menreeq wrote:Hi --
I am also Stage IIA with no high risk features. I was given the same options. I asked three oncologists. My Onc recommended no chemo. Got a second opinion with a highly regarded Onc at academic center -- he said he previously would have recommended none but would be okay with Xeloda. After data on Stage III and 3 months chemo, he recommended 3 months Xeloda for me, understanding that this is a different situation. The reasoning is that the side effect profile for Xeloda for 3 months is so benign that it might be worth doing it for the 3-4% cure benefit. I curbsided a third Onc who said it was up to me -- was I the kind of person who would regret doing the chemo if I got bad side effects or the kind that would regret not doing it if I had a recurrence. I am the latter so I opted for Xeloda. My Onc agreed and said to do it for 6 months unless I can't tolerate it.
I'm on cycle 7 of 8. I have hand foot syndrome, moderate in degree, and I am working. I have young kids. I wanna do everything I can to achieve cure. Even single digits are worth it to me at this point.
You can see my old posts where I ask about side effects and the lovely people here have chimed in. It helped me make decisions about work schedule and managing side effects.
Good luck!
I was just recently diagnosed with stage 2B colon cancer at 51 yo. I had a surgery 6 weeks ago, and have a colostomy. My surgeon stated that all tumors were taken, and it didn’t reach the lymph nodes. Met with my oncologist briefly over zoom and she wants me on chemo (preventative). I have no details of what it is, just know it will be a combination on injections (?) and oral for a period of 6-8 months. Didn’t get details as to side effects or what not. I did get a call from her office to participate in a study for Symbalta, as it is trying to get an approval to be used to help with neuropathy in chemo patients. I wanted to get a second opinion, but have no idea how that’s even possible or how to go about getting one. Do you have to go to an oncologist in your insurance, ask your insurance if they will cover, ask for all your medical files from you oncologist’s office to be sent to the second opinion doc (wouldn’t that offend my current oncologist, who most likely will be the one I am retaining?).
I was supposed to have my colostomy reversed “6 weeks” after the surgery. If I have the chemo, it will probably be more like a year or so after surgery. I know that the sooner I have it reversed, the less side effects from it I will have (incontinence, etc). Besides, I CANNOT bear having this bag, I have painful skin issues, and bleeding and sometimes, I’d rather spend hours in the bathroom to avoid the inevitable “pancaking”. I want to forgo chemo or postpone for a year so that I can have the reversal done. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.