I have a large, (3.5 centimeters) tubular polyp in my Cecum that based on the first biopsy is neither cancerous nor precancerous. I have a choice of 1: having 4 inches of my Cecum removed (Surgeon says I get out of hospital in 1-2 days), but 6-week recovery period. (Almost certainly being extremely conservative to deal with people in poor shape, which I am not -- I would expect more like 3 weeks of recovery)
2: Having interventional endoscopy, where they would take a metal cutting loop and cut it out. They would need at least 2 attempts to take it out because the loop can only cut out 2.5 centimeters at one time. Also, the Cecum is comparatively thin and there is a danger of a perforation. Furthermore, my polyp sits on a fold making it comparatively difficult to cut it out. Additionally, the endoscopy risks leaving some cancer there or making it more difficult to biopsy the polyp. (If the polyp crumbles while being cut out) The big advantage of the endoscopy is that it is not surgery and there is almost immediate recovery. The downside is that I may have to be scoped 3-5 times between getting the polyp out and monitoring the result after the procedure to make sure there is no (to this point none seen) cancer or precancerous material left after the loop cut.
I have talked to the surgeon but not the interventional radiologist, who I will be seeing next week. Have seen a Youtube video of the interventional radiology and it didn't look bad. I am in very good health and very good shape (exercise 7 days a week). I am leaning towards taking the 4 inches out, (just to get everything over with and to minimize the chance of leaving something dangerous in my cecum with the looping procedure) but I am curious what any medical professionals here or people who have undergone the procedure think might think.
2: Having interventional endoscopy, where they would take a metal cutting loop and cut it out. They would need at least 2 attempts to take it out because the loop can only cut out 2.5 centimeters at one time. Also, the Cecum is comparatively thin and there is a danger of a perforation. Furthermore, my polyp sits on a fold making it comparatively difficult to cut it out. Additionally, the endoscopy risks leaving some cancer there or making it more difficult to biopsy the polyp. (If the polyp crumbles while being cut out) The big advantage of the endoscopy is that it is not surgery and there is almost immediate recovery. The downside is that I may have to be scoped 3-5 times between getting the polyp out and monitoring the result after the procedure to make sure there is no (to this point none seen) cancer or precancerous material left after the loop cut.
I have talked to the surgeon but not the interventional radiologist, who I will be seeing next week. Have seen a Youtube video of the interventional radiology and it didn't look bad. I am in very good health and very good shape (exercise 7 days a week). I am leaning towards taking the 4 inches out, (just to get everything over with and to minimize the chance of leaving something dangerous in my cecum with the looping procedure) but I am curious what any medical professionals here or people who have undergone the procedure think might think.