My MIL just had surgery for colon cancer. They've tested her lymph nodes, and received positive results on over half. She will be undergoing chemo after she's healed from the surgery. What, in someone's informed opinion, does her prognosis look like?
2006-09-30 10:10:23 · 4 answers · asked by ? 6 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Cancer
She doesn't have lymphoma. She had colon cancer that has metastisized to some lymph nodes. They still call it colon cancer.
2006-09-30 13:47:30 · update #1
Colon cancer is the third leading cause of new cancer cases and cancer death for both men and women, accounting for about 11% of all cancer cases. That's a lot, if you consider how many kinds of cancer there are.
When colon cancer has spread to the adjacent lymph nodes, it is at least stage 3. If it has also planted into distant organs such as the liver, then it is stage 4.
Cancer prognosis estimations are based on stage grouping, and this then presupposes that the staging is accurate. The failing in collecting large sets of patient data in regard to cancer is that sometimes the accuracy in things like staging varies. Also, different groups of patients get treated using different regimens as the science progresses, and it becomes difficult to compare data without understanding the chronologic effect For these reasons, different studies vary in results.
The basic measure of cancer survival, is how many patients with a specific condition are still alive 5 years later. This is called the 5 year survival. Sometimes a 5 year disease free survival rate is also tabulated indicating that people are alive 5 years later and not grappling with disease.
In stage 3 colon cancer, a 5 year survival of between 30 and 50 percent is probably accurate. The lower end comes from studies which probably include a fraction of patients who are already stage 4 but we missed it, and the upper end is people who are generally aggressively treated, and respond well.
Chemotherapy, despite what some of the untrained people commenting above me may think, is often highly effective. It may not cure the disease, but it sure beats it back. Chemotherapy regimens for different cancers are not the same, and the field evolves rapidly. Colon cancer therapy is fairly well tolerated compared to most.
.... I hope that helps.
2006-09-30 14:05:28 · answer #1 · answered by bellydoc 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Positive lymph nodes are never a good sign. it means that the cancer has metastisized (gone to other areas). Chemo will try to knock it out however, it takes a toll on good cells and tissue as well as bad. The prognosis is best determined by the doctor given the type of cancer and the percentage of lyph nodes taken that tested positive. Good luck, I wish you the best.
2006-09-30 10:20:42 · answer #2 · answered by Cat C 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Lymphoma, which is cancer of the lymph nodes is not a good thing. Lymph nodes filter many of our bodies infections, toxins, etc. Having lymphoma does not mean the cancer has metastasized to other areas of the body. However it is a definite possibility. The main thing is to be supportive and encourage the person to think positive. I am a Registered Nurse and I have seen people beat this. It is very hard and exhausting for all involved. Positive thinking is a great benefit. Also in reality, it also gives you a period of time to assist this person to make the most out of life, mend fences, find a comfortable place with ones self. A difficult and gut wrenching time for all involved. I truly wish you and your loved one the best.
2006-09-30 12:44:40 · answer #3 · answered by Strawberry Pony 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I have seen this in my own family several times.
The truth is that this is probably terminal.
I am truly sorry.
Chemo works for 2-3 times and makes the patient very ill.
After that, it appears to have little affect.
Sorry, but I wish that someone had told me the truth about my father. God Bless.
2006-09-30 10:27:26 · answer #4 · answered by Texas Cowboy 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋