Need help making chemo decision - Stage 2A

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  • JADot
    JADot Member Posts: 709 Member
    #22
    Hi Mickey:

    I just remembered this great presentation by Dr. Alan Venook from the Comprehensive Cancer of UCSF. He's head of the colon cancer group at UCSF and a leading authority on the subject. This presentaiton is on the very subject of chemo for stage II and III patients. It has all the detailed info on the subject. It's not easy reading, but it is exceedingly well organized. Dr. Venook helped me to make my decision to take chemo, but opt out of radiation.

    Give this a read if you really want to know all the detail. The link is http://www.rheumatology.medscape.com/viewarticle/501381_1. You may have to register at the site to get to it, but it is available for free.

    Best of luck to you!
    Ying
  • kangatoo
    kangatoo Member Posts: 2,105 Member
    #23
    JADot said:

    Hi Mickey:

    I just remembered this great presentation by Dr. Alan Venook from the Comprehensive Cancer of UCSF. He's head of the colon cancer group at UCSF and a leading authority on the subject. This presentaiton is on the very subject of chemo for stage II and III patients. It has all the detailed info on the subject. It's not easy reading, but it is exceedingly well organized. Dr. Venook helped me to make my decision to take chemo, but opt out of radiation.

    Give this a read if you really want to know all the detail. The link is http://www.rheumatology.medscape.com/viewarticle/501381_1. You may have to register at the site to get to it, but it is available for free.

    Best of luck to you!
    Ying

    Hi Mickey. I was dx'd stage 2, no node involvement, back in aug. 2003. I had surgery then to remove descending/sigmiod colon then did 6 months 5fu/leucovorin. At the time Oxy. was not avail. in oz. I had a "choice" to do or not do chemo but was given the same % figures as your hubbie.Yes, chemo affects us all differently as as others here say...it can be started or stopped depending on circumstances.
    I just wanted to tell you that I am NED now and have been for 3 years this coming feb.
    I know many on here did the 5fu/leuc. without the oxaliplatin. As oxy has it's own degree of side effects maybe it is worthwhile asking the oncologist if the 5fu/leuc. only would be an option?
    All the best for you both.
    Ross and Jen
  • 2bhealed
    2bhealed Member Posts: 2,064 Member
    #24
    hi mickey,

    I was Stage 3 lymph pos. I declined the chemo. It just didn't seem worth the agony and the potential problems:

    kidney and/or heart damage (permanent)
    chance of secondary cancers
    chance of leukemia
    peripheral neuropathy
    to name a few.........

    But just because I opted out of the chemo does not mean I did nothing. I just chose a different healing path.

    At the Mayo Clinic they do not recommend chemo for anything less than Stage 3 so it wouldn't even be an issue if he were there.

    Chemo packs a mean punch on the body and for only a 5% boost doesn't seem like a lot compared to the possibility of potential problems. There are other ways of healing from cancer. I am living proof.

    peace, emily

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