any stage ll colon cancer out there?

northernlites
northernlites Member Posts: 96
in Colorectal Cancer #1
Hi all,
I went for my post op check up yesterday and my surgeon said my cancer was stageIIa. he took out 43 lymph nodes and all of my colon and all nodes were clear. He said that he would not recommend chemo because the chances of survival only incresaes by 3% and the effects of chemo outway the 3%. He still referred me to an oncologist for his opinion which i see tommorrow. Any advice?

tessa

Comments

  • keystone
    keystone Member Posts: 134 Member
    #2
    Welcome
    Glad you found this board for good advise. There are so many people on here with a wealth of knowledge. I am certainly no expert but it sound as if you have been given a very good prognosis. I believe that the oncologist will be able to go over all of the options in a little more detail. Very glad to have you and so glad they caught this disease so soon!
  • ninetoes
    ninetoes Member Posts: 81
    #3
    welcome
    I was stage 2B and had 17 lymph nodes checked and nothing found. also 18in of my colon removed. I had a tumor the size of a softball taken out and my dr. said it almost broke thru the wall of the colon. I did 8 rounds out of 12 of chemo, one being oxaliplatin. I finished chemo in oct. of 09 and still have no feeling in my feet and hands. Your best bet is to talk to your oncologist and if you don't like what you hear get a 2nd opinion. I got 2 opinions and I did the chemo. I don't regret the chemo. I go back for my 2 year check this september, so far so good. I wanted the added insurance from the chemo, but get all the info you can and get the 2nd or even a 3rd opinion.

    Good luck, there is a lot of good info here. Oh, and very good people!!

    Dave
  • laurie83833
    laurie83833 Member Posts: 63
    #4
    Stage II B
    My original post double posted for some reason I must have clicked twice or something.. edited this one to delete the double post..
  • laurie83833
    laurie83833 Member Posts: 63
    #5
    Stage II B
    Hi Tessa,

    My husband was diagnosed Stage IIB - Sept 2009. Since he was a stage IIB Chemo was offered but yes was told survival increase was minimal I think they said about 3-5% but also stated there has been no clear clad clicial trials that proved if having Chemo would even really make a difference. So it was left up to my husband to decide.

    He did not opt for the Chemo. Sept 2010 - after scans declared clinically NED. Yearly Colonosocpy also showed fine. The 6 month intervals blood tests have all been fine.

    We are now nervously awaiting his next CT scan next month (Sept - 2 year) to see if he is still NED or if there has been any re-occurance. ONC said he does not have to have another Colonoscopy for 3 years unless they find sometime wrong which then he would have one earlier.

    Husband says he feels just fine, but we konw that cancer is sneaky and just becuase one may feel fine does not necessarly mean the Cancer is gone.

    I have him on a pretty strick suppliment schedule and eating better. Now is this helping any??? I guess no one can be sure but he does not catch colds or any of the other flu's bugs that get tranfered around from person to person. I catch them but he has not, so if anything the suppliments are helping in that area.

    Being a Stage IIA is not as high risk as a IIB for reoccurrence - but as I said before Cancer is sneaky and can occur and reoccur even in people with Stage I, its not frequent but it has and does happen on occasion.

    Reocurrence can happen and sometimes does even with those that have Chemo no matter what stage they are in.

    So the choice to have or not have Chemo is stricly up to you. Whatever you decide will be fine as long as you are comfortable with your decision.

    You really do not hear much from Stage II's on this board not sure why it could be there is just not that many of us who visit the board that is stage II.

    Hugs!
    Laurie

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