After about 2.5 years from surgery to chemo to NED CEA started rising for 6 quarters and ct scan and pet scan confirmed a mass 1cmx3cm in same general area as original colon cancer for which a total colectomy was performed. There appears to be no scans showing metasasis and the mass in the right abdominal region doesn't seem to be on any organ but is around fatty tissue or something. Surgeon thinks he can get it out, oncologist said because there was recurrence the chemo may not be fully affective against this particular cancer so removal followed by NED and no metasasis is best option. Oncologist also said am candidate for immunity therapy but didn't think any maintenance chemo regimen would work since folfox was used the first time and a recurrence happened.
Questions:
1. Could the mass from recurrence in same general location as original colon cancer mean some of the cancer was not fully removed 4 years ago? It was done laproscopically for minimal invasiveness and this time the surgeon said its best to go thru the belly. Wondering if the surgeon was inintentionally implying it may have been better 4 years ago to go thru the nelly to better get to and remove the cancer and margins.
2. Since the new mass is around some fatty tissue or something like that could it have been keeping the cancer isolated in the abdominal region instead of spreading elsewhere?
3. Is the oncologist right that 5fu and oxy are best known treatment currently and if 6 months of it (easing off oxy in last months) results in recurrence the it means it was not effective and no maintenance chemo is a real option?
4. If onc says an one of 10-15% eligible as candidate for immuno therapy, would it not be better to try after surgery rather than play waiting and monitoring game to see if cancer comes back or spreads?
5. Last surgery 4 years ago, came close to blood transfusion due to low platelet count. Doc decides to give extra day of monitoring since transfusion may impact cancer patients immune system fight off cancer. Worried this time with more invasive surgery, will come close to needing blood transfusion. Can I do anything before surgery to help my platelet count and overall body be strong enough to withstand surgery and avoid transfusion?
6. Anything I can do post surgery to reduce risk of recurrence/metasasis? Turmeric, baby aspirin, mushrooms, keto diet for reduced carns and sugar, to slow down cancer rather than feed it?
What else would you do or ask your surgeon and oncologist??
Thank you all kindly in advance. I hope that you please take the time to read thru my questions and provide helpful feedback. Needless to say, I am scared.
CEA went from 1.x to now 6.1. So next time I know there is a strong correlation between CEA increase and cancer activity in personal case.