thx for the replies on chemo or not

thingy45
thingy45 Member Posts: 632 Member
in Colorectal Cancer #1
Thank you all so much for replying. I know now that I am NOT alone in this you guys/girls are awesome. When I was dxs the specialist said right away for my blockage there was NO chemo/radiation possible. The rush is because of the almost total blockage of the tumor.
High left side of the colon I am a stage III B.
The specialist mentioned 3 months of chemo after the operation, so far I have no idea what type of chemo is recommended and how often etc etc. My daughter will ofcourse (Marjans daughter) keep on posting and asking for experience and input.
Thank you all so far I feel a lot better and more informed.
I appreciate that the persons who have gone this road before me are willing to share their experiences.

Comments

  • Patteee
    Patteee Member Posts: 945
    #2
    ok- it is getting clearer to
    ok- it is getting clearer to me. Thanks to graci below as I had missed part of what your wonderful daughter said! Still a bit confused :) My tumor was low, on the left in the sigmoid part of the colon. Which is the last stretch before the rectum. I couldn't have radiation either- but I am not sure what you mean by "NO chemo/radiation possible"? As in before the surgery, yes this would be correct. Usually then no radiation after, but chemo yes. The first part is the surgery for most of us with colon cancer.

    I was also a 3B and my 3 years clear of this beast is on June 7th. You have every reason to be hopeful and remain that way!
  • John23
    John23 Member Posts: 2,122 Member
    #3
    "thingy" -
    Re:
    "The rush is because of the almost total blockage of the tumor.
    High left side of the colon I am a stage III B"

    I see my previous posts were deleted.... oh well... I hope you've had
    a chance to get the info from them? I wasn't in a great mood, especially
    after reading of the deaths here, and may have been a bit too "pushy"
    regarding the advantage of using alternatives instead of toxic chemicals.


    That aside...


    My circumstances back in 2006 were worse than yours. I had
    a total obstruction of the "high side" of the colon, with a fist-sized
    tumor growing through the colon, out and into the next side of
    the colon (where it doubles back). With 7 out of 28 nodes
    involved, and an assorted amount of other "problems", I was
    staged at a "3c" by one oncologist, while the surgeon, radiologist,
    and other oncologist staged me at a solid 4.

    "Mop-up" chemo was advised, and the prognosis if I chose not
    to do chemo was zilch. Six months after surgery, I was healed
    enough to begin chemo, but they said it was really too long
    after surgery for chemo to have any real effect, or advantage.
    However...... they all said that chemo was the only way to go,
    if I wanted to see another few years.

    I chose to do imported herbs instead. Others like me, have
    chosen to do other types of alternatives, and are still around to
    talk about it.

    Read about the alternatives, and don't allow fear to drive your
    decision. Listen to your instincts and intuition, and trust yourself
    to make the right choice, it's your life at stake.

    Best wishes.

    John
  • pepebcn
    pepebcn Member Posts: 6,331 Member
    #4
    John23 said:

    "thingy" -
    Re:
    "The rush is because of the almost total blockage of the tumor.
    High left side of the colon I am a stage III B"

    I see my previous posts were deleted.... oh well... I hope you've had
    a chance to get the info from them? I wasn't in a great mood, especially
    after reading of the deaths here, and may have been a bit too "pushy"
    regarding the advantage of using alternatives instead of toxic chemicals.


    That aside...


    My circumstances back in 2006 were worse than yours. I had
    a total obstruction of the "high side" of the colon, with a fist-sized
    tumor growing through the colon, out and into the next side of
    the colon (where it doubles back). With 7 out of 28 nodes
    involved, and an assorted amount of other "problems", I was
    staged at a "3c" by one oncologist, while the surgeon, radiologist,
    and other oncologist staged me at a solid 4.

    "Mop-up" chemo was advised, and the prognosis if I chose not
    to do chemo was zilch. Six months after surgery, I was healed
    enough to begin chemo, but they said it was really too long
    after surgery for chemo to have any real effect, or advantage.
    However...... they all said that chemo was the only way to go,
    if I wanted to see another few years.

    I chose to do imported herbs instead. Others like me, have
    chosen to do other types of alternatives, and are still around to
    talk about it.

    Read about the alternatives, and don't allow fear to drive your
    decision. Listen to your instincts and intuition, and trust yourself
    to make the right choice, it's your life at stake.

    Best wishes.

    John

    normal procedure in your case would be surgery first and then
    some kind of cheme unless tumor is considered unoperable I think is not your case.
    So seems you are following the correct procedure.
    Also if you get not evidence of disease after surgery some times they don't even recommend chemo , well....normally the let the decision up to you!.Despite that I decided to go ahead with the chemo, just in case!
    Hugs!
  • ron50
    ron50 Member Posts: 1,723 Member
    #5
    Hi Thingy
    My tumour was on the apex of the transverse and ascending colon left side that is,My gi could not get the scope past it and I had surhery next day. I was staged 111c with 6 of 13 nodes cancerous and an extremely aggressive tumour . I started chemo at 3 weeks after surgery ,could not handle 5fu//leucovorin and finnished up having 48 weekly sessions of 5fu and levamisole.I have been ca free for over 13 yers ,best of luck .Ron.
  • peytonsmimi
    peytonsmimi Member Posts: 1
    #6
    chemo or not
    Thingy45,
    8 years ago I was facing the same question and although my surgeon was quite certain she "got" all the cancer I decided to have chemo (5FU/leuk) on her advice and that of my oncologist. I was stage 3B and I wanted to be sure there were no cancer cells floating around looking for a new home. For me that was the right decision, but as everyone knows, you are the only one who can decide what's best for you. I wasn't able to finish my full chemo schedule but am convinced it helped in keeping me NED.
    Bless you ... be good to yourself ... and let others help you.

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