Squamous Cell Colorectal Cancer, Stage Iii

Have any of you experienced anything like this?

What can I look forward to?

I was recently diagnosed with stage III colorectal cancer with two connected masses, one small mass at the anal verge and another much larger mass (near obstructing) where the sigmoid colon and rectum meet. The two tumors join outside the rectal wall. Pathology says it's Squamous Cell Carcinoma and an endoscopic ultrasound staged my cancer at T3,N1.

I'm starting neoadjuvant chemo and 5 weeks of radiation Monday Chemo is Mitomycin C and a 96 hour infusion of 5FU repeated after 3 or 4 weeks). Then surgery followed by standard adjuvant chemo for six or so months.

Anyone out there with Squamous Cell Colorectal cancer? I've be told it responds well to chemo and radiation.

Thanks,
Steve

Hi Steve, just found this site and hope you are doing well in your treatment. I am a five year survivor of Squamous Cell Colorectal Cancer Stage 111. I was so tired when diginoised I couldn't keep my eyes open nor understand - remember all the medicines/treatments. I personally slept 16-18 hours a day. Mouth sores were bad for me as I lost 35 lbs. My blood count was quit low. 5FU was a new experimental medicine, that I was given. Radiation was hard on me as I had radiation burn and spent weeks in the hospital on morphine. I had been given it earlier and went from .5 tsp to 35 Tab. averaged out to control the pain. I knew I wasn't going to die - that this was a wake up call for me. Less stress in my life. No I don't hit the floor running anymore but than maybe it is my age (52)now 57. I developed a cyst in my colon about three years later. Cancer was mentioned. I now have irritable bowel syndrome and have had three heart attacks in the last two years. Related to cancer - I don't know. Scar tissue was not talked about but became an important issue. I am very grateful.
Any help I can be - let me know.
Suzette

Hi Suzette,

My father is Stage IV colorectal cancer patient since 2/2005. He always encounters pain in his rectal area and feels better once he can push out the mucus from his rectum. Do you have any mucus coming from your rectum area? My father has mets spread to his intestine and he encounters frequent pains and intestine adhesion caused by his surgery lesion. Do you have any bowel obstruction and any opinion how my father should take good care to avoid it?

He is still under the 8 round of chemotherapy treatment and is his 2 times chemotherapy. He still tolerates well so far with the aid of herb medicine. He has to use the pain pad to release the pain on a daily basis.

Hope you do well.

Alfred

Alfred, I am sorry to hear about your father. I never had mucus, to the extent that your father is having. When I asked about it they stated it was dead tissue. I continued to have it for four or more years. Never any pain with it. I had severe bowel obstruction with my tummor at the base of my rectum. Change of diet, fiber and fruit, if he can tolerate it. I know I had a combination of constitpation and diarrea. Stool softners were a suggested use. I also had this continue and still do after five years. I had scar tissue from the radiation and that led to problems that will continue. Blood in the stool because the scar tissue cannot stretch. Urgent need to go especially after more than a light meal. I tolerated the chemo much more so than the radiation and was hospitalized with radiation burn. I had 28 radiation treatment but no surgery. Now after five years it is getting much better explained that the scar tissue softens. I did not know about herb medicine or pain pad but drank lots and lots of green tea. Craved chocolate malts and raw shrimp? (maybe calcuim and iodine) Meats made me sick even the smell. Please tell your father he is in my prayers.
Suzette

 

On 6/6/2006 Suzey wrote:

Hi Steve, just found this site and hope you are doing well in your treatment. I am a five year survivor of Squamous Cell Colorectal Cancer Stage 111. I was so tired when diginoised I couldn't keep my eyes open nor understand - remember all the medicines/treatments. I personally slept 16-18 hours a day. Mouth sores were bad for me as I lost 35 lbs. My blood count was quit low. 5FU was a new experimental medicine, that I was given. Radiation was hard on me as I had radiation burn and spent weeks in the hospital on morphine. I had been given it earlier and went from .5 tsp to 35 Tab. averaged out to control the pain. I knew I wasn't going to die - that this was a wake up call for me. Less stress in my life. No I don't hit the floor running anymore but than maybe it is my age (52)now 57. I developed a cyst in my colon about three years later. Cancer was mentioned. I now have irritable bowel syndrome and have had three heart attacks in the last two years. Related to cancer - I don't know. Scar tissue was not talked about but became an important issue. I am very grateful. Any help I can be - let me know. Suzette

Suzette, My sister in law was just diagnosed with anal squamous cell cancer with mets to the vagina. She was told her initial bipsy was negative for cancer, went to get the tumor removed and ended up with the doctors telling her she had cancer not only in the vagina but also in the anal area, they removed 90%, she had to have a colostomy and is basically a wreck. They told her had they known the biopsy was wrong, they would have never operated but treated her with chemo and radiation to shrink tumors first. She is still waiting for the pathology report but I know her staging is at least a three. Did you go through anything similar to this? Where did you get treatment? Thanks Debbra

Hi