Need info on rectal tumor and what happens next

Sorry to hear about this. I would think that with a tumor this large and this low, a j-pouch is not a likely option. Plus, depending on the stage of the tumor, other surrounding organs may need to be removed. Having radiation as a first step is probably not a good sign, beause it likely means it is necessary to make the tumor operable. A permanent colostomy is likely, but each case is unique.

http://www.webmd.com/colorecta...ncer-treatment-stage

Jan

Thanks Jan,

The family considers me the resident expert on the subject but I really am not.

I told them that there would probably 1 of 3 possible outcomes assuming that he survives...ostomy, j pouch or k pouch but that I had no idea what they would find once in.

I suspect that he waited way too long to get it checked out (probably had bleeding

for over a year) and was hoping that it would 'go away'...these things tend to Not go away on their own.

It is the old story of it being a 'no-mentionable' and thus they don't seek treatment...darn stupid.

Thanks for the info...at least I can answer them with some competency

Sharon

A continent ileostomy would only be an option if there was a total proctocolectomy. If there is no underlying IBD, that would not be required, because most of the colon would remain.  Assuming he would be a candidate for a low anterior resection, he might be able to have a colonic j-pouch, which has good function. But, that is assuming sphincter sparing is possible. If the tumor was invasive to other organs, the prostate and bladder may require removal. Distant metastasis paints a whole other picture. 

Staging is the most important part of diagnosis and prognosis. Without knowing that, it could go any number of directions.

I am glad they have you to turn to for support.

Jan

Thanks Jan,

It is the danger of it being very low down and compromising the sphincter that has the family's knickers in a twist (yes, people today are the same as they were 100 yrs ago...incontinence is still a taboo subject and so are diapers, ostomies etc)

On another note...how old is the oldest diagnosis for Crohns? I mean, how late in life can/do they diagnose it?

My brother in law is 86 and was hospitalized for what they thought was a really nasty bout of food poisonning (is there ever a good bout of it?)...the usual protocol (I.V., anti-something or anothers, fecal tests, blood work, colonoscopy etc) and they came back with suspicion of Crohns! They ruled out C-diff, toxins etc but are finding all sorts of inflamation....new colonoscopy next week (the 3rd in 6 weeks) and upper G.I. exam...

He has never had any intestinal problems or symptoms in his life...They said that a bacterial infection could cause it...

Need info.

Seems that more and more people in my circle are coming down with various sorts of IBD and other diseases of the intestine.

Sharon