Suggest Treatment For Rectal Cancer

Posted on Mon, 10 Jul 2017

Question: My mum was diagnosed with rectal cancer 2 days ago. The consultant said they can cure mum. The tumor is 4cm. The plan of action is radiotherapy and chemotherapy tablets with surgery. Mum will need a colostomy as they are taking all rectum out. Consultant says cancer hasn't spread and says this has as good prognosis. I am still worried sick about this. Is this an early stage cancer and do you see a good prognosis? Mum had ovarian cancer 8 years ago so this worries me. Thank you

Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (56 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Further evaluation as mentioned below.

Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Thanks for your query.
Noted the history about your Mother and understood the concerns.
The prognosis of cancer of the rectum and colon depend upon the following factors:
Up to what extent the caner has spread to the wall of the rectum.
Has it invaded the nearby organs.
Spread to lymph node and distant organs.
Ovarian cancer does not look to be related to the present problem.
Hence complete work up for general fitness, to find any other medical problem concerning the age of the patient and past history of Ovarian cancer, further investigations to see for the extent and spread of cancer can alone decide the prognosis.
CT/MRI of the whole abdomen
X-ray/CT scan of the chest to see for spread.
Tests of blood and any other tests as may be necessary after clinical evaluation by the Oncologist/Oncosurgeon.

I can understand the situation you all must be going through.
Please get the detailed evaluation done and the correct line of treatment as suggested by Him/Her.

Surely a timely diagnosis and proper treatment as has been planned by the incharge Doctor will help for the cure as she has survived cancer of the ovary since 8 years.
I hope this answers your query/helps you all; please feel free to ask for further relevant queries if you feel that there is a gap of communication.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. T Chandrakant (9 hours later)

there is no spread on CT and MRI and is contained to rectum. I Have no reports

Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (27 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Please give details and post actual reports.

Detailed Answer:
This is a good news for better recovery.
Please post the reports the moment you get them so that we can have some basic knowledge for better discussion.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Remy Koshy

Follow up: Dr. T Chandrakant (13 hours later)

If you have lots of bleeding for rectal cancer is this bad news. Mum only saw Consultant Wendesday and is bleeding more when goes to toilet I am really scared

Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
As explained.

Detailed Answer:
Bleeding on touch is a sign of most of the cancers as there is increased blood supply due to increased demand by the growing than normal blood supply and fragile nature of the mass.
It is bad as the blood is lost And may need replacement for good hemoglobin and proteins both of which may be less than normal.
Please get these checked and the patient put on supplements.
Mild laxative may help further for better ciutcome of treatment.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D

Follow up: Dr. T Chandrakant (4 hours later)

so it doesn't mean cancer has spread?

Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
No relation with the spread.

Detailed Answer:
No, it does not mean that cancer has spread.
It means that the surface of cancer is fragile and bleeds easily and is a character of cancer.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. T Chandrakant (6 minutes later)

Thank you very much

Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (1 minute later)

Brief Answer:
Thanks for appreciation

Detailed Answer:
You are most welcome

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. T Chandrakant (3 days later)

do you see mum having a good prognosis with the attached letter

Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Looks good if the co-morbidities are well taken care of

Detailed Answer:
Noted the detailed letter and it seems that the prognosis is good.
But the co-morbidities can cause a lots of problems before, during and after the proper therapy. Diabetes, hypertension, morbid obesity and others as noted should be very well controlled to have still better outcome.
I hope this answers your query.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. T Chandrakant (1 hour later)

Mum is try to lose weight and I am go to help her and lose weight too. hypertension is well controlled and we trying with diabetes but with diet I think this should get better. has the cancer gone in lymph nodes and what stage would you say it was please

Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (6 hours later)

Brief Answer:
take proper Specialists' help as explained.

Detailed Answer:
This is good to know that hypertension is under control.
Diet alone can not control anything unless exercises and proper medications are obeyed with.
Morbid obesity is one of the most important reasons for many of her problems.
You an consult The teammembers of Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery center, particularly the Dietitian and Physiotherapist as they are well versed with such problems and help the best for control of Morbid obesity.
About the staging: the Doctors taking care of cancer part can tell you the best as they have examined her and clinico-radiological correlation for proper can be done by them only.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D

Follow up: Dr. T Chandrakant (2 hours later)

do You see this has been caught early enough to stop spread

Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (11 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
12 months of bleeding per-rectum

Detailed Answer:
As per the letter, she was symptomatic, passing blood for the last 12 months.
Should have consulted the ano-rectal surgeon earlier.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana

Follow up: Dr. T Chandrakant (42 minutes later)

I didn't ask about mum symptoms I asked if this is early enough to sort out

Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
It can be if taken care of as advised by the team of Doctors.

Detailed Answer:
If this would have been shown earlier, it would have been still better prognosis wise.
As per the letter you have posted, this looks to be the one that can be sorted out.

Note: For further queries related to kidney problems Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng