Annie50 wrote:weisssoccermom wrote:I should have also added that radiation is given for two main reasons. The one that everyone is aware of is to shrink the tumor. The other, just as important reason, is to 'sterilize' the lymph field around the rectum. Don't forget that that is equally important. While patients are given chemo with the radiation, the dosage of chemo is much less than when a patient has chemo by itself. In other words, you can't reliably count on the chemo during radiation to eradicate stray cancer cells. Sure the chemo helps but the majority of the work to help insure that cancer cells that may be in the lymphatic system (remember no radiological tests.....ultrasound, CT or MRI) is done by the radiation...and NOT the chemo. (Remember that no ultrasound, MRI or CT scan with respect to local lymph nodes is 100% guaranteed).
Thanks so much ..why don't they give a stronger chemo ? Is the radiation good enough to get rid of any lymph involvement or stray cells ? ..
Also, is there a reason you were able to have
Less radical surgery ? Many thanks ... xxx