My oncologist just told me that CEA numbers can go up due to chemo-- effects a liver enzyme that influences CEA? Has anyone else heard that. I was glad he told me as my CEA started in the normal range so even a slight fluctuation upward would have scared me.

Thank you, Guinevere and Disco Nap!
There are so few real "highs" to having cancer, it is nice to share them with those who really understand.
I am starting to feel celebratory-- just waiting for the pain to clear up!

Jane

Today was my 28th and LAST neoadjuvant chemo/rad treatment. I came through much better than I feared with minimal side effects- I can't get over my relief about that as I was really terrified. My biggest nemesis has been an unrelated UTI from hell which has been hanging around for a couple of weeks....

My pet peeves are people I don't know very well asking me: 1. Very first question: What were my symptoms at diagnosis? To me that is an overly intrusive question which understandably speaks to their immediate fear of having rectal cancer but gives me the message "I hope I am not like you,"...

That's fabulous! Today and forever!

What are the pros and cons of each? Is one more easily tolerated than the other? Thank you!

I just finished my second week of radiation. On Fridays, the techs use x-rays to make sure my radiation plan is still on target. I was told initially that if I gained or loss 10 pounds or more, my measurements would be thrown off and I would have to have a whole new mapping done. I have not gained o...

Thank you!

Just read something that puts another spin on this-- Recurrence rate may mean no local recurrence. Survival rate can mean recurrence but still alive. Maybe a slightly more positive interpretation. Have to think this through.

I am confused about a fact I have read regarding neoadjuvant chemo/ rad - that it reduces local recurrence but does not increase survival rate. I would think that without local recurrence, survival would improve. Can anyone explain this to me? Does this apply to earlier stage cancers that have not m...

Thanks to all of you for your replies. And Kristen, thanks for the good wishes! Did your burn clear up after a while?

Hi Everyone, So happy I found this forum! I started radiation therapy yesterday for rectal cancer and I am concurrently taking Xeloda. I bought Miaderm and have started applying the stuff in hopes of minimizing radiation burn. Question: where do the burns occur? I want to make sure to slather on ove...

Thank you all for sharing your experiences. I am about to start treatment and I have been amazed that in this day and age, none of the cancer docs I've met with brought up sexual function at all. I found my info online and approached my oncologist with the info about stenosis and dilators/hormone cr...

I am about to start radiation and worried about the impact on my sexuality. Anyone care to share how radiation for a rectal tumor impacted their functioning? Vaginal stenosis? Treatment for that?

Thank you!!

Thanks, everyone for your replies! It really helps to know others have been down the same road and got through it all. For those of you who did go on to get an internal pouch (Monty?) could you share how that has worked out for you? I am wondering if it is harder to use after you've had radiation to...