Looking for straight answers about rectal cancer-please help

marylob · New User Joined: 02 Dec 2004 Posts: 2

Hi, my name is Mary and I am hoping someone can give me some guidance. My partner, Peter was diagnosed with Dukes C rectal cancer in January 2004. In March 2004 he had a colostomy. 4 lymph nodes were removed and cancer was located in 2 of the 4. To complicate matters Peter is a kidney transplant patient that survived dialysis for almost thirty years before receiving a kidney from his brother approximately 7 years ago. Peter is 47 year old. Peter is not receiving chemotherapy or radiation due to the kidney transplant and the loss of the kidney would require dialysis again and no one seems to think he is strong enough for that.. I have found numerous articles about survival rates with chemotherapy but have not been able to locate anything for someone not receiving chemo and with the kidney transplant issue. The drug he takes to keep his body from rejecting the kidney, PROGRAF, is known to increase the risk for rectal cancer. He still takes that drug to keep from rejecting the kidney. He has started to be very tired and the oncologist has started injections of PROCRIT and stated that the kidney may be "slowing down". The oncologist has not been able to answer any questions as to what the prognosis for Peter is. I am just wanting to know what to expect. I would love to just blindly believe that since the surgery all will be just fine but his skin color is very drab, he is very tired and I am concerned. Can anyone help me? I apologize for this wordy post and I would appreciate any input. I am a very strong person and would just like someone to be honest with me, good or bad. Thank you and God Bless.

leo · Site Admin Joined: 23 Sep 2004 Posts: 1574

Hello

Thanks for posting. The big problem with giving a prognosis is that your partner is undergoing a modified treatment regimen. Al studies that have been done have used other regimens, and the prognosis from the studies can not be extrapolated to your partner. On top of it what makes it more difficult is the kidney transplant and the medications he is on. I am being honest just like you asked, but I have no answers regarding prognosis. His fatigue can be explained by a number of things, including his kidney getting worse. In every study with cancer, renal failure is a bad prognostic factor, that is why the doctors were particularly concerned with keeping his kidney healthy.

best regards,
Leo
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Leonardo F - Webmaster Cancer Forums
Disclaimer: this information is for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice.

marylob · New User Joined: 02 Dec 2004 Posts: 2

Thanks for responding Leo, I realize my questions are probably difficult at best...sounds Korny but it helped a bunch just knowing somebody out there is listening. Peter has now started to rarely sleep at night and falls asleep often throughout the day, but were gonna keep on trudging along...I appreciate this site and have learned quite a bit browsing through it. Best Regards, Mary

leo · Site Admin Joined: 23 Sep 2004 Posts: 1574

Mary

Thanks for your words. We will be here should you need anything !

best regards
Leo
_________________
Leonardo F - Webmaster Cancer Forums
Disclaimer: this information is for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice.

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