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by prs
Fri Sep 23, 2016 10:17 am
Forum: Colon Talk - Colon cancer (colorectal cancer) support forum
Topic: Husband 43 DX'd rectal cancer HELP
Replies: 16
Views: 2755

Re: Husband 43 DX'd rectal cancer HELP

LChristinaD, for colorectal cancer, if there is any spread or "metastasis" then it is most likely to show up in the liver or lungs. The treatment would be different if there were metastasis, so it is best for your Dr. to check there has been no spread before treatment begins. Good luck to ...
by prs
Wed Aug 03, 2016 3:04 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: 303989

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

Ben, thanks for the link. She's been my hero ever since I learned it was her work that helped save my ass! :)
by prs
Wed Aug 03, 2016 2:57 pm
Forum: Colon Talk - Colon cancer (colorectal cancer) support forum
Topic: No surgery yet - discouraged
Replies: 9
Views: 1178

Re: No surgery yet - discouraged

Recruiter, according to your signature you just finished radiation in July. It can take up to 12 weeks for the radiation to have its full effect, and the tumor could keep on shrinking during this time. I had the same results as you with regard to bowel movements after my radiation treatment, so no n...
by prs
Mon Aug 01, 2016 10:12 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: 303989

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

My experience with "Watch and Wait" is only with the Habr-Gama protocol for rectal cancer patients who show a complete clinical response to chemo radiation. I believe that Dr. Habr-Gama has published strict guidelines for "complete clinical response" and that she developed these ...
by prs
Sun Jul 31, 2016 10:54 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: 303989

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

Kelly, the "Watch and Wait" protocol is not an officially approved treatment in the USA, so that may be why your surgeon won't consider it. Of course it has crossed my mind that surgeons get paid to do surgeries so it may not be in a surgeon's best interest to tell someone they don't need ...
by prs
Thu Jul 14, 2016 2:21 pm
Forum: Colon Talk - Colon cancer (colorectal cancer) support forum
Topic: So Confused
Replies: 23
Views: 3488

Re: So Confused

I think it is very important to get rectal cancer staged BEFORE surgery. Neo-adjuvant chemo/radiation (pre-surgery) is often the treatment path for rectal cancer. After my CT scan, I had an endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) for preliminary staging. An EUS can provide an estimate of the depth of tumor inv...
by prs
Thu Jul 14, 2016 2:01 pm
Forum: Colon Talk - Colon cancer (colorectal cancer) support forum
Topic: So Confused
Replies: 23
Views: 3488

Re: So Confused

Thank you to everyone for the advice. I am going to go pick up the other supplements I am missing. RP - Did you ever have issues of bloating while taking the modified citrus pectin? I feel like it does that to me and not sure of ways to minimize it. DId you do pills or powder? I have powder right n...
by prs
Wed Jul 13, 2016 8:39 pm
Forum: Colon Talk - Colon cancer (colorectal cancer) support forum
Topic: So Confused
Replies: 23
Views: 3488

Re: So Confused

Marylandmaniac, do you have rectal or colon cancer? They are not the same and the treatments are different. IMHO you need to put your engineer cap back on and start from basics to figure out what you have, and then how to get the best treatment. Ideally you want a treatment center with a "Tumor...
by prs
Sat Jul 02, 2016 7:12 am
Forum: Colon Talk - Colon cancer (colorectal cancer) support forum
Topic: Rectal Cancer Staging & Treatment
Replies: 30
Views: 4818

Re: Rectal Cancer Staging & Treatment

Marylandmaniac, I found this forum when my treatment was almost finished, so you are way ahead on getting the info that will help you get thru this. One thing I've noticed is there is very little information here on the type of radiation people have received. I believe there are different types of r...
by prs
Fri Jul 01, 2016 11:51 am
Forum: Colon Talk - Colon cancer (colorectal cancer) support forum
Topic: Rectal Cancer Staging & Treatment
Replies: 30
Views: 4818

Re: Rectal Cancer Staging & Treatment

Well I'm a Chemical engineer and we engineers need to stick together! :) My understanding was that the standard treatment for rectal cancer was chemoradiation first before any surgery. The purpose of the chemoradiation is to shrink the tumor so that the amount of rectum that has to be removed during...
by prs
Mon Apr 18, 2016 11:13 am
Forum: Colon Talk - Colon cancer (colorectal cancer) support forum
Topic: To Xeloda or not to Xeloda
Replies: 58
Views: 7286

Re: To Xeloda or not to Xeloda

Of course every person reacts differently, but I think a lot depends upon the size of the Xeloda dose that your ONC specifies. I weighed 160 lbs. at diagnosis and my ONC set my dose at 2,000 mg per day during the 6 weeks of chemoradiation. I didn't normally eat breakfast but learned the first day no...
by prs
Thu Apr 07, 2016 11:50 am
Forum: Colon Talk - Colon cancer (colorectal cancer) support forum
Topic: My Therapy Session
Replies: 86
Views: 12324

Re: My Therapy Session

I wonder what's causing the cramps? I had no issues like that during or after radiation, but did have them for one memorable evening during the clean up chemo that followed. It turned out to be constipation, and a good dose of MiraLax fixed it. Watch and Wait is still somewhat controversial, and is ...
by prs
Sun Apr 03, 2016 11:24 pm
Forum: Colon Talk - Colon cancer (colorectal cancer) support forum
Topic: My Therapy Session
Replies: 86
Views: 12324

Re: My Therapy Session

I don't know if you are familiar with "watch and wait", but if not here's my story: http://coloncancersupport.colonclub.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=53498&p=423816#p423816 I had a colonoscopy last Friday, almost exactly a year since I finished chemoradiation. My colorectalsurgeon found ...
by prs
Sun Mar 13, 2016 10:53 pm
Forum: Colon Talk - Colon cancer (colorectal cancer) support forum
Topic: My Therapy Session
Replies: 86
Views: 12324

Re: My Therapy Session

It can be 8-10 weeks after the last radiation session before the tumor finishes shrinking, so no need to rush any decisions.
by prs
Fri Mar 11, 2016 8:51 pm
Forum: Colon Talk - Colon cancer (colorectal cancer) support forum
Topic: Difficult decision: ULAR or APR?
Replies: 15
Views: 3736

Re: Difficult decision: ULAR or APR?

Where did they get the data for those survival rates? I understand that if "Watch and Wait" is carried out thoroughly then any recurrence can be removed with salvage surgery.

Are they recommending any mop up chemo to go with either W&W or after surgery?

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