Posted 4/25/2011 12:35 AM (GMT 0)
DH has had Chron's for 40 years. Numerous resections. No real long lasting remission...ever. In 2004, when he had his last resection, he had numerous complications. A few months after being home, he developed an abcess into which a drain was placed...this resulted in fistula number 1. A short while later fistula number 2 developed. Surgeon said he didn't really want to try to fix the fistulas, that he was afraid DH would be in worse shape than he already was. Ok...fight the battles of trying to live with two abdominal fistulas...fight with Medicare over every ostomy supply purchase. Put up with leaks, humiliation, etc, etc. A while back, we noticed what appeared to be an overgrowth of tissue around fistulas. We saw the surgeon last week...he takes one look and says, "Oh, Mr. XXXX, that's a cancer". "It's a type of cancer that develops from sinus tract fistulas or sometimes from burn scars...it's not good." I am beating myself over the head with this one...why didn't we recognize that this was something serious...but even more so, why didn't this surgeon or DH's Gastro ever tell us what to watch for in this regard? I am so stinking angry I could scream! DH also regularly sees a Hemotologist, a Cardiologist, a Urologist and a Nephrologist. Geez, I know fistulas are not their forte, but couldn't someone had thought to say, "oh, by the way...you should watch for...! Surgeon did a biopsy and we should get the results this week. He said a large section or tissue will have to be removed and oh yeah...now he says he can fix the fistulas! I am sure there will be testing to see if the cancer has already spread first. And now another chapter in this whole miserable scenario begins!