? flare ups of strong abdominal pain 6 years running?

puddy · New User Joined: 24 Nov 2005 Posts: 1

Hello, I'm wondering if anyone else on the planet has heard of this. It concerns my mom who had colon cancer surgery about 7 years ago. About 1 year later and every few months since then she gets these violent pains that immobilize her. It usually happens after eating(anywhere from right away to a few hours after). If she's lucky, she'll throw up and this seems to reduce the pain. She's been to the hospital about 4 times when it's been really bad, but since she lives alone I wonder if she suffers in silence more than I know. Hoping someone is familliar with a senario like this and could steer us in the right direction. thanks. Also her bowel movements have never normalized (a toilet is always nearby) maybe that has somthing to do with it.

VH · New User Joined: 11 May 2005 Posts: 8

My mum had her cancer removed February of this year. She seems to be in permanent abdo pain and her bowel movements are terrible, fluctuating between diarrhoea and constipation. They thought they had removed all the cancer but her CEA levels seem to keep going up all the time. She has had many scans but they are not showing up. I'm afraid pain and funny bowel movements seem to be a problem after this kind of surgery. As long as her Dr keeps checking her, she should be ok. Unfortunately, I dont think my mum will be, her CEA levels should be right back by now but they aren't.

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

Hello

It might be that the surgery has caused problems with the bowels themselves. Adhesions are common. Anyway, it is impossible for me to tell what it is, except that she should talk to her doctor about this.

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

bev135 · New User Joined: 16 Aug 2005 Posts: 7

Problems similar to those that your mother is having plague a lot of us who are colon cancer survivors. I always say that I could lead a normal life if I didn't have to eat! Sometimes the way I feel afterwards just doesn't seem to make eating worth it!
All that being said, some of your mother's symptoms seem severe (pain being bad enough that she goes to the hospital), even for us survivors. Try to make sure that she has received appropriate follow-up care such as colonoscopies, CT scans, etc. to rule out the cancer having come back or spread.
I wish you and your mother the best of luck with this.

VH · New User Joined: 11 May 2005 Posts: 8

Well, they wont do second look surgery. I asked the Dr. She has a hiatus hernia now and gallstones. Further blood tests to check CEA again and another CT in February.

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