Postby DanInMN » Thu Apr 20, 2017 10:34 am
I had my 5 year follow-up with my oncologist today. My treatment was by the book, with most everything going the way you hope. Surgery went well. Got through chemo. I have some of the usual side effects of the process. Bowel issues, occasional chemo-head.
I've also had a few nodules in my lungs there were there from the beginning. They did not react to the chemo, and were stable. Then, a year ago, the CT showed one of them grew a little (4 mm to 6 mm). We set another CT for 6 months, and found it had not grown at all. Now, 6 months later, it is 9 mm.
Because these nodules existed before the colorectal cancer was detected, and did not react to chemo, my oncologist says they are unlikely related to the colorectal cancer. She also says the odds of it being cancer are low. But I don't feel reassured, and it is so disappointing to get 5 years out and suddenly need a biopsy. I know there is nothing magical about 5 years, and there never are guarantees, but I think it would have been a relief to get the all-clear regardless.
I hate to be back to the waiting for test results stage.
Dan - Male - Age 41
3/5/2012 - Colonoscopy - dx: sigmoid colon cancer
3/29/2012 - Colon Resection - growth through wall, 1 of 23 nodes, 4 tumor deposits - dx: Stage 3b
5/7/2012 - Begin Folfox
10/10/12 Finish Folfox
10/22/12 CT scan = NED
4/17/17 Lung nodule discovered to be colorecretal cancer met
5/12/17 Met removed