Surgery concerns

Cinders42
Cinders42 Member Posts: 2
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
I was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer that had spread a little on my liver my lymphnodes and pretty bad on my lungs. My doc said no surgery, and started me on chemo. Been doing fine CT scan showed everything has shrunk in half. My concern is every story I read about sgage 4 cancer survivors they have surgery first before treatment. I really like my doc. and he is spoken of highly, I am trying to trust my doc. decision. Is there any one out there that can ease my mind.

Comments

  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #2
    I personally only was a stage III. BUT, through my work with patient partners, I know of at least 2 stage IV survivors who had pre-surgical chemo for exactly what is happening to you...tumor reduction...
    I had pre-surgical chemo/rads, and when all was removed and analysed, no cancer was found left in the removed tissue....

    Welcome to the group, sounds like things are working!

    Hugs, kathi
  • kristasplace
    kristasplace Member Posts: 957 Member
    #3
    Has your doctor told you the tumors are inoperable? If they are able to be operated on, maybe your onc thinks he can kill all the cancer with chemo and spare you the surgery. I would ask him these questions. I know of people who were able to kill their metastasis with chemo alone, so that is very possible. Keep us posted, you've brought up some very interesting concerns.

    Many hugs,
    Krista
  • pamness
    pamness Member Posts: 524 Member
    #4
    I too was only stage 3 and had surgery first, but as I have been reading these boards, I seem to be in the minority, many stage 3 and stage 4 people are doing chemo/rads first. When I was doing radiation - I did it last, most of the cc patients I got to know were doing rads/chemo - prior to surgery. Have you been told your cancer and mets or inoperable, or are they waiting to see what happens after treatment. Talk to your doctor, but your prescribed treatment doesn't seem odd.

    All the best.
  • jams67
    jams67 Member Posts: 925 Member
    #5
    Your doc may want to shrink your tumors so that they will be operable. Operate and then zap them with chemo again after surgery. You just need to ask her a few questions so that you understand your treatment.
    It is not at all strange to get chemo before surgery.
    Jo Ann
  • katienavs
    katienavs Member Posts: 88 Member
    #6
    Hi, I was diagnosed stage four with metastases to my liver. I had four rounds of folfox and five and a half weeks of radiation before surgery. They wanted to shrink the primary tumor and lesion in the liver before operating. It was succesful, the surgeon got large margins, and I have been cancer free for over one year. Good luck and ask any more questions you may have!
    Katie
  • pamness
    pamness Member Posts: 524 Member
    #7
    Also, didn't think to ask, how many lymph nodes and what did they say about the lungs, exactly. How were you diagnosed and are you at a major medical center?
  • Cinders42
    Cinders42 Member Posts: 2
    #8
    pamness said:

    Also, didn't think to ask, how many lymph nodes and what did they say about the lungs, exactly. How were you diagnosed and are you at a major medical center?

    You no I cant remeber how many lymph nodes, I was in a state of shock at the time, as far as my lungs he was really concerned more about my lungs than any thing else. I had a colonostopy and they spoted a mass, had a CT scan and saw nodgels on my lungs and it just went down hill from there. I get my treatment at Swedish Cancer Institute in Seattle Wa. its a great place with alot of great doctors and nurses.

    Cinda
  • Monicaemilia
    Monicaemilia Member Posts: 455 Member
    #9
    I know of a few people who were inoperable, and became operable after chemo. I would still suggest a second opinion, if only to set your mind at ease. With this disease I have learned knowledge is power. Monica

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