I had diverticulitis. My stoma is due to be reversed in a couple of months. My stoma has made chemo so much easier for me. I wouldn't chose to have one but it saved my life and you do get used to it. I hope you don't get to this stage but believe me it's not all bad.

[LDBottoms in reply to Eriksendi]

Thank you so much for telling me your story! Now I know what to look for. Wishing you many blessings and a Happy New year! Lisa