Adjuvant Chemo

Please feel free to read, share your thoughts, your stories and connect with others!
SusanD
Posts: 1
Joined: Thu Dec 13, 2018 10:46 am

Adjuvant Chemo

Postby SusanD » Thu Dec 13, 2018 11:05 am

I'm new to this forum and was hoping for some insight on adjuvant chemo. I had LAR surgery 11/19/2018 with temp ilestomy
Pathology showed no lymph node involvement 0/59, but showed Lymphovascular invasion was present.


Surgeron wants me to talk to the onologist about possible adjuvant theraphy. Assuming its Chemo.
I'm terrifed of both chemo & radiation and am leaning not to do any adjuvant theraphy.


pT3 N1c, at least Stage IIIB
Tumor located below peritoneal reflection
Age 59
DX 8/2018 CRC
10/18 LAR w/ ileostomy
2/19 Reversal ileostomy
6/19 CEA 8
7/19 MRI found lesions on liver
8/19 Liver resection
8/27 Hernia Repair NG tube for 2 weeks
12/19 Clean Scan CEA 1.4
5/20 CEA 1.9
5/20 PET SCAN - Liver lesions, recurrence & 2 new ones
Disease identified within the omentum. Pelvis: Neoplastic focus with peripheral metabolic uptake is identified within the left
pelvis near the side wall
6/20 CEA 6.2
6/20 1st round of Oxaliplatin / FFU/ Leuvovorin

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

Re: Adjuvant Chemo

Postby Koreysue » Thu Dec 13, 2018 1:06 pm

I would get another dr. to weigh in. Then you need to ask yourself- will I wish I had done more? I know it’s scary, and hard to know what to do.
Korey
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

Punky44
Posts: 498
Joined: Mon Oct 01, 2018 4:29 pm

Re: Adjuvant Chemo

Postby Punky44 » Thu Dec 13, 2018 4:15 pm

If you are Stage 3, I believe mop up chemo is strongly recommended. You want to make sure you beat this. I know it is scary but chemo for colorectal cancer is generally more tolerable than chemos for other cancers (like breast cancer.) Everyone reacts differently obviously but many seem to be able to get through it and even maintain normal life activities (work, exercise) etc during it.
Caregiver to my amazing mom (68 at dx)
10/1/18 DX with rectal cancer; CEA 17
T3N2M0
Total neoadjuvant therapy:
8 rounds Folfox 11/5/18 - 2/11/19
Short course radiation 3/14/19 - 3/20/19
Robotically assisted laparoscopic LAR 3/21/19
Pathology report says yT2N0M0 with 0/38 nodes
6/28/19 Reversal and port out
CEA 2.1; 1.9; 2.6; 2.8; 2.3; 2.4; 3.0; 3.4; 3.1; 3.4; 3.0; 3.1; 2.6
Latest update: 8/21/23 Clear CT with CEA 2.6!

Me: 34, first colonoscopy 11/16/18—normal! Come back in 5 years.

User avatar
Kick'nAssCancer'sAss
Posts: 248
Joined: Tue Feb 25, 2014 4:38 pm

Re: Adjuvant Chemo

Postby Kick'nAssCancer'sAss » Thu Dec 13, 2018 6:01 pm

You are new. If you were here for a few years like myself and read the stories of those who skipped the chemo and now wished they didn't, you would do the chemo. This is a no brainer Stage III's do the adj chemo.

You need to put every nail in the cancer coffin.
53M Dx RC Halloween 2013
CT & BONE scan
MRI/T3N0M0 1 suspicious LN
5 wks chemo/rad
LAR open TME Feb 26/14
temp bag
0/24 nodes pCR/pathological
Folfox (8) Mar 28-Jul 4 /14
Aug/14 clear CT scan
Aug 27/14 reversal
Feb/15 clear scope
July/15 Feb/16 Feb/17 Feb/18 clear CT scans
Feb/18 clear scope
Sept 19 clear CT scan & DISCHARGED :P
Mar/23 clear scope
CEA 1.6 @ dx
1.6,1.4,1.7,2.4,2.9, 2.7 2.3 2.5 2.2 2.1 2.5 2.6 2.7
2.7 Sept 19
0-4 normal
https://kickingasscancersass.blogspot.com/

heiders33
Posts: 363
Joined: Sat Nov 04, 2017 11:08 am

Re: Adjuvant Chemo

Postby heiders33 » Thu Dec 13, 2018 6:13 pm

Don’t be scared of the adjuvant chemo. It’s not a picnic but it is doable. Everyone reacts differently, and a good oncologist will monitor your reaction and side effects closely. There are lots of good meds and methods for monitoring side effects.
Last edited by heiders33 on Fri Dec 14, 2018 6:04 am, edited 1 time in total.
40 year-old female
May 2017: Dx rectal cancer T3N2M0
MSS, KRAS G12D
6/17: 28 days chemorad
9/17: LAR/loop ileostomy, CAPOX six rounds
3/18: reversal
9/18: liver met, resection/HAI pump, 11 rounds 5FU, 1 round FUDR
11/19 - local recurrence, brachytherapy, 3 weeks targeted radiation
12/21 - end colostomy

Caat55
Posts: 694
Joined: Sat Dec 23, 2017 6:01 pm

Re: Adjuvant Chemo

Postby Caat55 » Thu Dec 13, 2018 10:24 pm

It's hard to know what's right but I decided to go with the adjunct therapy. If in 2, 5 or 10 years I have cancer again it won't because I didn't do everything I could now.

Good luck,
Susan
Do at 55 y.o. Female
Dx 9/26/17 RC Stage 3
Completed 33 rad. tx, xeolda 12/8/17
MRI and PET 1/18 sign. regression
Surgery 1/31/18 Ileostomy, clean margins, no lymph node involved
Port 3/1/2018
Oxaliplatin and Xeloda start 3/22/18
Last Oxaliplatin 7/5/18, 5 rounds
CT NED 9/2018
PET NED 12/18
Clear Colonoscopy 2/19, 5/20

User avatar
Maggie Nell
Posts: 1150
Joined: Wed May 27, 2015 1:57 am
Location: Central Highlands, Victoria, Oz

Re: Adjuvant Chemo

Postby Maggie Nell » Thu Dec 13, 2018 11:01 pm

Are you terrified of chemo and radiation because you have seen how that went with
other people; heard the grisly 'war' stories? Your body and your experience will be
your own and the oncologists and oncology nurses can really fine-tune things.

You won't know if adjuvant chemotherapy is the path until you have a sit down with
that oncologist. It's important that you feel comfortable with an oncologist and be
confident in seeking out another one for second- third opinions. Now is the time
when it's on to advocate for yourself and pull together a health team that you trust.

You've found this forum - that's a way good start! Be brave, and when you can't
be brave: come here.
DX April 2015, @ 54
35mm poorly diff. tumour, incidental finding following emergency R. hemicolectomy
for ileo-colic intussusception.
Lymph nodes: 0/22
T3 N0 MX
Stage II CRC, no adjuvant chemo required.

michelle c
Posts: 1929
Joined: Wed Dec 02, 2009 3:58 am

Re: Adjuvant Chemo

Postby michelle c » Sat Dec 15, 2018 5:26 am

I was terrified of chemo but it was recommended as I was stage III. It was described to me as mop up chemo. I know there are no guarantees but wanted to do everything I could to stop it appearing elsewhere. I had 12 treatments over 6 months. I won't lie, I hated every minute of it but it really was a no brainer for me. It is totally up to you though. Talk to the oncologist and decide from there. Write down all your questions before you go. It was recommended that my chemo start within 5-6 weeks post surgery.
May 25 2009 Dx with CC (sigmoid colon) 2 days after my 44th b'day
CEA prior to surgery 4.7
Jun 3 2009 LAR - Stage III 3/10 lymph nodes
Jul 6 - Dec 10 2009 - 12 cycles FOLFIRI
Genetic testing - inconclusive for Lynch
Jul 2012 port removed & hernia repair

NHMike
Posts: 2555
Joined: Fri Jul 21, 2017 3:43 am

Re: Adjuvant Chemo

Postby NHMike » Sat Dec 15, 2018 11:16 am

I had chemo before surgery and not doing the chemo and radiation wasn't an option. A surgeon wouldn't operate on me without radiation and chemo first. So I knew what chemo was like. I had adjuvant chemo as well but it was rougher because the drug strength was higher and there was an additional drug. I have some lingering side-effects that might be permanent but I can live with them. Spend some time reading through the accounts of going through it. It is no picnic - I'd say that it's rough; and you will have an adjustment period with the ileostomy. But lots and lots of people here do it and get through it.
6/17: ER rectal bleeding; Colonoscopy
7/17: 3B rectal. T3N1bM0. 5.2 4.5 4.3 cm. Lymphs: 6 x 4 mm, 8 x 6, 5 x 5
7/17-9/17: Xeloda radiation
7/5: CEA 2.7; 8/16: 1.9; 11/30: 0.6; 12/20 1.4; 1/10 1.8; 1/31 2.2; 2/28 2.6; 4/10 2.8; 5/1 2.8; 5/29 3.2; 7/13 4.5; 8/9 2.8, 2/12 1.2
MSS, KRAS G12D
10/17: 2.7 2.2 1.6 cm (-90%). Lymphs: 3 x 3 mm (-62.5%), 4 x 3 (-75%), 5 x 3 (-40%). 5.1 CM from AV
10/17: LAR, Temp Ileostomy, Path Complete Response
CapeOx (8) 12/17-6/18
7/18: Reversal, Port Removal
2/19: Clean CT


Return to “Colon Talk - Colon cancer (colorectal cancer) support forum”



Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google Feedfetcher and 128 guests