I would not, because I get them at a NYC hospital with a good reputation. Also, my oncologist provides radiologist with specific directions about how he wants scans analyzed.

I have read a number of articles over the past year which indicate that coffee reduces the chances of a recurrence in cancer, particularly local colorectal cancers. It was not that many years ago when coffee was thought to be unhealthy, and seemed to increase the probability of developing cancer. Ho...

Ditto what Nik said - whoever said that to you must not have cancer experience. I do wonder - do NED folks have more or less scanxiety than those with active disease? Each patient responds differently, but I'm very nervous prior to a scan and also when I get the results. I've always become anxious ...

I'm sure there will be folks suggesting that you see your doctor, Butt, I'm seven years post LAR and reversals, etc....and I still get mucous almost everyday. It usually occurs after I have a successful bowel movement, almost like my body way of telling me "you're clean dumbass, get off the po...

After a complete stool movement, about 15 - 60 minutes later I may pass some mucous (no blood). When I had rectal surgery 5 1/2 years ago, after the surgery I passed a great deal of mucous and blood. My surgeon assured me it was nothing to worry about. When the colon has minimal stool, the colon wal...

Cathie wrote:I've been cancer free for 11 years.

Cathie

Very inspiring for me. I have a similar diagnosis and treatment history. After 5+ years NED, my oncologist says I'm unlikely to have recurrence, but I am subject to occasional anxiety episodes anyway.
Continued good luck to you.

'Weisssoccermom' is correct; anal cancer is very different than rectal cancer with a different prognosis and treatment. From the treatment plan you describe, I suspect you must have rectal cancer. My treatment for rectal cancer involved 5FU prior to surgery and Xeloda after surgery. I should have in...

My oncologist told me about the probability of my cancer recurring, emphasizing that most recurrences occur in the initial 2 years after becoming NED. I believe that nobody can say that you are absolutely 'cancer free' since current diagnostic methods (scans, etc.) are not accurate enough to determi...

When I was going through radiation prior to surgery, in the final weeks I had abdominal pain. More bothersome to me was the diarrhea I developed which restricted my travelling around freely. The pain was treated with percoset, and the diarrhea treated with immodium. Two weeks after radiation was com...

I know that the director of the complementary treatment unit at Sloan thinks that curcumin has a place in cancer treatment. As for the other 3, I never heard anything about them as it relates to cancer; although they may have uses in health maintenance generally. Don't forget about Vit D3, aspirin, ...

Humbug! Bad news that just as you are at the 5-yr. NED point when you would be declared officially 'cured', you come down with a possible recurrence. The good news is that this appears to be a local recurrence, not metastatic, since the cecum is part of the colon. Therefore, I guess that your chance...

I suppose I have some lingering chemo brain, although I have been off chemo for almost 5 years. I forget that I've already done things earlier in the day and sometimes do them again (Eat lunch, take out garbage, etc.). But these symptoms can also be caused by aging, depression, poor sleep, anxiety. ...

I'm single but do not use Facebook.

As the typical character in the comic books yells when he gets angry: " @#!!&@@!! " I have asked a few oncologists about whether a patient who had one cancer episode may have a general susceptibility to other types of cancer in the future. Does my episode of CR cancer 5+ years ago indi...

When I reached 5 years NED, my oncologist said I could continue with him but come in every 9 months rather than every 6 months; or I could switch to my local physician for follow-ups. An oncologist from MSK said their protocol indicated no need for an oncologist to do follow-ups after 5 years NED, b...