Why?

that approach is standard procedure , chemo/rad, surgery than chemo.

I had rectal cancer, was eradicated by chemo/rad, so my surgeon suggested wait and see approach, no surgery, I agreed with it, started folfox in April this year to wipe out any microcell if any.

Good luck to you!

Congratulations on NED showing up. I think that the other stuff is to make sure that NED stays around. Good to hear from you BTW. I've been really busy with life the past few days and less time for forums. I'm a bit surprised that you got a CT scan as I haven't had anything like this ordered after I was finished. There's a kind of limbo between Chemo/Radiation with a handoff from the Oncologist to the Surgeon. I personally think that a scan would be a good idea to see how much of the tumor remains, if any or if there has been spread or infiltration.

My Oncologist said that the combination of Xeloda + Radiation should kill anything related to the tumor but I'm not so sure and here your oncologist ordered a scan. Was that because it's standard procedure or did you ask for it?

I still have pieces of it coming out. They're small and usually with a little blood - I assume that they're getting pilled out of the attachment point. I can tell the difference because it's usually gas that forces the tumor pieces out and there isn't the pain that comes from BMs.

My tumor shrunk from a nickle to less than a ball point pin by radiation/chem and had my whole rectum removed because they recommended that due to possiblilty of it reoccuring again.  So I've got no rectum but a J-pouch, and I'd do it again to have it completely removed.  I'd not want the possibility of it regrowing again so why not take out the whole area to make sure you have gotten it all.  They will check for clear margins and if you have that, you are in a good position.  Usually resection occurs before mop-up chemo.  Wishing you the best.

Kim

  Just finished the first phase of radiation/chemo myself this past Monday.  28 sessions.  I got a card and a couple cookies as a going away present.  A nice gesture on the part of the hospital staff and they said I was one of the very few who didn't go to pieces on them at some point.  Maybe on the outside I seemed bubbly and all smiles but that was necessary to avoid the inner struggle this created. I kinda miss them now that it's been a few days of not having to go in. 

 For the past few weeks I've been passing what appears to be small bits of tissue as well.  I'm still constipated so I don't know for sure if it's all gone or not.  I've got a PET scan in a few weeks so we're back to waiting again.  I was also told there would be more chemo after surgery and the implication is there is no option for not having surgery.  It's part of the process.  As long as it works and I don't end up with a perm bag I'm ok with it.  I had that discussion with the doctor and he assured me that since it's as far as it is away from the rectum that a colostomy bag is not on the table as an option.  I just hope they were completely honest.     

 The talk I had with the Chemo doctor about the difference between what we go through versus someone with say breast cancer was a surprise.  I like how they hold details like that back until after it's done.  He told me that the treatment I got was generally more severe than what the average breast cancer patient gets.  3000 mg of xeloda and daily radiation was a tough road to stay on but age, health, and attitude played a role.  I didn't get much in the way of the usual side affects from xeloda either.  No Neuropthy, very little nausia, and no diarreha.  Constipation was the one lingering affect I still have but Senna S seems to take care of it.  Sleeping is a problem.  Can't seem to stay zonked out the whole night.  Melatonin works for about 3 hours and then I'm awake again.

 I think they realize that even if a CT or PET scan says you're clean it is limited by the number of cells it takes to indicate a positive result.  If I recall, if the count is under a million in a cluster it's invisible to either test. Question is, how many does it take to put us back in this hell.