Radiation/Chemo as sole treatment?

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mkchp
mkchp Member Posts: 2
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Have posted a few days back on learning of my mother's diagnosis of rectal cancer and now are going through the stages of emotion and terror with many questions on what the future holds for our family. I am going to deliver her grandson in October and I so want her to be there for me and the birth as well as for a long time thereafter. The doctors have staged her cancer at 4 with at least 1-2 lymph nodes involved. Surprisingly, there is no other organ spread at this time aside from local invasion to the vaginal wall/uterus. While medical treatment first, then surgery to remove the 8x8cm mass with hysterectomy is advised, she is vehemently against having a colonostomy performed AT ALL. She said that maybe she will just have the radiation/chemo only after thinking about it a few weeks. In the meanwhile, I am scared for her to have to have an emergency surgery should the mass rupture or she becomes fully blocked. She is starting an oral tumeric regimin at the suggestion of a cancer researcher family member along with a healthy antioxidant diet to gain some strength and weight in the hopes that the tumor may shrink on it's own. Does anyone have any comments on this alternative treatment or on other modalities when surgery is declined? Alternatives to colostomy? Possibly reconstructive rectal surgeons? When only radiation /chemo are chosen? Are the side affects with the roughly six week course of rad/5-FU as bad as with some other cancer therapies? (ie: hair loss, nausea, weakness, and more diarrhea is expected for sure) In the liklihood of anyone with a similar situation, thanks so much in advamce

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  • AnneCan
    AnneCan Member Posts: 3,673 Member
    #2
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    So far I have not been a
    So far I have not been a candidate for surgery to remove my two colorectal tumours. I was given 5 weeks of radiation + chemo last summer for my two colon tumours, + was supposed to have surgery to remove them last fall (2009). Unfortunately when I had my MRI + CT scan August 2009, it was determined that I had liver mets + they would not do the colon surgery because they felt that the liver mets would spread during the pre-sugery, surgery, + post surgery time I would have to be off chemo. The radiation had shrunk my 2 colon tumours quite a bit. I was put on folfiri + avastin Sept 2009 + have been on it ever since. It has done a good job of keeping the cancer under control + I am told the primary tumours are non-detectable; however my last scan showed some (minimal) progression on my liver (after 3 scans showing shrinkage). My onc still has me on folfiri + avastin but this may change after I have my next scan. So while I did not choose to forgo surgery I thus far have not been a candidate for it. While I was on chemo + radiation I did not experience hair loss, but fatigue, diarrhea + "burn" were the side effects I experience. Every case is very individual + must be treated as such. Good luck to you + your Mom.
  • John23
    John23 Member Posts: 2,122 Member
    #3
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    Well.....


    First, if it's possible, you should delete one of these double posts....

    As far as mom...?

    "rectal cancer ......"
    "..... no other organ spread at this time aside from local invasion
    to the vaginal wall/uterus. ....."

    That's a lot to deal with!

    If a tumor is large, surgery is the fastest and best way to get it gone.

    Mom should know that an ostomy can help her more than hurt her.
    There's plenty of us out here who have one.... yeah we may hate it,
    but it's there and we live with it; It really isn't the end of the world.

    Alternatives work, but they work slowly when they do. If she's
    dealing with a tumor that will kill her if it isn't out fairly quick, then
    I would strongly suggest surgery. A qualified colorectal surgeon
    or gyno/surgeon can get things done quickly and best.

    The alternatives can be used along with chemo, etc, or in place of
    it, to take care of residual cancer cells, but you'll have to do some
    research for mom.... Cancer isn't a common weak ailment, it's
    a terminal disease that requires serious concerns. There's no
    magic pill or antidote to take, and the choice of weapons is
    something that only a cancer patient should have open choice
    of using. It's not an easy decision, and nothing you would want
    to make a mistake with, if making it for mom.

    People die of cancer regardless of what they do. Feeling that
    -you- made a "wrong choice" that "did it", isn't something you
    would want hanging over your head.

    Rather than trying to choose what's best for mom, it would
    be in her best interests to know more about ostomies, and
    be less concerned with ending up with one.

    They took out my tumor, and as much colon as they felt they
    should to prevent a return. It left me with an Ileostomy, but
    I'm here. Too often, the surgeon tries to save colon to save the
    patient from having an ostomy, and ends up leaving a cancerous
    portion in. I think it's best to leave it to the surgeon's opinion.

    Mom should also have other, outside opinions. Both colorectal
    surgeons and gyno/surgeons should be consulted for the best
    course of action. Getting the tumors out, and doing whatever
    mom wants for follow-up, is about the only choices, in my opinion.

    My best hopes for you and mom!


    John
  • PGLGreg
    PGLGreg Member Posts: 731
    #4
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    It might be worthwhile
    It might be worthwhile shopping around for a surgeon who can offer a surgical alternative to a permanent colostomy. However, the strategy of eating turmuric and hoping the tumor will just go away is silly.

    I had a standard sort of 6-week radiation therapy for rectal cancer (after surgery) combined with 5FU (with leucovorin) and experienced no hair loss, very little nausea, and diarrhea that was adequately controlled with Lomotil. But individual reactions to cancer therapies do vary substantially, so I couldn't promise that your mother's side effects would be so mild. She really has to have surgery, though.

    --Greg
  • Lovekitties
    Lovekitties Member Posts: 3,364 Member
    #5
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    Waiting is not the answer
    I can hear your frustration and fear in your post. You want the best for your Mom and she is not willing to consider what just may save her life, and most certainly will at least give her more time.

    The size of the tumor already present may preclude other options. I went through the anxiety of determining what to do myself. I was definately not wanting a colostomy. But we don't always get what we want. In some cases you can have a temp colostomy if the doc can save enough of the rectum or construct a J-pouch, and then have it reversed later. But everything comes with risks.

    Remind your mother that if what she is doing now with her alternative treatment really worked, none of us would have had surgery. Alternative treatments are fine, but after you have gotten rid of the source tumor.

    Have you been able to find out exactly what your mother's concern is abou the surgery? Is she turely afraid of living life with a colostomy? If that is the case, please try to get her to see an Ostomy Nurse to talk about her concerns and so your mom can learn that lots of us in this world get on with living life after a colostomy. In fact, she may even know some and not realize it. After all we wear our bag under our clothes.

    Best of luck in helping your mother. Bottom line is that we are in control of what is done to our own body. Our loved ones can only try to help us find the right solution.

    Marie who loves kitties
  • geotina
    geotina Member Posts: 2,111 Member
    #6
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    Mkchp:
    First, welcome to the Board. This is a great bunch of people who will share their experiences with you. If you click on our names, you can read our stories with colon cancer. Most have filled out their bios.

    Perhaps a family sit down with the docs so everyone is fully informed is in order. Your mom doesn't want surgery, just chemo and radiation, doesn't make sense. Eventually, you will need to get rid of the tumors and have a hysterectomy if the cancer has spread to the vagina and uterus. That is why she is Stage IV, the cancer has already spread outside the colon. Right now mom has had a lot thrown at her and maybe things need to settle regarding the best course of treatment for her. Simply hoping things go away completely is a nice thought but often is not the case. Be careful with high anti-oxidents at this point. Check with your docs to get their approval for alternatives. While high anti-oxidents are good for a healthy person, they strengthen cells, etc. they may have the same effect on cancer cells, strengthen them. That is the way our doc explained stuff to us. Hoping the tumor will go away by taking Tumeric, I have never heard of that working, check with your doc on that one.

    Best wishes to you, your mom and family as you begin your journey.

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