Colorectal Cancer

Should I be worried about taking a break during radiation treatment?

Would like this explanation? RADIATION ONCOLOGY ON-TREATMENT CLINICAL VISIT NOTE Patient Name: Don O Vanvoltenberg MRN: 000988628 DOB: 1/15/1968 Age: 58 y.o. PCP: Jeffery S Jacobs, MD Colorectal Surgery: Dr. Gokul Subhas Referring / Medical Oncology: Dr. Abe Mathews DIAGNOSIS: Adenocarcinoma of the Colon AJCC STAGE: cT4b cN1b cM0, ypT4b ypN0 cM0; Group IIIC, Adenocarcinoma of the Colon. S/p biopsy 1/3/25 with well differentiated adenocarcinoma, MMR intact. CT C/A/P 1/2/25 with descending colon mass invading left abdominal wall. S/p diverting loop ileostomy on 1/8/2025. Initiated FOLFOX on 1/29/2025. S/p Laparoscopic Subtotal Colectomy with Abdominal Wall Resection on 10/28/25 with Grade 2 adenocarcinoma, 7.3 x 5.5 x 1.2 cm, directly invades abdominal wall, no LVSI, no perforation identified, 0/21 nodes involved, positive margin at abdominal wall, all other margins negative. Treatment originally initiated 12/22/25- 1/6/25 (held due to abscess requiring drainage) PLAN OF TREATMENT: Adjuvant Radiation Therapy PLANNED TREATMENT DOSE: 50.4Gy in 28 fractions (45Gy in 25 fractions followed by three fraction boost). Date of Clinic Visit: 02/25/2026 SUBJECTIVE: Don O Vanvoltenberg is seen and examined in clinic today having completed a dose of 2520 cGy in 14 fractions. He re-initiated therapy this week following a break due to fluid collection / abscess requiring drain placement. He now resumes therapy to the lower abdominal wall. He is receiving supplemental iron and feels that his energy level has improved. No acute bowel complaints or other discomfort reported today. We reviewed expectations from treatment and answered all current questions. PHYSICAL EXAM: Vital signs: BP 123/76 | Pulse 92 | Temp 36.5 °C (97.7 °F) | SpO2 95% General: Resting comfortably. No signs of acute distress. ASSESSMENT AND PLAN: Don O Vanvoltenberg is tolerating radiation treatment course as anticipated. I plan to continue current course of treatment as initially planned. All current questions answered. On-board imaging has been reviewed for RT localization.

What diet should I follow after sigmoid colon cancer surgery?

Hi everyone… I am new on this platform… as i have mentioned earlier also that i recently had my sigmoid colon cancer surgery 6 weeks back What should the diet be like… and what foods should one avoid… I am doing a lot of research but i didnt find any a particular diet… Which food helps and are best for gut.. Also, does our gut microbiome get disrupted post surgery and dose of antibiotics

Is it normal to have bowel changes after colon surgery?

Hello everyone… I had my sigmoid colon surgery a month ago… the bowel is still not reset like how it was before.. sometimes the frequency of going to the latrine is too much around 6-7 times and other days i feel constipated… is it normal ?

How did my colon cancer radiation treatment restart go after abscess delay?

Dons update scan. DIAGNOSIS: Don O Vanvoltenberg is a 58 y.o. male with adenocarcinoma of the colon. Treatment originally initiated 12/22/2025 - 1/6/2025 (held due to abscess requiring drainage). He now re-initiates EBRT course following a re-planning of radiotherapy target volume. He underwent verification simulation on the Varian Edge treatment system prior to receiving his first radiation treatment of this updated radiotherapy treatment plan. untitled image 3 partial coplanar VMAT-IMRT arcs. 6 MV photon beam energy. untitled image untitled image DESCRIPTION: Today he was taken into the Varian treatment room and placed in the supine position, arms elevated. A wing board was used for upper body immobilization. A customized vac-lok device was used for his lower body immobilization (styrofoam block between distal lower extremities and tied). He was first aligned in the appropriate treatment position utilizing his skin markings and the in-room laser system. Cone beam-CT imaging was then obtained with adjustments made for anatomic localization. I personally reviewed the treatment setup as well as the cone beam -CT images as compared with the patient's reference CT scan obtained at initial simulation. Once appropriate treatment positioning was verified, the verification simulation concluded. He tolerated the procedure well without any complications. He then underwent his first radiation treatment utilizing 6 MV photons via VMAT-IMRT (3 partial arcs) technique with multileaf collimation. Hadi Zahra, MD 3:37 PM

Where can I find financial help and ostomy supplies after colon cancer surgery?

I have Stage 3 colon cancer. Just had the mass removed, and have a colonostomy bag now. Chemo starts when I heal from surgery. Does anyone know 🤔 of financial help assistance, being that I can't work? Also, right now I desperately need the help ASAP getting undergarments for the bag now. And nonallergic shower gels. Help cancer family!! Bless

What treatment options are left when stage 4 colon cancer stops responding?

Hi my name is Rebeca, my husband was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer back in Dec 2022. He has been through treatments. Those treatments stopped working. He is have three different types of pills and he CEA numbers are going up. He was down to 6 and now back up to 102. What other options does he have? Anyone else going through the same. I am not in his shoes but this is affecting me also.

What does a mass at colectomy site mean after colon cancer surgery?

Status post near total colectomy with a left lower quadrant ileocolic anastomosis and right lower quadrant diverting ileostomy. There is a large soft tissue mass in the left lower quadrant at the prior colectomy site invading the abdominal wall. This mass also appears to invade the adjacent loop of small bowel, likely jejunum, with small foci of extra luminal air identified within the mass/adjacent to the jejunum. The previously seen abscess along the left pelvic sidewall has been drained in the interim, the pigtail drain is in satisfactory position, no residual fluid collection is seen. Narrative INDICATION: Malignant neoplasm of descending colon COMPARISON: January 7, 2026 and January 5, 2026 TECHNIQUE: Volumetric multidetector CT images of the abdomen and pelvis were obtained following the administration of IV contrast. Multiple planes were reconstructed for examination. FINDINGS: Emphysema. Minimal basilar atelectasis. Normal heart size. There is no pericardial or pleural effusion. The liver is normal in size. The hepatic and portal veins are patent. Unremarkable gallbladder and common bile duct. Unremarkable adrenal glands, spleen and pancreas. Normal right kidney. There is a punctate nonobstructing stone in the inferior left kidney. No hydronephrosis, renal mass or perinephric stranding. Unremarkable stomach and small bowel. Status post near total colectomy, with an ileocolic anastomosis in the left lower quadrant. There is a diverting ileostomy in the right lower quadrant. Redemonstrated is a large infiltrative soft tissue mass in the left lower quadrant, invading the anterior abdominal wall and pelvic sidewall. The mass like extends through all 3 layers of the abdominal wall musculature. The exact borders of the lesion are difficult to delineate. This mass measures approximately 5.7 x 6.3 cm in the axial plane (series 2 image 65) and 9 cm craniocaudally. This mass likely invades the loop of small bowel passing immediately medial to it, with a few small foci of extra luminal air identified (series 2 image 62). There is a percutaneous pigtail drain anterior to the left iliacus muscle. No significant residual fluid collection is identified. The second fluid collection superior and posterior to the left ilium has resolved in the interim. Unremarkable urinary bladder, prostate and seminal vesicles. Status post inguinal hernia repair with mesh. There are a few subcentimeter left external iliac lymph nodes. No further abdominal or pelvic lymphadenopathy is identified. There is no ascites. No gross free air. No destructive osseous lesion is seen. There are no acute osseous findings.

What does it mean when cancer is found at the abdominal wall margin?

ABDOMINAL WALL MARGIN, RESECTION: - ADENOCARCINOMA PRESENT AT ABDOMINAL WALL MARGIN. B. COLON, SUBTOTAL COLECTOMY: - ADENOCARCINOMA, MODERATELY-DIFFERENTIATED. - NEGATIVE PROXIMAL, DISTAL AND MESENTERIC SURGICAL RESECTION MARGINS. - TWENTY ONE LYMPH NODES NEGATIVE FOR METASTATIC CARCINOMA (0/21). - REPEAT MSI TESTING RESULTS WILL BE REPORTED IN AN ADDENDUM. - SEE MICROSCOPIC DESCRIPTION FOR FULL SYNOPTIC REPORT.

What are normal CEA levels for different cancer stages?

Good morning. I’m new to this and I’m wondering if anyone would share with me their CEA number and what stage. My number is a normally high. Just want to get an idea what I’m facing.

Where can I find support from other stage 3 colorectal cancer survivors?

Hi there I was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer in 2022, I’m NED but would like to find a community of people who have gone through the same diagnosis.