How many of you with rectal cancer did chemo and radiation together?

Spruce34

I have stage 3 rectal cancer with a 3 CM tumor and its in the nearby nodes. My treatment plan is to do chemo 5-FU and radiation together. I will get the port in a week and start the following Monday. My wife has scoured the internet and seems to think my treatment plan is unusual and that most get one or the other. She is against radiation, but I'm following the doctor's advice. I was wondering how many of you did both together? I'd be interested in hearing from anyone who's come out the other side of that double treatment and any advice they have. Thanks for anyone who takes the time to weigh in.

airborne72

Spruce 34:

I had stage 2 rectal cancer. I did the chemo (5Fu Xeloda pills) in conjunction with the radiation treatment. Lasted about 6 weeks as I remember. After recovering and catching my breath I had the resection surgery followed by more chemo therapy (through the port).

I am 6 years cancer free but all of those events and treatments really subtracted some vitality from me. Remaining positive and hopeful helped me cope with all of the nuisances of cancer and its treatment.

Good luck my friend.

Jim

Trubrit

I did FOLFOX first, and then I did 5FU Chemo 24/7 along with six weeks of radiation.

That was 11 years ago - Stage IV and doing well, really well.

I wont lie, radiation was the worst; but I am alive, and thus, I consider it worth it.

It is a long, rough road, and I wish you the best.

Tru

smithdoor

On Monday I will have 108 chemo treatments.

I was total I stage 4 colan cancer in 2009

Dave

Susan13a

I did 30 radiation therapy treatments with 5FU followed by 8 FOLFOX infusions. More chemo after surgery is expected. As I understand it, both are normal procedure.

My rectal cancer was stage 2c, it had not spread to lymph nodes but it was a huge 12 cm tumor.

I will also mention that the radiation therapy was much easier for me than the full infusion chemo. I see others had problems with radiation so YMMV

Spruce34

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/327775/how-many-of-you-with-rectal-cancer-did-chemo-and-radiation-together

I’m a few steps ahead of you: stage 3 cm tumor with involvement in two nodes

I’m almost 4 weeks into combination chemo radiation treatments. My bad luck is my tumor is very close to my anus. Hopefully, you have better luck.

talk to your doctor about oral Capecitibene in lieu of a port and 5fu. the national Institute of health study shows better outcomes with the oral Cape side of being the port treatment of 5FU. Plus taking a pill twice a day versus having to carry a delivery device around way better quality of life in my opinion.

Seedsower

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/327775/how-many-of-you-with-rectal-cancer-did-chemo-and-radiation-together

Hi Spruce34,

I was diagnosed w/ stage 1 (T1) back in 1999 at age 36. After my radical surgery resection, one node had been affected as well. I opted in partaking in a protocol that required chemo (Bolus 5Fu w/ lucavoran (spelling) that lasted a 6 mo duration that was altered in having it 5 consecutive days, 3 wks off, then another 5 days etc. During this my radiation was for 1 month mon-fri on top of the chemo. Saying it was a rough road is an understatement. Seeing the date of your post I would think you have already been through it or are currently going through it. Lean on your wife and others for support. My strength came from them and most of all God. They are there to be a blessing from God for you as you go through this journey. We go through things such as this to rely on God and draw closer to Him. One thing I wish I had knowledge of is that my teeth deteriorated through the years. My family doctor said it was a side effect of the chemo. I would look into that with your dentist as how you can possibly prevent it.

By the grace of God, I am celebrating 25 yrs being cancer free. Although there have been life altering challenges, I am thanking & praising God I have survived.

God’s Blessing on you and yours..!!

Tom~

BigRig65

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/327775/how-many-of-you-with-rectal-cancer-did-chemo-and-radiation-together

I was diagnosed Stage 4 Colorectal in March 2023. I had a softball size tumor totally blocking my rectum. Everything backed up so badly that my upper GI ruptured. I had emergency surgery to fix the rupture, and a colostomy to bypass the tumor. I started doing the chemo (Xeloda pills) in conjunction with the radiation treatment. That lasted 8 weeks and shrunk the tumor significantly. A few weeks later, I started infusion treatments thru a port, every 2 weeks. I took 8 hrs. of treatment on Tues, then left the cancer center with a portable pump for additional 48 hrs. Went back on Thurs to have it removed. I did that for 6 mos. It wasn't to bad. I had to learn to sleep on my back but that was the worst of it. In that time, my cancer markers went from 76.0 to .001. My cancer spread a little to my liver, so I am back on Xeloda pills (on 14 days, off 7). So far that is not getting any worse. I did lose a lot of weight and had to regain some strength in my arms, but it was all worth it. My daughter was married on the 1 year anniversary of my diagnosis. By the grace of God, I was not only able to walk her down the aisle, but we were able to have our father daughter dance. I was also able to dance with my wife of over 20 years, to the song we danced to at our wedding. My advice to you is to look at what your future holds. If there is something or someone worth fighting for, then do whatever you need to fight the fight. I did, I am, and I am not regretting one moment since.

There have been challenges along the way, but I give God all the praise and thanks for leading me through it.

God Bless you,

David

Sestra17

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/327775/how-many-of-you-with-rectal-cancer-did-chemo-and-radiation-together

Sestra17

I had stage 3 as well. Did oral chemo and radiation at the same time. Then surgery. Then additional IV chemo. 7 years out and all is well except for neuropathy.