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by ticktock10
Wed Apr 03, 2019 3:15 am
Forum: Colon Talk - Colon cancer (colorectal cancer) support forum
Topic: Rectal Cancer: Habr-Gama Watch and Wait Strategy to Avoid Surgery
Replies: 595
Views: 303003

Re: Rectal Cancer: Habr-Gama Watch and Wait Strategy to Avoid Surgery

Congrats Jolene. As per the others, I would recommend the mop up chemo. It’s not much fun but it’s a small price to pay for peace of mind - not that you really have peace of mind when you’re on W&W, but it’s important to feel that you have given yourself the best chance of success.
by ticktock10
Wed Mar 27, 2019 6:31 am
Forum: Colon Talk - Colon cancer (colorectal cancer) support forum
Topic: Rectal Cancer: Habr-Gama Watch and Wait Strategy to Avoid Surgery
Replies: 595
Views: 303003

Re: Rectal Cancer: Habr-Gama Watch and Wait Strategy to Avoid Surgery

Hi Jolene, I started CRT on Dec 2nd 2013 and finished on Jan 13th 2014. I requested follow-up PET/MRI and they showed 'complete response' on March 4th. Then i had discussions with my surgeon and I said I wanted to do 'watch and wait' He referred me to a different surgeon who suggested a flex sig, wh...
by ticktock10
Wed Mar 27, 2019 5:32 am
Forum: Colon Talk - Colon cancer (colorectal cancer) support forum
Topic: Low rectal cancer - deferral of surgery?
Replies: 67
Views: 17010

Re: Low rectal cancer - deferral of surgery?

Hi all, I thought I should post to let you all know that today, 5 years after starting this thread, 5 years after achieving a ‘complete response’ to my initial chemo-radiation, I heard the words "you are as good as cured" from my oncologist :D :D :D I’m feeling very emotional today and jus...
by ticktock10
Tue Mar 26, 2019 9:54 pm
Forum: Colon Talk - Colon cancer (colorectal cancer) support forum
Topic: Rectal Cancer: Habr-Gama Watch and Wait Strategy to Avoid Surgery
Replies: 595
Views: 303003

Re: Rectal Cancer: Habr-Gama Watch and Wait Strategy to Avoid Surgery

Hi all, I have not posted in a while as I haven't been on the forum and haven't had much to report, although "no news is good news" when you are following the W&W protocol. But today I heard the words "you are as good as cured" from my oncologist :D :D :D I have recently had ...
by ticktock10
Tue Aug 02, 2016 7:19 am
Forum: Colon Talk - Colon cancer (colorectal cancer) support forum
Topic: Rectal Cancer: Habr-Gama Watch and Wait Strategy to Avoid Surgery
Replies: 595
Views: 303003

Re: Rectal Cancer: Habr-Gama Watch and Wait Strategy to Avoid Surgery

Here is a link to a video of Dr Habr-Gama giving a presentation at a cancer conference in 2014: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLIyK0EYPCM

The section on assessing complete clinical response starts after around 7 mins and there are some 'before and after' images at the 11 minute mark.
by ticktock10
Fri Apr 29, 2016 5:34 am
Forum: Colon Talk - Colon cancer (colorectal cancer) support forum
Topic: Rectal cancer- Staging question? Follow Mop up Chemo??
Replies: 17
Views: 5155

Re: Rectal cancer- Staging question? Follow Mop up Chemo??

My experience is slightly different in that I didn't have the surgery, but I had the mop-up chemo anyway.

Your fiancé sounds like he is doing it tough at the moment, but it would definitely be advisable to follow through with the mop-up chemo and try and complete the course.
by ticktock10
Thu Apr 07, 2016 5:36 am
Forum: Colon Talk - Colon cancer (colorectal cancer) support forum
Topic: Complete Pathologic Response
Replies: 4
Views: 1714

Re: Complete Pathologic Response

Yes, just seconding what Jaynee said. Complete 'pathological' response can only be determined after surgery. I had a complete 'clinical' response (PET scan, MRI scan and colonoscopy all showed no evidence of disease) after my initial chemo-radiation so I opted not to have surgery. I'm not sure how t...
by ticktock10
Sun Apr 03, 2016 5:37 am
Forum: Colon Talk - Colon cancer (colorectal cancer) support forum
Topic: Watch and Wait - 2 years on...
Replies: 8
Views: 1722

Re: Watch and Wait - 2 years on...

I'd be happy to keep the port. I don't have any issues with it at all. It would be a bit scary to have it removed but the onc brought it up so I'll see what happens in six months time. I would be apprehensive but I would take it as a vote of confidence if they suggest getting it removed.
by ticktock10
Sun Apr 03, 2016 4:50 am
Forum: Colon Talk - Colon cancer (colorectal cancer) support forum
Topic: Watch and Wait - 2 years on...
Replies: 8
Views: 1722

Watch and Wait - 2 years on...

Hi all, About this time 2 years ago, I was weighing up whether to go ahead with planned APR surgery or change to the 'watch and wait' approach following successful neo-adjuvant chemo-radiation treatment. It was a huge dilemma for me and I will always be grateful to the people on this forum who took ...
by ticktock10
Sat Mar 12, 2016 7:14 am
Forum: Colon Talk - Colon cancer (colorectal cancer) support forum
Topic: Difficult decision: ULAR or APR?
Replies: 15
Views: 3734

Re: Difficult decision: ULAR or APR?

I was in a similar situation a couple of years ago, although my tumour was "very low" and my surgeon was pretty dismissive of the ULAR option. I opted for "watch and wait" instead of APR and I'm ok so far. Having said that, it's not for everyone and I think the best choice is the...
by ticktock10
Fri Nov 27, 2015 9:40 pm
Forum: Colon Talk - Colon cancer (colorectal cancer) support forum
Topic: I'm a new member from OZ, Happy Thanksgiving to you all! New journey, I'm getting so anxious!
Replies: 32
Views: 5330

Re: I'm a new member from OZ, Happy Thanksgiving to you all! New journey, I'm getting so anxious!

Hi Leo, I'm also in Melbourne and had similar diagnosis at 39yo. I didn't have the surgery, so I guess thats where the similarities end, but just wanted to say that imo the best predictor after surgery is the pathology report and the CEA would be far less reliable. I know it's normal to worry but th...
by ticktock10
Thu Nov 26, 2015 6:51 am
Forum: Colon Talk - Colon cancer (colorectal cancer) support forum
Topic: Help with RC radiation bum pain
Replies: 15
Views: 2836

Re: Help with RC radiation bum pain

Hi there, if the pain is at 5/10 at this stage I think he's doing pretty ok. It's important to eat a bland diet, as anything with nuts, seeds, lettuce etc would only make things worse. He will be sore for the next couple of weeks but should start to improve thereafter. Don't do what I did and eat a ...
by ticktock10
Thu Nov 12, 2015 4:02 am
Forum: Colon Talk - Colon cancer (colorectal cancer) support forum
Topic: How does red meat cause cancer?
Replies: 27
Views: 4025

Re: How does red meat cause cancer?

I got sent an email by Cancer Research UK on this topic and it's one of the most sensible things I've read. http://scienceblog.cancerresearchuk.org/2015/10/26/processed-meat-and-cancer-what-you-need-to-know/ The article includes some really good quotes and diagrams. My favourite is below: >As Profes...
by ticktock10
Sun Oct 04, 2015 4:52 am
Forum: Colon Talk - Colon cancer (colorectal cancer) support forum
Topic: newly dx t3 rc
Replies: 12
Views: 2183

Re: newly dx t3 rc

Sorry you have to be here but welcome to the club. You will get good advice here. The second half of the chemo-rad treatment can get pretty tough, so the more prepared you are for that the better. Prevention is better than cure when it comes to radiation burn etc.
by ticktock10
Sun Sep 20, 2015 6:39 am
Forum: Colon Talk - Colon cancer (colorectal cancer) support forum
Topic: Desicions
Replies: 6
Views: 1603

Re: Desicions

If you do opt for 'watch and wait', it's definitely worth thinking about requesting follow-up chemo. The idea is that it will kill any leftover cancer cells which may be floating around in the bloodstream. The studies that have been done are pretty consistent and they all say that 'watch and wait' i...

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