Breast Cancer recurrence or new colon cancer?

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LizM
LizM Member Posts: 963
edited June 2014 in Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned

I have not posted here in a long time.  I was diagnosed with stage IIB in 2005 and this discussion forum was my lifeline for several years after my diagnosis.  My older sister was diagnosed with stage IIB in 2004.  I am concerned because my sister is in the hospital for acute diareha and vomiting.  They can't figure out what is wrong with her and I fear the worse.  They did a scan and I assume did not find anything or at least that is what my sister is saying and they now want to do an emergency colonoscopy while she is in the hospital.  I know that breast cancer does not normally spread to the colon but does spread to the liver; however, her symptoms do not necessarily indicate spread to the liver and I assume the scans do not show liver involvement either.  Is it possible that she has a new primary tumor which is actually colon cancer.  I was reading that women who are diagnosed with breast cancer are at an increased risk for colon cancer.  Has anyone heard that before.  I would like to hear from anyone who could shed some light and possible calm my worst fears for my sister.     

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  • CandDsMom
    CandDsMom Member Posts: 387
    edited August 2010

    Hi Liz-

    Just wanted to respond.  There are so many other things that are more likely to cause acute diarrhea and vomiting than BC.  Usually this is something having to do with the digestive system itself - like a viral or infection (gastroenteritis), a low blood flow state (ischemic colitis), a mechanical blockage (obstruction) or many other things.  If there was evidence of spread of BC, I would think it would show on a CT scan as spots in the liver or fluid in the abdomen.  It is true that there is a slightly increased risk of colon cancer with breast cancer but I think that is mainly for people with lynch syndrome (hereditary colon polyps) or peutz-jeughers syndrome (sp).  It is usually fairly obvious that one of these other syndromes is going on just due to family history from my understanding.  Hoping for B9 results for your sister...

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  • Leah_S
    Leah_S Member Posts: 8,458
    edited August 2010

    Liz, if the scans were done and they want to do a colonoscopy now, I would think the scans were fine and they want to see what else is going on (obstruction or something like that).

    Meanwhile, your sister is in my prayers. Please keep us updated.

    Leah

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