I'm surprised that chemo hasn't been recommended yet but I guessed that's because they are being cautious along the "no evidence/data produced that it improves your chances of a cure".
My oncologist mentioned that there are plenty of data on chemo benefits for colon cancer but much less on rectal cancer. According to him, most of the adjuvant chemo treatment recommendations are basically "borrowed" from colon cancer data although not the most orthodox way of proceeding but that's the way it's going at the moment.
My rectal doctor took a hands-off approach when it came to chemo recommendation as soon as I was declared as a wait-and-watch patient, citing "not part of the ww protocol".
My oncologist took several meetings explaining that I must understand that adjuvant chemo for rectal cancer as a WW patient is basically unchartered territory and on the basis of little to no data on it's benefits. But he did mentioned that for those underwent surgery, chemo is definitely recommended as there are "data to support" it's benefits.
I'm sure you will have lots more comments coming up that you should definitely do the mop-up chemo. No machines in the world can yet detect any microscopic spreads no matter what all the tests and scans are saying. You've come so far, so don't leave it to chance ! Kill every one of those lurking bastards out there with everything you've got would be my mantra, leaving no regrets knowing that you did your best !!
As a WW patient, it is on the assumption that my tumour is as good as gone a.k.a as if I've underwent the knife. I was recommended for 6 cycles of Xelox but to start off with just 4 cycles to see how it pans out.
All the best !
By the way, is it still colon cancer or rectal cancer for your situation ?
CF_69 wrote:I just came from the oncologist.
Final staging is T3N0M0 - stage 2A
He did not recommend chemo, but said I can do 4 cycles of Xeloda if I choose, and that there is no evidence that it improves your chance of a cure, though he did say that it may give you a 1 or 2% bump.
I’m not sure what to do.
He did recommend CT scans every year and a CEA test every 6 months.
Also I need a colonoscopy within a year, and then one 5 years later.
Read the surgery report too. Clean margins and a side to end anastomosis is what I got.
Overall I feel very thankful that things have gone so well. I did not have an ileostomy either.
As for LARS, I have been having frequent pressure with little output. I do feel like I can control myself. I’m only 2 weeks post surgery so I’m expecting things to change, but as of right now, I’m definitely on the constipated end of the spectrum.
I’ve been drinking clearlax, eating fiber gummies, prune juice, whatever I can think of to try, but other than one time, it’s had little effect.
What I would do to drop a nice long log right about now...