Just returned from rectosigmoid surgeon appt..

Everyone's situation is different, so I can only generalize from mine, but I think you should be celebrating more than crying.  Scans, including CT scans, are notoriosuly unreliable.  Based on the CT, they thought my tumor was in a different place than it really was (which worked out well for me because less of the colon had to be removed).  Lymph node involvement will only be truly established after the surgery and biopsy.  Being stage III is not a death sentence.   There is likely a 10-50% chance of recurrence after surgery with "curative intent," and there are lots of things you can do to improve your odds.  From my perspective, the best thing to do is train for the radiation and surgery (good diet, lots of exercise, quality sleep, reduced stress), and enjoy each day to its fullest. Have a list of questions ready when you see your physicians.   Read enough to be educated but not enough to drive you mad.  I am sure others will chime in with good ideas.

Focus on the positives, like no bag!. My bowel was high enough too, and reading some of the comments here it is a huge thing to not need to deal with it while on treatment plan. I had 4 of 20 lymph nodes with cancer cells when taken during my bowel resection. Now, my case is different because I had liver lesions also so for me, it was a positive that was only in 4 of 20. They expected more, especially sine my liver lesions were big. There is always hope. My prognosis was very bad when I was first diagnosed, but so many miracles along the way, and I don't want to jinx anything, but my doctors expect my post chemo scan to be good news. There is so much out there to be afraid of with this diagnosis, focusing on the positives helps the getting through each day

SandiaBuddy said:

curative intent

Doctor speak for hoping to cure the cancer with no recurrence.

I had the mop up chemo. What are the percentages without it? And why isn't it zero percent to 50%. 

Daniellabella said:

Thank you!

Thanks to each of you for the wonderful replies.

I will try to stay off the internet. Im sufficiently freaked out by the statistics I’ve seen on 5 year survival rates for stage 3 rectal cancer.

Honestly, worrying and researching the web has done more harm than good, raising my stress levels. 

Once the CT scan is in, I will report back here.

Hugs to all of you going through this!!!

 

HA! You are not a number, you are your own person. Each person will have different outcomes. Those numbers are old and need to be taken down from the web entirely. New advances have been made since published, more will come. Those numbers include all ages and also include deaths from other causes. Don't dwell on the odds they give. You should look up the people here that have defeated the odds. Darcher, Tru and so many more are inspirations in more ways than one. Jan look at all the trouble she has had and she is still fighting strong. Focus your energy on healing not reading misinformed stats. Redirect your stress to fight fight fight. YOU ARE NOT A NUMBER remember that. 

"Also, he said lymph involvement. So is this a death sentence?"

I'm 3B with three suspicious lymph nodes. I do pay attention to the survival statistics and 3A is 89%, 3B is 69% and 3c is 53% but care continues to improve and the numbers are obviously at least five years old. Lumph node involvement is potantial local spread and is much less of a problem than remote spread (stage 4). There are lots of stage 4s that do fine too. I have a relatively local friend with her husband having stage 4 with mets to the liver and it was very tricky removing the mets. The folks at Mass General did a great job removing them and he's NED now.

I do think that it's normal to be worried and you'll go through a lot of emotions through the process.

There are a few things known to help prevent recurrence and these can help with the odds of recurrence. We're all on this walk together.

abita said:

Thank you! My tumors were

Thank you! My tumors were able to be removed, I am doing the chemo to kill hidden cells, but I still fear recurrence. It helps me to my core to hear stories like yours. Oh, and I was diagnosed as stage 4, but miraculously, my tumors were all operable. 

And 11 years out,  and healthy (yes, with a tumor growing, but otherwise completely normal.)  Treatment isn't easy, but it is doable, and hopefully, in 11 years you'll be encouraging others as well!

Daniellabella said:

I’m feeling really down

I’m feeling really down tonight.

I highly doubt my husband will do chemo/radiation.

And even if he did, I don’t think he’ll stick with it.  

He’s supposed to have a full colonoscopy next week and is now refusing, saying he won’t go because he’s “done being poked and prodded.”

I’m just feeling defeated, helpless and angry. 

Thanks for listening to my rant.

I'm sorry you're having a bad evening.  I've been there.  My husband was diagnosed in December 2012 as Stage 2 colon cancer.  He had emergency surgery to remove the tumor with a colon resection.  Oncologist we went to gave him options and statistics with and without chemo.  He even said as Stage 2 he didn't "really" need chemo.  My husband did not want to do chemo, felt he was cured after surgery.  Our daughter is a nurse and she and I felt he should do the chemo because he was only 59 at the time.  He reluctantly agreed.  I went with him to all 12 Folfox treatments and was his biggest cheerleader.  Our roles reversed then, he was always the optimist and I was usually a realist.  He did pretty good with that treatment, the oxy was removed after 3 treatments because he had a bowel obstruction.  He finished treatment in the summer of 2013.  Oncologist did not give us any follow up on what was next, even though I'd been asking for months.  I also kept asking about a PET scan and onc kept saying he didn't need it.  Fall and early winter of 2013/14 brought new and similar symptoms.  We went to all doctors, surgeon, GI doctor, oncologist - had a colonoscopy and was told to "lose weight"  Early January 2013 ended up back in ED with what they treated as extreme constipation for a week!  It was another tumor growing in his large intestine this time.  Another emergency surgery to remove it.  After follow up with oncologist he yelled to us from the hallway while he was on the phone "There's lymph nodes involved"  My husband, daughter and I just sat there staring at each other.  I said "It's time to get out of here"  When doctor finally came in, my husband said "We're going for another opintion" and dr said "I'm confident in my abilities so that doesn't bother me"  The next day we met with much bigger more hopeful cancer center.  They started him on Folfiri within a few days and ordered a PET scan.  PET scan showed the lymph nodes involved, which I think would have been found much earlier if any of his former doctors had given a darn about following up with a patient having issues only a few months out from finishing chemo.

I'm not sure where you live, but I would suggest a second opinion if that is possible for you or even go to a Cancer Center of America.  You want to work with the best team who gives you hope and positive news.  They may be able to encourage your husband to go with treatment.  It won't be a walk in the park, but many people do well after treatment and live cancer free for a long time.  Being a caregiver can be tough.  Feel free to message me if you'd like.

Linda

Daniellabella said:

I’m feeling really down

I’m feeling really down tonight.

I highly doubt my husband will do chemo/radiation.

And even if he did, I don’t think he’ll stick with it.  

He’s supposed to have a full colonoscopy next week and is now refusing, saying he won’t go because he’s “done being poked and prodded.”

I’m just feeling defeated, helpless and angry. 

Thanks for listening to my rant.

I understand your frustration, but the ultimate decision maker is your husband.  Maybe give him a little time to mull it over and consider the alternatives.  Can he do surgery without the chemo first?  That might be a more attractive option for him.  Also, does he read this blog?  Getting some direct information might be useful for him.  If it were me, I would have the surgery and skip the chemo.  But all of us are different.  Best of luck in dealing with all of these complex issues.