After Surgery Day 5 - 2/10/12)

Morning:

Sheila woke more refreshed this morning and was able to keep some breakfast down.  Doctor Oberg visited us early this morning.  We should be getting off the IV, taking a shower, and trying an oral pain medication.  We need to see the results of these things before we can progress to the next step (going home).

The pathology report was not available at 6:30, but Dr. Oberg just called me (9:00 am) to relate the results.  The cancer is a low grade Adeno Carcinoma.  It has worked its way through the bowel muscle, but has not broke through the outer lining of the intestine wall.  This means it had not grown into nearby organs.  We had a 16 lymph node sample and all lymph node migration biopsies were negative to the present of the cancer.  I did not get an answer to the MSI, but we may still be in a stage 1 type cancer although because of the size it may still be considered a stage 2. 

It is good news that the lymph nodes have not been affected!  This would be stage 3 and chemo is almost always prescribed for that.  Life expectancy is less too!  We will not know if chemo will be prescribed for Sheila’s case until we meet with the specialist.  This meeting will not be next week, but soon thereafter I suppose.  We will meet with Dr Oberg again in 1 week to see where we go from here and get a recommendation for a specialist from him.

http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/ColonandRectumCancer/DetailedGuide/colorectal-cancer-treating-by-stage-colon

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorectal_cancer

Rest of the Day:

We were waiting to see some real good progress and we did today!  We are out of here!  Homeward bound and this will be the last blog from the hospital for this stay!  We will plan on updating the blog when we see Dr. Oberg next week, or if another significant event happens. 

Thanks to all for your love, support, thoughts, prayers, and kindnesses.  We are going to fight this thing and we a planning on winning!  Sheila’s Fight is may not be over yet, but she has given it a hero’s fight this week!