Final Score: HBOT – 1, Antibiotics – 0

Hearing the words “Your cancer has returned.” can be very alarming. Finding out that the only recommended course of action is the removal of your entire colon is downright terrifying.

In 2008, a routine colonoscopy revealed a large tumor in Matt’s ascending colon. During surgery to remove the tumor it was discovered that it had breeched the wall of the colon and was sticking to the small intestine. The surgeon was able to successfully perform resections of both the colon and small intestine, removing over a foot of each.

Following six months of chemotherapy, Matt was placed on a preventative checkup program consisting of quarterly blood work and annual CT scans and colonoscopies. For five years, reports came back successful and life went on as usual. In early 2014, Matt’s oncologist noted that his cancer markers appeared to be going up after reviewing his latest blood work. A CT scan was ordered and showed thickening in the walls of the cecum.

A followup colonoscopy found that a small tumor the size of a dime had started to form in his ascending colon. Knowing Matt’s family history with cancer, his doctor recommended that he see a colorectal specialist. After reviewing the medical history of Matt and his family, the specialist was convinced that Matt had Lynch syndrome.

Lynch syndrome is an inherited, genetic condition that gives a person an increased lifetime risk of developing colorectal cancer and other related cancers. Several genes have been identified that are linked to Lynch syndrome. They include MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, PMS2, and EPCAM. These genes are involved in the repair of mistakes that occur when DNA is copied in preparation for cell division (a process called DNA replication). Mutations in any of these genes prevent the proper repair of DNA replication mistakes. As the abnormal cells continue to divide, the accumulated mistakes can lead to uncontrolled cell growth and possibly cancer.

Genetic testing confirmed that Matt did indeed have Lynch syndrome due to a mutation of the MSH2 gene. According to the specialist, the recommended protocol for someone with Lynch syndrome is to remove the entire colon at the first sign of colon cancer and that Matt’s colon should never have been re-sectioned and left in before.

Surgery to remove Matt’s colon was performed in May 2014. After spending a week in the hospital, Matt returned home to continue his recovery. Unfortunately, the recovery did not go as planned. He began experiencing constant fever, severe dehydration and a complete loss of appetite. Less than a week after returning home, Matt was standing at his bathroom counter brushing his teeth when he felt his feet getting wet. Looking down, he saw fluid pouring out of the incision in his abdomen. Doctors instructed him to put a dressing on the incision to try and stem the flow of fluid. Days passed, and the incision continued to discharge fluid. Matt's dressings had to be changed multiple times throughout the day as the fluid would soak through and spill out onto his clothes. The more he moved, the worse it got. Before long, more holes had opened up in Matt's abdomen and his incision was dangerously close to tearing completely open. Read more.