Looks like I'm going down this road in the next two weeks.What is the time period for diagnosis?Biopsies, Chemo, time off? They called today, Friday, and I can't wait until Monday(have appointment)for answers. I have a j-pouch 14 years, and severe narrowing between small intestine and pouch inlet about 4 inches.
Thanks for any info!
Arthur

Sorry I don't have any answers for you. But I wanted to say sorry to hear that news. Keep us informed.
Keeping you in my prayers.

Cataja!
Thanks for the prayers. I will post the results of my meeting today! In several hours...can't sleep.
Arthur

Hi Arthur,

Hope you can get some sleep, but if not then use the time to compose a list of all the questions you want to ask your doctor.

Fingers crossed and good luck for today. x

Shell

Good Luck today Arthur, hope everything goes well.

janna

Shell and Janna!
Thanks for the good thoughts! Here is the results of my big visit. Biopsy to confirm, Doc not sure about the nodes on the pouch and pancreas. He will get me to oncologist if! needed. I still have a 40% chance of no cancer.I'm really pleased with this. However, Doc said we need to keep pouch as long as possible. He thought, Chemo would work well with pouch intact. Regardless, he wants to dilate, its over 3cm long? Start on methotrexate shots and immuran. After a month get results from biopsy and go forth. The length is long and he is not sure if he can get it all. But will try the stricture cloest to the pouch. The Doc was positive and his experience, 9 years and 80 proceedures with 3% perferation was comfortung. They can do lap biopsies. At this point I'm very happy and still crossing my fingers. To soon to start thinking about my second opinion, the surgeon who called about the lymphoma. Well...time for a nap. Thanks to all who shared wishes and thoughts, and to those hat read the posts, there is comfort in numbers. And I will count the readings as positive thoughts as well. No, I did not tally votes during the Bush Floridian fiasco! Peace, Arthur

I can't help with your specific chance of cancer but they found cancer in my colon during my j-pouch surgery. What a schock! I had surgery on a Tuesday and the path report came back on Thursday on the tumor and on Friday on the lymph node involment. Pretty quick turn around. I started chemo 4 weeks after surgery and am currently in the middle of my 9th treatment with 3 to go after this one. I am thinking of you and pray for the best.

Jeannie

Hi Jeannie! It is a shocker! My surgeon,wants to get on it right away. The UC GI group have dilated me today 12mm stricture, deemed a sucess. Next week biopsy, He looked at pouch today and said it looks crummy. Biopsy soon...to confirm everyones lymphoma, etc. I am hoping for the best.
Good Luck to you brave one! You sound upbeat. Is the chemo doing its job for you? Working etc. What is your oncologist telling you? I know I have bigger battles ahead..What are your thoughts on chemo? My hats off to you..may you get better soon, and all my prayers to you. I feel isolated from everyone. It is a shocker!! Arthur

Hi Arthur,

I'm sorry that things aren't looking too great for your pouch at the moment. I don't have any practical advice but just wanted you to know that I'm thinking of you and keeping everything crossed that all goes well for you.

Chin up, we are all here to support you.

Take care.

Shell

Hi Shell!
Lately, I come to the site as soon as I get home! Yes, I'm looking for encouragement or advice. What I get is both. And a little of both goes a long way. The poor pouch is taking a beating for sure. Thay gave me some pics of the inside. Ill try to post! But first I need to figure out my new laptop and then a printer/scanner/fax/money tree machine! Hey, Thanks Arthur

I think your pouch might get some relief now that you have been dilated. When the pouch contents can't empty properly due to a stricture sometimes it will cause inflammation. Hopefully the dilation will help it heal itself!

Hang in there!

Lori

I think my situation is different than yours. They think they got all the cancer during the surgery. It has spread to one out of 109 lymph nodes so therefore chemo. The chemo in my case is to catch anything little that might be floating around. Chemo is chemo - no fun, hard on your body and mind but necessary. My outlook is excellent. I still have takedown surgery and mediport removal surgery to get to after chemo - each Dr. seems to recommend a different timeline for when I would be ready. If you do need chemo, ask about a mediport - no worries about blown iv's etc. Not painful to access and allows me to come home with 46 hours worth of chemo going in.

Lori!
Boy was I full of the content! Everyone always thought so anyway! (joking) I'm noticing that things are flowing quite well. Reminds me of the surgery before and after the takedown. I wore out some slippers running down the hall.Tonight I was sweating and feeling plugged up, but I held it untill I would pop. Then Bingo! It has been two years since the site of that much content and form ! Thanks for the encouragement...Arthur

Jeannie,
I'm right behind you on the node stuff, they go all the way to my pancreas, looks like little marshmellows hanging on. It would be way cool if it was all inflamation and stuff. Before my dilation yesterday, my roomie told me about the mediport, it is the way to go. I like your future outlook. And it is troublesome thinking about the takedown. The takedown will be less stress on your mind once the chemo does its job! Thanks for all the info..my best to you. Arthur

Here is a pic of my pouch and strictured area. What ya think? Hope it works


[IMG]bowel pic[/IMG]