Stage 4 rectal cancer with lung and lymph node involvement - radiation and chemo

Peggley30
Peggley30 CSN Member Posts: 1
in Colorectal Cancer #1

I am new to this site. I was diagnosed last week with stage 4 rectal cancer and given one year to live with no treatment or 3 tops with treatment. They say it has spread to my lungs but the nodules are very small right now. The tumor in the rectum is huge. Ironically other than rectal pain that is manageable with Advil I don't even feel sick. Next week they are going to give me 5 days of intense radiation directly on the tumor. They wanted to start chemo right away after that but I asked to put it off for a month. I am so scared that this is my last chance to feel "normal" and that if I do it now I'll be losing the last part of my life that I have where I can still do everything I usually do. I am also scared if I DONT do it right away that the chances of it getting to 3 years is slim.

One question is, has anyone had this intense radiation for the same thing I have that could tell me about the side effects? I feel like I want to at least do that part to stop the growth of the tumor. I know its not going to cure it.

The other question is, the chemo part is something I will have to do until I die. There will never be a time that I will be able to stop taking it. Ill have a port in forever, and have to do the treatment every 2 weeks for 3 days in a row forever. Even though my "forever" is not very long, I am wondering about quality of life with long term chemo. Is anyone out there having to do this treatment like me for the rest of whatever is your life and what is YOUR life like.

Thanks in advance.

Comments

  • Arx001
    Arx001 CSN Member Posts: 46
    #2

    Peggley30,

    Stage 3 rectal cancer survivor here. I’m sorry for your diagnosis.

    It may appear a bit of a cliche but please don’t give up! Don’t assume you have one year to live. Yes your doctors present a very grim picture and accept this in general but don’t let it be your sole focus. Instead try to focus on positive and beautiful things because it helps with the disease. There are a lot of people who survive and live for many years after a stage 4 diagnosis. You may wish to read/search about psychologist Ellen Langer’s mother who survived a stage 4 cancer.

    It’s possibly better for you to start the chemo after the radiation. I had a 60 day rest in between them but if your oncologists suggests to do so then perhaps it’s better. I suppose you are going to have the 5x5 regime, something I know little about. They will possibly give you 25 grey radiation in five days. I had 52.5 in five weeks. You will get through it don’t worry. You will ring the bell next Friday!

    If you want support I’m available on this forum. There are things you can do to assist your well being, the most important being physically active and doing medium intensity, brisk walks for 30 minutes every day.

    Don’t hesitate to write!

    Note: The 10/30% survival rate is a statistical average calculated by your tumor grading, age etc. You are already doing better than this average because you said you don’t feel sick. So your body has more power to fight/heal.

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