Waiting on biopsy of 2cm colon polyp after having breast cancer

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Cjs47
Cjs47 Member Posts: 61

Hello,

Two years ago I went thru IDC, had chemo, double mastectomy, radiation, herceptin, and have been on tamoxifen for a little over a year. In December, doc ordered stool test and it came back positive for blood in the stool. I had colonoscopy last Thursday that showed a 2cm sessile (flat) polyp that could not be removed due to risk of perforation of colon. Doctor did biopsy and told me it was soft and squishy and he wasn't concerned that it was cancer, but within two hours after being home I was called by a surgeons office to have colon surgery! I have appt tomorrow with surgeon. I haven't received biopsy results yet and I am terrified it is cancer due to rush to see a surgeon. No one I've talked to, including my family have ever heard of a sessile polyp. From what I have read they can have invasive carcinoma cells just like my breast cancer. Has anyone else experienced this? Any answers would be appreciated. Thank

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  • MTwoman
    MTwoman Member Posts: 2,704
    edited January 2017

    Hi Cj, I have had 3 colonoscopies to date (and many more to come). Colon cancer is rampant in my family. I had my first one after my DCIS diagnosis, so that I could just make sure that I didn't have to worry about colon ca after I was done with all of my DCIS treatment. They found several polyps, some hyperplastic, some sessile and a couple of small tubular adenomas (the ones that look like little mushrooms with stalks). Although it is possible for sessile polyps to have an invasive component the majority are benign and are typically removed during colonoscopy. If they cannot be removed that way (typically due to size), then they are removed by laparotomy (most likely what the surgeon will be talking to you about). Mine were all removed during the colonoscopy and I had to have my 2nd colonoscopy 3 years later to chart the growth (if they found any) and determine frequency of monitoring (I was 38 at the time). That one only showed a couple of small polyps which were removed and then I was given an all clear for 5 years. My third colonoscopy showed no polyps and I got another all clear for 5 more years. I have 2 more to go. Good luck!

  • farmerlucy
    farmerlucy Member Posts: 3,985
    edited January 2017

    My husband had his first colonoscopy before 50 and surprisingly they found hundreds of tiny polyps, non tested were cancerous. He did have to have half of his colon removed to address the risk. Amazingly he adapted well, and immediately. He still has annual colonoscopies, and each year they find zero to three. I get the sense that docs have a pretty good idea which polyps might be cancerous. I imagine they do want that one out of there regardless.

    BTW DH has been on a Celebrex regimine which he attributes to vastly reducing the amount of polyps his doctor expected. At the time of his initial dx, all felt it was a matter of time before he'd have to have the rest of his colon removed. It has been 11 years.

    Message me if you want to talk to him by email or text. He knows a lot about the issues, he shopped for his surgeon very carefully, and that included a visit to a well know expert at Baylor.

  • Meow13
    Meow13 Member Posts: 4,859
    edited January 2017

    My neighbor had breast cancer at age 75, she doesn't know the kind or details. It must have been hormone positive because she was on hormone therapy for 5 years. She did get a small cancer mass that was found during colonoscopy. She told me it was related to her breast cancer. They removed about 6 inches total of her colon. That was the only treatment she had. She has colonoscopies every 3 years. She is now in her eighties I am not sure if she still will have frequent colonoscopies.

  • Sjacobs146
    Sjacobs146 Member Posts: 770
    edited January 2017

    My doc told me that BC and colon cancer are related, and that I am at a higher risk of developing colon cancer. I will be having my first colonoscopy this year, than every 5 years after that

  • lekker
    lekker Member Posts: 594
    edited January 2017

    All polyps have the potential to turn into cancer eventually so in general they remove all polyps found during a colonoscopy. Cjs47 - because your polyp is sessile, or flat, they can't just snip it out like the ones that grow on stalks. It might just be that the only way to safely remove the polyp is to take a section of intestine along with it. And if it is cancer, hopefully it's early stage and surgery will be the only necessary treatment. A friend of mine was recently diagnosed with colon cancer after finding a 2.5 cm tumor up near here appendix. After surgery where they took almost a foot of colon and 17 lymph nodes, no other cancer whatsoever was found. Please keep us posted

  • Cjs47
    Cjs47 Member Posts: 61
    edited January 2017

    Hello all,

    I have an update: saw surgeon yesterday and he gave me the biopsy report that said no cancer in the tissues that were taken but he said it was highly dysphasia so he said he's sure there are cancer cells floating within the polyp. He described the procedure where he take the section of the colon and the blood vessel plus lymph nodes. He immediately sent me for blood work to check cea levels and am scheduled for ct scan of abdomen and pelvis on Friday. Surgery is scheduled for Friday the 27 th. Terrified for results. He's acting like I already have stage four cancer!!! I'll let everyone know what happens. Thanks for your responses

  • farmerlucy
    farmerlucy Member Posts: 3,985
    edited January 2017

    Cjs - Oh no! Not good news. Sorry. Sounds like your doc is a "prepare for the worst, hope for the best guy". Hoping and praying that all your scans are clear and they just get rid of everything in the surgery.Let us know how Friday goes. Gentle hug. You can do this.

  • Cjs47
    Cjs47 Member Posts: 61
    edited January 2017

    Farmer,

    Thanks for your prayers! I'll let you know when I get results. I had a pet scan exactly a year ago that was completely clear so I'm so confused on how now I could have such a dire situation going on in my colon since there was nothing there 12 months ago!

  • MTwoman
    MTwoman Member Posts: 2,704
    edited January 2017

    So sorry CJs! Please take care of yourself. (hugs)

  • ata
    ata Member Posts: 15
    edited May 2017

    Cjs, how are you doing now?

    I hope everything went well.

  • Meow13
    Meow13 Member Posts: 4,859
    edited May 2017

    Maybe a second opinion is warranted. They didn't find cancer 2cm is on the larger size but not sure surgery is necessary.

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