Rectal Cancer - Post Surgery Downstaging Effect on Prognosis?

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Golfgirl10
Golfgirl10 Member Posts: 5
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
My husband was initially diagnosed with a T3, N1, M0 rectal tumor. He did chemoradiation and his tumor shrunk and was not visible on sonogram or sigmoidoscopy. Last week they did an LAR. Today the final pathology showed a few surface cancer cells where the tumor used to be but nowhere else. The surgeon said that this downstages his cancer to a T1, N0, M0 and improves his chances for survival. Does anyone know what this means exactly as far as prognosis? I understand rectal has a high rate of recurrence and this downstaging improves his odds. I was wondering what are the odds for recurrence?

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  • kristasplace
    kristasplace Member Posts: 957 Member
    #2
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    Hi Golfgirl! Being downgraded to a stage II does supposedly lower his chance for recurrence. Back when i was first diagnosed, i really went in for statistics. Now i know there are just too many variables to attribute them as any good. I'm a stage III rectal which puts my odds of dying within the next five years at about 60%. Stage II have about a 90% survival past five years. That's a big difference, but like i said, those statistics are not necessarily based on reality. I'm young, so my odds of surviving are probably much higher than 40%. I know stage I's that got recurrance and spread, so it's a very individualized thing.

    Congratulations on the downgrade, it really is great news!

    Many hugs,
    Krista
  • Moesimo
    Moesimo Member Posts: 1,072 Member
    #3
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    I had a T2N1 rectal tumor 5 years ago--stage 3. My LAR was on 6/26/03. I was given a 67% survival rate by my surgeon. My oncologist told me if I had an agressive tumor it would return with or without post op chemo. I had preop rad. and chemo. Five years ago only 5FU was given. I had only 4 out of 12 post op chemo treatments. I was too sick to have more. I have remained NED.

    I bet the statistics are higher now than 5 years ago because now different meds are used.

    Congrats to your hubby for a great path. report.

    Maureen
  • falcon08
    falcon08 Member Posts: 5
    #4
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    I was diagnosed with T2, N0, M0 in March. I am 8 weeks into recovery from surgery. The recurrence rate varies. This is based on the risk associated with the tumor, family history and treatment. I had 95% of my rectum removed and part of my colon. Is he an candidate for surgery? Is he younger than 50? The folks at Mayo treat rectal cancer and look at recurrence differently in younger patients. Like Krista said it really varies, but it sounds like he's in or under the 10% area.

    Sue
  • Golfgirl10
    Golfgirl10 Member Posts: 5
    #5
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    falcon08 said:

    I was diagnosed with T2, N0, M0 in March. I am 8 weeks into recovery from surgery. The recurrence rate varies. This is based on the risk associated with the tumor, family history and treatment. I had 95% of my rectum removed and part of my colon. Is he an candidate for surgery? Is he younger than 50? The folks at Mayo treat rectal cancer and look at recurrence differently in younger patients. Like Krista said it really varies, but it sounds like he's in or under the 10% area.

    Sue

    Thanks for the replies. Very helpful information.

    My husband is 54. He just completed the LAR surgery. Like Falcon08, they took 95% of his rectum and some colon. He has a temporary ileostomy and they will do reversal surgery once he completes post surgery chemotherapy.

    I know these prognosis percentages are just numbers. But my husband has been so depressed through this process. I try to find anything that might give him encouragement.
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #6
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    Golfgirl10 said:

    Thanks for the replies. Very helpful information.

    My husband is 54. He just completed the LAR surgery. Like Falcon08, they took 95% of his rectum and some colon. He has a temporary ileostomy and they will do reversal surgery once he completes post surgery chemotherapy.

    I know these prognosis percentages are just numbers. But my husband has been so depressed through this process. I try to find anything that might give him encouragement.

    Sorry for responding late...

    I am a 'moldy oldy'....3 years post surgery in May....100% of my rectum removed, my sig colon also, and a 'new' rectum was made from my descending colon...

    I am 'back to normal' (if there is such a thing..lol!), with the exception of a few 'no-no's' like popcorn.

    A tincture of time is what this needs...my surgery revealed that I had no cancer cells remaining...on anything....even the uterus and ovaries that were removed at the same time. I am NED, officially 2 years cause 6 months after my surgery for the rectal cancer, I was in treatment for non-related breast cancer...

    I was originally given 37% survival rate, 6 months survival time...

    Hugs, Kathi

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