Post-Chemo Monitoring

Jen28
Jen28 Member Posts: 45
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Hi,

I'm in the middle of treatment number 8 of FOLFOX and am planning to ask my oncologist the next time I see her about what kind of monitoring she'll plan to do after chemo is over. (I had stage IIIA cancer of the sigmoid colon, 3 nodes positive, and had surgery in 10/2005.) Before I talk to my oncologist, I'd like to find out from other people if there is any sort of "standard" monitoring. My CEA level was very low, I believe 0.6, before surgery. It has not been tested since. My CAT scan before surgery was clear. It seems that many people get CEA tests and CAT scans every three months for a while after chemo, then do them less frequently. Is this fairly standard?

I spoke to my gastroenterologist shortly after surgery and he told me that the plan would be to do a colonoscopy in a year, then if it was clean, another one in 2-3 years, then again in 5 years. Does this sound about right?

Thank you,
Jen

Comments

  • spongebob
    spongebob Member Posts: 2,565 Member
    #2
    Jen -

    I sent you an e-mail response off-line.

    - SB
  • shmurciakova
    shmurciakova Member Posts: 906 Member
    #3
    Hello,
    My name is Susan, I had a similar diagnosis to yours although was later found to have a liver met, followed by surgery as well as 2 lung mets followed by more surgery. I was originally diagnosed, same as you. I recall I had 4 positive lymph nodes. At any rate my followup is like this. For the first period of time I was going every 3 months for CEA, blood work and CT scans. As I mentioned problems came up and were dealt with. After my final surgery for the lung mets I did not have chemo......At that point I started going every 4 months for blood work and CT which I am still doing now. Starting in November (2 years after final surgery) I will go every 6 months for three years and then annually after 5 years have passed. I had one colonoscopy a year after my initial diagnosis and it was clear, so now I am due again (after 3 years) and will go every 3 years assuming all is well.
    I hope that made sense to you.
    Good luck with all your upcoming tests and may the time fly by!!
    -Susan.
  • kangatoo
    kangatoo Member Posts: 2,105 Member
    #4
    shmurciakova said:

    Hello,
    My name is Susan, I had a similar diagnosis to yours although was later found to have a liver met, followed by surgery as well as 2 lung mets followed by more surgery. I was originally diagnosed, same as you. I recall I had 4 positive lymph nodes. At any rate my followup is like this. For the first period of time I was going every 3 months for CEA, blood work and CT scans. As I mentioned problems came up and were dealt with. After my final surgery for the lung mets I did not have chemo......At that point I started going every 4 months for blood work and CT which I am still doing now. Starting in November (2 years after final surgery) I will go every 6 months for three years and then annually after 5 years have passed. I had one colonoscopy a year after my initial diagnosis and it was clear, so now I am due again (after 3 years) and will go every 3 years assuming all is well.
    I hope that made sense to you.
    Good luck with all your upcoming tests and may the time fly by!!
    -Susan.

    Hi Jen.......mmmmmmm....I must tell my Jen she has a twin...lol!I was stage 2 and post chemo I had ultrasounds 3 monthly, bloods for CEA 2 monthly. This was for 18 months. Now I have bloods 3 monthly, CT 6 monthly and due for colonoscopy in August(2 years since the last one).
    I am now 2 years, 1 month NED.
    All the best, Ross n Jen
  • lfondots63
    lfondots63 Member Posts: 818 Member
    #5
    Hi Jen,

    I'm only on my 3 treatment of folfox but each week my onc tests my CEA before I do the chemo. My first one was 1.1 which is great since my initial was 64 before surgery for my tumor. I have talked to my surgeon and he wants to do the colonoscopy after the chemo is complete. I still have to talk to my onc about this but I have a feeling he will say the same. Good luck and good vibes to you!!

    Lisa

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