Thank You Howard!

beetree2
beetree2 Member Posts: 11
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Thank you for giving me the web site. I am really struggling with my decision. Do you remember the TNM staging of yours? Mine was T3,no,mx. My lesion was in my Transverse (sp)colon. The surgeon also did not see any mets to the liver. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the cure rate is 90% with just surgery, and it only increases by 2-3% with chemo. I'm praying I will get some sign as to which way I should go. I am scared to death of the chemo.

Comments

  • HowardJ
    HowardJ Member Posts: 474
    Hi,

    My tumor was in the acending (right) colon, and was T3,N0,M0. I understand this is a difficult decision, it wasn't long ago that I struggled with it as well. Please don't make your decision soley on the fact that we have the same TMN staging. There are other, microscopic, differences in tumors that doctors look at as well which should be taken into consideration.

    There is a treatment decision tool on the ACS web site which you can get to it from the home page. Above all, ask your oncologist all the questions you have and be comfortable with the answers before making any decision.

    Good luck!

    (what happened to your previous post?)

    Howard
  • beetree2
    beetree2 Member Posts: 11
    Thanks again Howard, I realize that there are other factors. I faxed my path report to a couple of relatives who are in contact with oncologists will see. I didn't have any mets so the surgeon said. I'm still not sure.
  • lfondots63
    lfondots63 Member Posts: 818 Member
    Hi beetree2,

    This is a very hard decision and only one you can make. I was back and forth with this. I'm T3,1node and no mets. I am doing the folfox treatment but doing a lot of naturopathic stuff too. The decision is more what you are comfortable with. For me I don't look at the stats. I plan to be around for a long time and personally hate the negativity of stats. So many here are way outside of the stats that it makes me feel great! Tell us how it goes. Sending good vibes your way to. The emotional roller coaster of this is the worst. HUGS!

    Lisa
  • oneagleswings
    oneagleswings Member Posts: 425 Member
    Be scared of the cancer coming back or spreading ...not of the chemo..in fact I am oh so gratefull that there is such a thing as chemo otherwise my husband would not be here...
    Bev