On 10/25/2006 Unionjacker wrote: There's barely any information on the net relating to recurrent cancer survivors who have had this op. I have been doing some research after my mother of 53 has just been diagnosed with cancer again 15 months after radiation and a hysterectomy. We had also been taking natural treatments during her radiation. Including gs DROPS from gsdrops.com Whether they worked or not, the drops as expensive as they are were taken for three months. The docs were amazed that the tumor had shrunk and dissapeared completely after only two months of radiation therapy. She continued taking the drops for another two months. And we had been okay for a year and a half after the hysterectomy. She had been to Peru for the four day mountain hike to Machu Pichu. And China to scale the Great Wall and see the Teracota Soldiers completing her personal goal and tour of all the natural and manmade wonders of the world before she dies. However a month ago, she came back from work with a pain in the abdomen area. An emergency medical response misdiagnosed her with a urinary infection and prescribed antibiotics. Prior to this a CT scan showed something abnormal two months ago that the doctor said was just post radiation fibrosis. A proper MRI scan would have detected the difference between fibrosis and a tumor which is what it really was. These last two weeks were pure agony. Painkillers worked for 6 hours at a time but were taking a toll on the liver and other organs. Natural medication and a visit to a modern witch doctor, those people who hook you to the little machine and dispense neural treatments. According to her machine, there were no signs of cancer. How wrong she was. After wasting time on the natual herbs and remedies that did nothing to sooth the excrutiating pain, Morphine was administered when she couldn't take it no more . Determined this was no darn fibrosis - She couldn't even sleep because of the pain with Morphine only lasting two hours - we finally caused a scene at the clinic and got her into emergency care where another CT scan showed that the tumor had grown back in the same place. It has not spread and is contained so far so good. I guess. With cancer nothing is good. We are still waiting for the results of what can be done. Both both us whatever the solution or not, we are on borrowed time. If only we could have at least another five more years of troublefree time together. But the way I see it after looking up different documents on the net, I doubt she could receive a second dosage of radiation to the same area. So I think the doctors will probably want to do Pelvic Exenteration. Won't know for sure until tomorrow. But this operation first of all completely sucks because whether partial or full it will result in disgusting external bags full of urine and feces. There's no way to cover that up. I'm hating the idea to see my lovely mom, once a beauty queen, now with dangling bags on her stomach. How on the hell is this covered up? How can she approach anyone without the darn thing bubbling and making noises like a friggin electric kettle. I can't see how she could ever enjoy suntanning on Miami beach, dipping into the jacuzzi, deep sea diving across the great barrier reef or going back to the work she loves. Sorry if my attitude is not towards optimism and prayers to nonexistent entities here. I'm being unchristian like and uncatholic like, whatever the religion. But then I came here to vent frustrations, tell it like it is, and hope that I get some support from real survivors who have been here and lived through it with many moments of happiness. Anyhow back to my rant, if the waste bags are not bad enough there are complications in the surgery itself that can result in pain afterwards, more illness. Confined to bed until death. And even then there's the problem of cancer recurring yet again or the five year survival rate following Pelvic Exenteration. So if the cancer doesn't kill the results of the operation will. These are conclusions I've come to after rummaging through the www endlessly for info of any kind and finally finding a topic here on this website. I would love to hear from other survivors of this particular cancer and this particular operation. I am so frustrated and pissed off at god right now. Plenty of bad people out there who live carefree with healthy lives, dying peacefully in thier beds and without any pain at a ripe old age. Please if anyone has anything related to this op please post in this forum. I'd love to hear from people who have been able to return to normal living even if it is for such a short time. They way I see it if the cancer doesn't get you the result of this operation will. It's all downhill. But then again they do say that falling flat on your face is also moving forward. I have to end this on a joke. One that bought a smile to my poor mom. At these shitty moments. Only laughter can help. The doctor says I got bad news and even worse news. Which would you like first. - Jesus. Start with any. Okay, I'm afraid you have cancer. And even worse, you also have alzheimers. - Jesus. Well, at least I don't have cancer.