Pelvic Exenteration

My friend was just informed that she will have to have a pelvic exenteration.  She is 63.  Is there any other info that she should know before such an extreme procedure?  What is the success rate and are there any cancer facilities and/or doctors that are more expert than Cedars Lebanon, Hollywood?  The radiation and chemo that was used previously did not work.  Any suggestions re: where to have the surgery or what life is like afterwards.  She will have two colostomy bags after the surgery, one for the bladder and the other for the bowels.

I am just curious to know what type of cancer? Cervical? What stage? Was it a reaccurance? My mom 56 has stage 4 cervical cancer. She opted for no more treatment. But does have a colostomy and bags for her bladder. As far as the colostomy bag she said its gross, but she is getting better with it. The bags for urine are actually pins in her back to drain her kidneys. So I don't think its the same. The only thing she wants is some normalacy. nice word. Ya know to feel a little normal. Its a big change ya know, we learn as infants to go to the bathroom to relieve ourselves, with these types of bags it comes out when ever. She can not lay on her stomach and with the pins in her back it is hard to lay on those. A good thing is it is not noticable. If you saw her out at the store you'd never know. There was an article I read from a man who just got the colostomy-he had such  a great sense of humor about it. It was funny to read his take on it. Please let me know how her surgery goes. For I always wondered if my mom could have that. I hope I helped alittle bit. Take care. Dani

 

On 2/28/2008 babygirlcasey wrote:

My friend was just informed that she will have to have a pelvic exenteration.  She is 63.  Is there any other info that she should know before such an extreme procedure?  What is the success rate and are there any cancer facilities and/or doctors that are more expert than Cedars Lebanon, Hollywood?  The radiation and chemo that was used previously did not work.  Any suggestions re: where to have the surgery or what life is like afterwards.  She will have two colostomy bags after the surgery, one for the bladder and the other for the bowels.

 

I am almost in the same boat, so to speak. Chemo and Rad did not quite get all that it should.  Your friend should get on the website for Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York.  They are foremost experts.  I live in Louisiana and am now 50 and have been battling this for 2 years.  I've had the most excellent care (local in Shreveport, LA) from all of my gyn/onc and rad/onc, here.  Patrick Conner, MD, Roscoe Chan, Md and current Destin Black, MD (subspecialty trained at Sloan Kettering).  I tried MD Anderson in Texas and that was just not the place for me. They can also give you published articles (there are not many) to read and understand.  You can also perform a MedLine search yourself on the internet.

 There was a time when I thought (and said out load) that I would never have exenteration.....when you're looking at the only option and you know you have it so much better than others.....well I suppose you take it and say "thank you".  Please...let me know if I can be of any help in anyway.

Shannon

Thx for your information.  My friend has decided to go w/ more experimental chemo or radiation.  I think she is afraid of the surgery, as I would me.  She is going to take her chances.  Thx for your input.  I hope your Mom is doing well.

 

On 3/13/2008 Shannon M. wrote:

 

On 2/28/2008 babygirlcasey wrote:

My friend was just informed that she will have to have a pelvic exenteration.  She is 63.  Is there any other info that she should know before such an extreme procedure?  What is the success rate and are there any cancer facilities and/or doctors that are more expert than Cedars Lebanon, Hollywood?  The radiation and chemo that was used previously did not work.  Any suggestions re: where to have the surgery or what life is like afterwards.  She will have two colostomy bags after the surgery, one for the bladder and the other for the bowels.

 

I am almost in the same boat, so to speak. Chemo and Rad did not quite get all that it should.  Your friend should get on the website for Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York.  They are foremost experts.  I live in Louisiana and am now 50 and have been battling this for 2 years.  I've had the most excellent care (local in Shreveport, LA) from all of my gyn/onc and rad/onc, here.  Patrick Conner, MD, Roscoe Chan, Md and current Destin Black, MD (subspecialty trained at Sloan Kettering).  I tried MD Anderson in Texas and that was just not the place for me. They can also give you published articles (there are not many) to read and understand.  You can also perform a MedLine search yourself on the internet.

 There was a time when I thought (and said out load) that I would never have exenteration.....when you're looking at the only option and you know you have it so much better than others.....well I suppose you take it and say "thank you".  Please...let me know if I can be of any help in anyway.

Shannon

 

Thx for thi information, I sent the info to my friend to read and follow it.  Hope all is well w/ you.