Rectal Cancer: Habr-Gama Watch and Wait Strategy to Avoid Surgery

[mozart13]

thx guys, prs 6 years, that's great.

Jolene congrats on 3 years, was told first 2 years are most critical, you did your chemo after chemo/rad, that makes big difference.

I still remember my chemo post chemo/rad, 6th round, was so brutal, prs and some other member helped me to get through, will never forget that.

MedMad , just stay focused what is in front of you, radiation peak is some where between 16-20 weeks, but works for years after. It's good thing your surgeon is W&W expert. Anxiety, was there, that's normal ,I kept busy doing research, didn't know till last minute what will happen, was dealing with 3 hospitals, 2 were pushing for surgery, was hoping from beginning for WW, but ready to deal with whatever comes through the door. After chemo/rad went back to work to preoccupy my mind.
It is hard to stay focused, some times waiting is toughest one to deal with.
I had scope, MRI and CT right after radiation and 3 months after start of radiation , decision was made than.
Good luck !

[MadMed]

Thanks for the advice Mozart123. Words to live by and I have so far. One day at a time, hard for someone like me that likes to plan but i've successfully lived by that mantra so far.

[MadMed]

@PRS, Jolene and Mozart123, i promised to report back from Pre-OP. I had a very long and good meeting with the surgeon, we reviewed the MRI which stated "dramatic improvement from treatment" it mentioned one tiny area of hyperintensity that could be intraluminal fluid or remaining cancer. The surgeon then performed a sigmoidoscopy and felt around that area. he felt that It was fluid and didn't feel hard. Very positive news and the conclusion to the day was surgery postponed, we wait 6 weeks to seek how this area evolves and potentially, if all looks clear, get into W&W. I did mention (Thank you Joelene) that it had only been 9 weeks since Radiation, so we'll give it more time. His assessment was near complete response. We'll reassess in 6 weeks.

Thank you for your thoughtful advice, sharing of your experience and support.

[prs]

@PRS, Jolene and Mozart123, i promised to report back from Pre-OP. I had a very long and good meeting with the surgeon, we reviewed the MRI which stated "dramatic improvement from treatment" it mentioned one tiny area of hyperintensity that could be intraluminal fluid or remaining cancer. The surgeon then performed a sigmoidoscopy and felt around that area. he felt that It was fluid and didn't feel hard. Very positive news and the conclusion to the day was surgery postponed, we wait 6 weeks to seek how this area evolves and potentially, if all looks clear, get into W&W. I did mention (Thank you Joelene) that it had only been 9 weeks since Radiation, so we'll give it more time. His assessment was near complete response. We'll reassess in 6 weeks.

Thank you for your thoughtful advice, sharing of your experience and support.

Great news!!!

[prayingforccr]

@PRS, Jolene and Mozart123, i promised to report back from Pre-OP. I had a very long and good meeting with the surgeon, we reviewed the MRI which stated "dramatic improvement from treatment" it mentioned one tiny area of hyperintensity that could be intraluminal fluid or remaining cancer. The surgeon then performed a sigmoidoscopy and felt around that area. he felt that It was fluid and didn't feel hard. Very positive news and the conclusion to the day was surgery postponed, we wait 6 weeks to seek how this area evolves and potentially, if all looks clear, get into W&W. I did mention (Thank you Joelene) that it had only been 9 weeks since Radiation, so we'll give it more time. His assessment was near complete response. We'll reassess in 6 weeks.

Thank you for your thoughtful advice, sharing of your experience and support.

Couldn’t be better news, madmed.

SO happy for you!

[MadMed]

Thank you both!
prayingforccr, I’ve been thinking about you. I hope you are in good spirits, the treatment you have planned is very promising.
I’ll be rooting for you and hoping for the best result. My wife just asked me at dinner if I had heard how you are doing.

[Jolene]

@PRS, Jolene and Mozart123, i promised to report back from Pre-OP. I had a very long and good meeting with the surgeon, we reviewed the MRI which stated "dramatic improvement from treatment" it mentioned one tiny area of hyperintensity that could be intraluminal fluid or remaining cancer. The surgeon then performed a sigmoidoscopy and felt around that area. he felt that It was fluid and didn't feel hard. Very positive news and the conclusion to the day was surgery postponed, we wait 6 weeks to seek how this area evolves and potentially, if all looks clear, get into W&W. I did mention (Thank you Joelene) that it had only been 9 weeks since Radiation, so we'll give it more time. His assessment was near complete response. We'll reassess in 6 weeks.

Thank you for your thoughtful advice, sharing of your experience and support.

Awesome news Madmed ! So very happy for you !! I remember how nervous I was running up to week 8 to see if I was a WW candidate ! Phew !

The radiation will continue to work its magic going forward.

[Jolene]

Congrats on three years Jolene!!!

Yeah, Group Hug!!!

Hugs back to all !!!

[nifty624]

Hi Everyone! I just wanted to check in and give my update. I know how important it was to me when I first was diagnosed to read all the updates.

I am approaching the 3 year mark post surgery (the 3 year anniversary of stopping the post operative chemo will be in June).

I have had either colonoscopy or flex sig every six months since getting the chest tube removed in August 2019. Except for one slightly questionable "thickening" in one scope, I've had NED ever since July 2019 (which on pathology came back OK but watch; followed up in 3 months and all was well. I scar very thickly which is apparently what was there).

My CEA remains normal/low and my scans all come back clear with no evidence of disease anywhere in my colorectal tract or other organs.

So far so good!

I want to thank you all again - especially prs for starting this topic - because I had no idea that W&W was even a possibility until I started reading everything I could on university and medical research sites just a few weeks before my surgery (LAR) was scheduled. My surgeon never assessed me for this (his medical opinion was that I should have the LAR as my cancer was stage 3), but he was open to doing a minimally invasive procedure, W&W with the adjuvant chemo after I told him I understood the risks and I really was mentally prepared to do it. I am thankful that he was willing to work with me on this, and even more thankful that I found this topic here and then knew what to pursue further to learn as much as I could. I was on my own with this and reading everyone's stories here gave me the courage to just talk to the surgeon and tell him how much I wanted to try this way. And bless him, he helped me do it, as did the oncologist.

Anyway, I just wanted to update here so another person coming across this topic like many of us did will read yet another story of a good outcome!

Cheers Everyone!

[prs]

Hi Everyone! I just wanted to check in and give my update. I know how important it was to me when I first was diagnosed to read all the updates.

I am approaching the 3 year mark post surgery (the 3 year anniversary of stopping the post operative chemo will be in June).

I have had either colonoscopy or flex sig every six months since getting the chest tube removed in August 2019. Except for one slightly questionable "thickening" in one scope, I've had NED ever since July 2019 (which on pathology came back OK but watch; followed up in 3 months and all was well. I scar very thickly which is apparently what was there).

My CEA remains normal/low and my scans all come back clear with no evidence of disease anywhere in my colorectal tract or other organs.

So far so good!

I want to thank you all again - especially prs for starting this topic - because I had no idea that W&W was even a possibility until I started reading everything I could on university and medical research sites just a few weeks before my surgery (LAR) was scheduled. My surgeon never assessed me for this (his medical opinion was that I should have the LAR as my cancer was stage 3), but he was open to doing a minimally invasive procedure, W&W with the adjuvant chemo after I told him I understood the risks and I really was mentally prepared to do it. I am thankful that he was willing to work with me on this, and even more thankful that I found this topic here and then knew what to pursue further to learn as much as I could. I was on my own with this and reading everyone's stories here gave me the courage to just talk to the surgeon and tell him how much I wanted to try this way. And bless him, he helped me do it, as did the oncologist.

Anyway, I just wanted to update here so another person coming across this topic like many of us did will read yet another story of a good outcome!

Cheers Everyone!

Congratulations @nifty624 and thanks for taking the time to give us the good news!

Our numbers are growing!

[MadMed]

Thank you nifty624, fantastic news! This as you said helps those of us going through this.

[prs]

Thank you nifty624, fantastic news! This as you said helps those of us going through this.

Hi @MadMed I keep thinking about you and wondering how things had worked out.

It's sometimes difficult to ask the question in case it's not the right answer, but I noticed your signature says you were due to have your follow up flex sig on 2/23. We are all hoping for some more good news.

[MadMed]

Thanks prs, we’re doing one more MRI and sigmoidoscopy in 5 weeks. If that’s clear, they’ll put me on W&W.
I’m hopeful

[prs]

Thanks prs, we’re doing one more MRI and sigmoidoscopy in 5 weeks. If that’s clear, they’ll put me on W&W.
I’m hopeful

It's my experience the vast majority of doctors are ultra conservative when it comes to making treatment decisions, I think they are trained that way. It's very likely if your doctor had seen even the slightest trace of cancer, he would have recommended surgery.

I think this result is good news, and the odds of a CCR are definitely moving in your favor.

[MadMed]

You're right prs, this particular surgeon was talking about pelvic exenteration because the tumor was abutting my prostate. He's always been upfront about worst case scenario. I was seriously taken aback when he said W&W. I prefer it that way, i can prepare for the worst and be ready for anything.