Sorry for being a bit graphic, but wanted to put this out there for two reasons. In case someone else experiences this in the future, you are not alone; and in case someone has already experienced this, maybe you have an explanation for what has happened.
FOLFOX started 9/30/2019. On 11/2/2019, a fleshy mass was expelled with a bowel movement. It was about an inch long, grayish, and almond shaped. The original tumor was 5+cm, and I felt like this was part of the tumor.
The 6th infusion was on 12/10, and a 12/17 a Pet scan showed that the primary tumor was 10% of its original size and activity.
There was a 3 month chemo break with a liver ablation and resection 9 and 10 weeks in. On 1/14/2020 an endoscopy and physical examination showed that the primary tumor was about the size of a pea. The surgeon was shocked at how small it was.
FOLFOX was restarted on 3/2, just this past Monday. The plan is to complete a 2nd set of 6 rounds, with radiation, followed by robotic surgery. Yesterday, 3/7, there was another occurrence similar to the one on 11/2/2019. But this time there was a notable difference. The mass was shaped similar to the end of a q-tip. The “bulb” was the same grayish color, however the “stalk” was darker. It resembled a polyp that had broken off the rectal wall. I am convinced this is the remainder of the tumor that somehow broke off.
FOLFOX tends to result in constipation and hard stool, and after three months of regular bowel movements, this week they started back a couple days ago, and I think the bowel movement may have removed a dying tumor with friction that wasn’t previously available. Does that make sense or sound rational?