[newtress]

Hi all, I am a currently a nursing student in my second level of the program. I have not yet been introduced to the "caring for the patient with cancer" section yet. And so right around the Christmas holiday, I find out that my 41 yo brother is diagnosed with two carcinoid tumors of the distal ileum close to the ileocecal valve. I was devastated. I went nuts doing my own research on the subject and many times over it was said that most patients present with this type of tumor around median age of 55 to 60 yo. Following all my brother has had to endure for the preop and post op resect he had done, I struggle with the prognosis. The doctors have told him that he was a rare case. Which brings me to this question for oncology nurses who have seen patients with this cancer.

Post op follow up tests and scans have now shown that he is "clear" and no more evidence of cancer with minimal disruption of ADL's except for the short bowel diarrhea which he is prescribed Cholestramine powders. Do you think, or is it a possibility that being young at the time of diagnosis could be a great contributing factor to his recovery and a better prognosis than if he were much older? I'm hesitantly happy and hopeful because these two tumors were both over 2 cm, and there was malignant lymph involvement. I have been praying for the last 4 months and wonder about my prayers being answered. Are there any nurses who know of patients who have done well after carcinoid tumor resect surgery? Would love to hear from you. Thanks so much for reading.