post surgery chemo-yes or no??

Lovekitties said:

Dear Traci
There are obviously no guarantees regardless of which option you choose.

For me the deciding factor would be what is the time line for "wait and see"...that is how often and what tools would be used to monitor me. If I felt comfortable with what is proposed, I would choose this option and save further chemo for if/when something shows up.

As you have experienced, doing chemo does not mean there won't be a recurrance. But if you feel that doing it gives you better "odds" then do it.

At this point I see this more as an emotional decision rather than a medical one. Unfortunately, we just can't tell the future about will/won't cancer return, no matter what we do.

Wishing you best outcome no matter what you choose, and no regrets about that decision.

Hugs,

Marie who loves kitties

wait and see timeline
Marie - My onc is really good and will monitor me as often as I want- monthly, every other month, quarterly for CEA, 4-6 months for CT/PET scan. It's really up to me and how often I want to go in. In the beginning I wanted CEA tests monthly, but over time I've gone to every other month or even quarterly as I don't want the stress of another test. I do CT/PET scans every 6 months.

the more I think about it, the more I'm leaning towards wait and see. Thanks Marie.

Sundanceh said:

The Big Question...?
Did you get clear margins, Traci?

If you didn't...there's your answer.

If you did, then it's six one way - half a dozen the other.

When the response to chemo stops, we never know...holding onto it and keeping that gun in your holster is never a bad decision...because it leaves you a decision.

Always the hardest question on the board...because, it's one of the hardest questions on the board.

And we always take the easy way out when talking to folks about this one, because that eases the potential for guilt that we would have to live with by suggesting a course of action that might not go the way that any of us suggested...and we would feel terrible if what was said was not right.

You're smart though...you've already answered your own question...I would say the percentages would lay with the opinion of your oncologist...you then base that information on what you feel on the inside...and roll the dice.

I wish we all knew what was the absolute right way to go...but the truth is, that many of us don't even know that for ourselves.

Our response to cancer and treatments are all so individual, that's it hard to know which way to lean.

Watching and waiting is not the worst strategy either...

I've tried it like this...surgery got clear did the chemo and rad...recurred
surgery got clear did the chemo...recurred
surgery bad margins did the chemo and rads...watching and waiting.

Good luck with your decision. Congrats on the 5!

-Craig

clear margins
Craig - Yes I got clear margins, makes me feel better. I'm more worried about something they might have missed. Seems like they miss something in my peritoneum every time. But then even with post-surgery chemo it comes back. I agree it's 6 of 1, half dozen of the other situation. Might be nice for a change to try wait and see. Seriously considering it.