HELP! Mom had a benign colon mass removed, yet Oncologist wants her to get aggressive chemo...

JenSahli
JenSahli Member Posts: 2
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
My 76-yr old mother had a COMPLETELY benign colon mass removed and is currently healing nicely from surgery. The surgeon wanted her to talk to an oncologist, because even though the path lab came back with a completely negative series of tests on everything that was removed and there was no evidence that anything spread past the walls of her colon, it might be advisable to dicuss 1 or 2 rounds of chemo to be on the safe side. The oncologist saw her and reviewed all her suregery reports and test results. He said that her CAT scan revealed teeny tiny particles from the mass in her system that MAY HAVE penetrated the colon wall. He said they were so small, he could hardly detect them. However, he still wants her to go through a 24-WEEK CHEMO REGIMINE OF FOLFOX, ELIDOVORIN, AND OXALIPLATIN. Does this seem a bit too aggressive??

Comments

  • Buzzard
    Buzzard Member Posts: 3,043 Member
    #2
    Only my Opinion
    Lots of things to mull over...but benign is benign...the particles is another question in itself...is it cancer ? Evident that hes not sure but trying to be on the safe side...speak with another oncologist...in a different town...and see what his protocol would be then proceed from there. I would be sure to include mom in all decision making since she is the one that is ultimately the decision maker in any of this....Good Luck to you.....Buzz
  • Kerry S
    Kerry S Member Posts: 606 Member
    #3
    Get second look
    Amen to what Buzzard says.
  • Jaylo969
    Jaylo969 Member Posts: 824 Member
    #4
    My gastro
    came into my hospital room after doing the colonoscopy and biopsy and told me that even if the pathology came back benign I might want to think about having some 'light' chemo after surgery because of the size of the mass.I never could figure that out... but my mass was malignant so I never really checked out why he said that.

    A second opinion would be nice if you and Mom can do that.

    -Pat
  • dianetavegia
    dianetavegia Member Posts: 1,942 Member
    #5
    Agree with the others
    Benign is benign and Mother is 76. If she gets colon cancer in 10 years, think about it again at that time.
  • msccolon
    msccolon Member Posts: 1,917 Member
    #6
    I agree with others, benign is benign
    Your mother is 76 years old and it doesn't sound to me like there's ANY indication for chemo! Chemo isn't something to be messed around with, and should only be embarked upon when absolutely necessary! At 76, even if she were to get colon cancer in the future, it's so slow growing it could hardly be considered life threatening! Yet, chemotherapy CAN certainly be life threatening! Seek 2nd and 3rd and 4th opinions for your mother before making any further decisions.
    mary
  • John23
    John23 Member Posts: 2,122 Member
    #7
    msccolon said:

    I agree with others, benign is benign
    Your mother is 76 years old and it doesn't sound to me like there's ANY indication for chemo! Chemo isn't something to be messed around with, and should only be embarked upon when absolutely necessary! At 76, even if she were to get colon cancer in the future, it's so slow growing it could hardly be considered life threatening! Yet, chemotherapy CAN certainly be life threatening! Seek 2nd and 3rd and 4th opinions for your mother before making any further decisions.
    mary

    Amen!

    Listen to "Mscolon".

    The sales pitch for Chemo, borders on ridiculous.

    Chemo isn't going to do much to a cancer cell that isn't
    readily seen, anyway.

    Get a second (and third) opinion if there's any doubts, but taking
    known carcinogenics to fix what ain't broken isn't a great idea.

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