Stage 3 After Treatment Plans?

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crikklekay
Posts: 142
Joined: Thu Feb 15, 2018 9:47 am
Location: Richmond, VA

Stage 3 After Treatment Plans?

Postby crikklekay » Tue Sep 04, 2018 3:25 pm

Hello!

So we are finally in NEDville, insert happy dance here! We talked a little bit with our Oncologist on where we go from here, and she mentioned that no new CT scans would be needed until August of next year. I thought that was odd because most of the threads I've read here mentioned every 6 months, not every 12, but doing research online the consensus seems to be split for Stage 3 on whether you do scans every 6 or 12. So I thought I would ask, for those of you who have finished treatment as Stage 3 what your plans are like? For us it looks like CT Scans every 12 months and bloodwork every three months. We have another appointment with her this Friday so I'd love some perspective so I can ask her more questions on how to proceed going forward.

Thanks!!
Caring for DH John
Stage IIIC, Lymph nodes: 6/22
Chemo: FOLFOX (6)
12/17 ER and emergency surgery
02/18 Hospital w/MSSA infected port, PICC line inserted, chest CT scan showed septic emboli & blood clots
03/18 Hospital w/CDIFF
08/18 CT Scan Clear, NEMD
2018/2019/2021 Colonoscopy Clear
2019/2020/2021/2022 CT Scan Clear
2021 PET scan & MRI show one spot on liver
08/21 Liver surgery to remove spot, confirmed mCRC. Now Stage IV
09/21 Start Folfiri + Avastin
03/22 CEA Rise, continuing chemo

margiej
Posts: 109
Joined: Sat Apr 14, 2018 8:46 am

Re: Stage 3 After Treatment Plans?

Postby margiej » Tue Sep 04, 2018 4:17 pm

I have CT scans every 12 months and visit to oncologist with bloodwork every 6 months. I had a colonoscopy one year after my surgery and was told my next colonoscopy would be in three years. My next CT scan and doctor visit will be in October. Fingers crossed.
Margie
Dx CC 12/2015, age 57 at Dx
Stage IIIb: T3N1b
Adenocarcinoma, sigmoid colon, 2.5 cm - low grade, moderately differentiated
3/6 positive lymph nodes
laparoscopic colectomy 1/20/2016
Capox started 3/4/16 - Six rounds
CT-suspicious lymph 2/22/16
PET scan 2/24/16 clear
CT 6/8/16 clear
Clear Colonoscopy 3/2017 and 1/2020
CT 10/3/17 clear
CT 10/17/18 clear
CT 10/17/19 clear
CEA 12/17 1.7
5/16 3.8
7/16 1.9
3/17 1.3
10/17 1.2
4/18 1.6
11/18 1.2

Beckster
Posts: 438
Joined: Thu Jan 12, 2017 3:01 pm
Location: New Jersey

Re: Stage 3 After Treatment Plans?

Postby Beckster » Tue Sep 04, 2018 4:31 pm

Geez...I am Stage 2A with no lymph node involvement and have scans every 6 months with bloodwork every 3 months. I have to do this for 3 years before I go to annual scans.
57/F
DX:(CC) 10/19/16
11/4/16- Lap right hemi(cecum)
CEA- Pre Op (1.9), Pre Chemo (2.5)
Type: Adenocarcinoma
Tumor size:3.5 cm x 2.5 x 0.7 cm
Grade: G3
TNM: T3N0M0/IIA
LN: 0/24
LVI present
Surgical margins: clear
MSS
12/27/2016 - Capeox, anaphylactic
1/2/17 to 6/9/17- Xeloda
6/17,12/17,6/18,12/18,6/19,12/19,12/20,12/21 CT Scan NED :D
CEA- 6/17- 3.6, 9/17- 2.8 12/17-2.8, 3/18-3.1, 6/18-3.0, 9/18 2.8, 12/18 2.5 3/19 3.1 6/19 3.1 9/19 2.6 12/19 2.8 6/20 3.0 12/20 2.7 6/21 2.9,[color=#000000]12/21 2.7[/color]
Clear Colonoscopy 10/17, 11/19,11/21 :D

Swirdfish
Posts: 290
Joined: Sun Jun 19, 2016 3:57 am

Re: Stage 3 After Treatment Plans?

Postby Swirdfish » Tue Sep 04, 2018 6:07 pm

At least two scans a year here for next 5 years. Alternates between ultrasound and CT scan. Bloods done at every scan. I suggest do what your comfortable with.
06/2016 Went in for colonoscopy came out with a tumor. Age 35
12cm from verge at junction. Rectal cancer.
Clinical stage T3 NO MO
Temp illestomy
Completed 5FU and Radiation
LAR surgery planned 13 Oct 2016
Completed ULAR surgery 11-10-2016.
0/22 nodes
pT3 N0 M0 R1
Stage 2A

Pathology reviewed and changed
ypT3 N0 M0 R0

Started folfox 21-11-2016
5-4-17 NED
Reversal 12-4-17

Koreysue
Posts: 258
Joined: Mon Apr 30, 2018 2:36 pm

Re: Stage 3 After Treatment Plans?

Postby Koreysue » Tue Sep 04, 2018 6:20 pm

I was stage 3, 2 lymph nodes. My follow up plan is scans every 12 months and blood work every 3.
Dx: 6/2017 stage 3 CC
Sigmoid, 2 nodes
CEA at dx: 6.1
Sigmoid Colectomy/folfox (last chemo (1/31/18)
CEA 4/2018: 2.4
CEA 7/2018: 3.7
Colonoscopy 8/18 clean
PET scan 8/20/18 NED
CEA 11/2018: 3.8
CEA 2/2019: 3.2
CT NED 6/18/19 / CEA : 3.4
CEA 10/21/19: 3.2
CEA 3/9/20: 3.8
CT NED /CEA 6/17/20: 3.8
CEA 11/4/20 4.6 <——— whyyyy? (will retest in a few weeks)
CT NED 12/1/20 CEA: 3.5
CEA 5/21 4.2
CEA 10/21 3.4
colonoscopy 10/21 10mm polyp
CEA 4/22 3.7
CEA 7/22 3.8
CEA 12/22 4
CEA 1/22 3.2 and NED 5yr scan

Soccermom2boys
Posts: 222
Joined: Tue Nov 10, 2015 10:29 pm

Re: Stage 3 After Treatment Plans?

Postby Soccermom2boys » Tue Sep 04, 2018 6:27 pm

I was able to get a CT scan at six months post treatment because my spleen was slightly enlarged after finishing chemo, but otherwise I am on the once a year for five years for the CT scans.
Blood work: every 3 months for first year, now at every six months with visits to Onc office to review blood work/side effects follow up, also for five years out from treatment like the scans
Colonoscopy: one year after diagnosis (which was just a little over two months after finishing chemo); then two years from that last one, which puts me at this fall, have it scheduled around my work schedule; if this colonoscopy is also clear, not sure if I go again in two or three years from now, but I hope not as far out as five years, that seems too far away. Funny in that who wants a colonoscopy more frequently, but I will take that prep any day over chemo treatments!

And then most importantly, is the Health Insurance factor, because it all comes down to what they will allow. :roll:
8/3/15 Went in with a hemorrhoid, came out with a tumor
8/12/15 Biopsy from colonoscopy confirms RC (45 yrs old--zero family history!)
9/21 - 10/29/15 chemorad 28 tx (with Xeloda)
12/17/15 APR with perm colostomy
Pathology report stages me as IIIA (T2N1M0)--1/15 LN detects cancer
2/3/16 chemo port inserted
2/8-6/2/16 8 rounds of Folfox

Snoop
Posts: 3
Joined: Sun Dec 17, 2017 3:24 pm
Location: Indiana

Re: Stage 3 After Treatment Plans?

Postby Snoop » Wed Sep 05, 2018 1:25 pm

I’m on a every 6 months CT, every 3 months blood work, yearly colonoscopy.
I know I’m doing that for 2 years.
57yo male
Diagnosis 11-2016 stage 1
Diagnosed stage 3c 11-2017
Surgery, 4 rounds of chemo
30 days of radiation
4 rounds of chemo
Clear CT
Port removed today! 8-6-2018

CAGirl
Posts: 59
Joined: Fri Aug 25, 2017 4:55 pm

Re: Stage 3 After Treatment Plans?

Postby CAGirl » Wed Sep 05, 2018 1:42 pm

Ah yes. I think about this daily. My oncologist wanted me to wait a full year between scans, since he says the risk of cancer from radiation is increased after 7 or 8 scans, and I've already had 4, and since I'm relatively young. However, people here have encouraged more frequent scans ("I'd rather risk cancer from too much testing than recurrence from not enough testing" philosophy.)

I've decided that a compromise is a 9-month scan, and my doc is on board with that.

Had a clear one-year colonoscopy, and the doc says next one is in 3 years, I think. I will definitely push for sooner on that, too.

Having bloodwork every 6 months, but CEA was never elevated for me, so not too relieving when it comes back low...

Every tweak of my body is symptom of recurrence or metastasis in my mind. (Shortness of breath, back pain, etc.)

My life is really so much better when I let go and assume the best, which is what my doc assumes: that it is gone for good.
Dx 2/2017, age 45, 2 kids: 6 yrs & 3 yrs
History of Crohn's disease - dx in 1997; in remission, thus no colonoscopy in over 10 years
Anemia dx 11/16: GI doc assured me "the likelihood of colon cancer" was "very low".
Stage 3C - T3N2b
8/64 lymph nodes; clear margins surgery 3/17
12 cycles of Folfox 4/17-9/17
3-month CT scan midway through chemo, no changes
2-3-mo CT scan post chemo 11/17 slightly larger lung nod (incr. from 7mm to 8 or 9mm)
CT scan 3/18 - NED
clear CT scan 1/2019 NED

CAGirl
Posts: 59
Joined: Fri Aug 25, 2017 4:55 pm

Re: Stage 3 After Treatment Plans?

Postby CAGirl » Wed Sep 05, 2018 1:46 pm

And congratulations and welcome to NEDville. (Come on in, the water is fine!)
Dx 2/2017, age 45, 2 kids: 6 yrs & 3 yrs
History of Crohn's disease - dx in 1997; in remission, thus no colonoscopy in over 10 years
Anemia dx 11/16: GI doc assured me "the likelihood of colon cancer" was "very low".
Stage 3C - T3N2b
8/64 lymph nodes; clear margins surgery 3/17
12 cycles of Folfox 4/17-9/17
3-month CT scan midway through chemo, no changes
2-3-mo CT scan post chemo 11/17 slightly larger lung nod (incr. from 7mm to 8 or 9mm)
CT scan 3/18 - NED
clear CT scan 1/2019 NED

User avatar
mmblz
Posts: 58
Joined: Sat Oct 10, 2015 3:03 pm

Re: Stage 3 After Treatment Plans?

Postby mmblz » Tue Sep 18, 2018 8:48 pm

I had forgotten (blocked?) but looking back it looks like after chemo I started with CEA every 6 weeks the first four times (that was awful) then switched to 3 months... CT at 3 months, 6 months, then every 6 months from there. I think both CEA and CT were more frequent than standard - we pushed because we were nervous and my age...

Had good CEA yesterday and I'm basically at 3 years. Was surprised when they said my last CT would be in 4 months (8 months from the last one) and after that it's CEA only...
40yo married 16 years. 4 kids 12, 10, 7, 5
2015-09-21 colonoscopy finds tumor in sigmoid, partial obstruction
2015-09-22 CT no mets, path G2 adenocarcinoma, CEA 1.2
2015-09-29 lap hemicolectomy at MSKCC
2015-10-06 pT3 N1a M0 stage IIIB
2015-10-22 folfox started - 12 rounds, last 4 no oxaliplatin
2016-10-27 clear CT !
2021-03-25 "cured"


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