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Colon Cancer/inoperable secondary bowel cancer

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Expert: - 9/23/2007


Question
My sister has had part of large bowel and lymph glands removed followed by  chemo.2 months later mass detected in omentum.At surgery unable to remove cleanly so not removed.Surgeon says radiotherapy,chemo and possibly monoclonal therapy necessary.My sister is querrying the diagnosis of cancer of the omentum as none was removed so no histology.What are your thoughts?Is all this suggested treatment likely to prevent further spread especially to the liver.Thanks for your help

Answer
I suppose there was pathology done on her bowel originally so there must at least exist histology of the original tumor giving the original cancer diagnosis. If that is confirmed and her surgeon finds a mass in her omentum it is at least VERY probable that her cancer has spread there. Colon cancers (except those in the rectum) are usually not very sensitive to radiation so I will not recommend radiation therapy. Such a big mass as not to be operable, is certainly bad news. The only course I can think of is tough chemo therapy to try to shrink the mass so it becomes operable. However even then in that case her prognosis would be most uncertain.

Colon Cancer

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Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D.

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I`m a doctor of medicine and a specialist in radiation therapy and medical oncology. I have long experience with regards to this cancer.

Experience

I'm a Doctor of Medicine and specialist in Medical Oncology and Radiation Therapy educated & trained in Sweden. Now retired. Background in Radiation Therapy, Medical Oncology, Radiation Protection, Nuclear Medicine, Diagnostic Radiology, Gynecological Oncology, Clinical Pathology, Clinical Cytology,Hematology and Internal Medicine. M.D. from the faculty of medicine, Royal Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. Have also been an exchange student at the Hebrew University, Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem Israel. Former medical consultant, Swedish National Board of Radiation Protection. Former Police Surgeon and Medical Examiner, Stockholm Police Department. Former Chief Medical Officer, The Royal Guards, The Royal Horse Guards and the Royal Household Brigade, Royal Swedish Army Medical Corps. You can also reach me on: http://www.lifestylerescue.com/expert/health-fitness-advice/dr-claes-gustaf/128 I have no restrictions on the number of questions there.

I also answer questions in these categories: Oncology (General Cancer), General History, Military History, Brain Tumors, Breast Cancer.

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I'm a medical doctor and a specialist in medical oncology & radiation therapy.

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