Rectal cancer chemo/radiotherapy options

Hello Elaine,

I also have t3 rectal tumour. (10cm )

In January I had 1 week intense course radiotherapy and now having 9 cycles 18 weeks (every other week)of oxaliplatin and 5fu(a pump for 48 hours)I am due my 4th cycle on Monday. It hasn't been as bad as I thought. The cold tingling you have control of ,just have room temperature drinks and keep warm.If you do have a throat spasm apparently just have small amounts of warm water, I haven't experienced this so far.  I do find the first week I am very tired but get better the second week. Like I said very manageable for me , everyone is different. After been told all the side effects I was worried about the treatment but didn't want to turn round in a few months and say I should have!!!

I am now a third of the way through, then apparently they re scan and plan surgery. Hopefully then tumour much smaller and we can cut it out.

Hope this helps.

Julie

Hi bposotive

I think that is a valid question to ask your team . There seems to be a subgroup of patients using a different protocol now but I have no idea the clinical reasons or protocol. But if you find out pleased for let us know .

In terms of recurrence my mum has had two . Not in the same location as you but the treatment worked each time so it’s entirely possible .

All the very best with your treatment.

Court 

Hello,

In America this was called the RAPIDO TRIAL not a trial anymore, used on tumours t3/t4 with nodes. They seem to have started using it over here now ,I am only 1 of 3 in this area at the moment. The results seem to very positive with a good chance of a resection straight away. Not sure that will happen for me as the tumour is quite large. Most people seem to have chemo after surgery so I think this way it gets it out of the way first. Belt and braces tact I think.

Julie

sorry think I replied to wrong one , meant for Elaine and her options. x

Your on the right thread juls and thank you very much . I knew I had read it before and someone had mentioned a bit of background but could not retrieve it for the life of me . I will screen shot the name of the trial now .

Thank you so much and all the very best with the treatment . Hope it has brought about some great shrinkage for you .

Court 

Thank you so much to everyone who has replied.  Every bit of information and encouragement is really helpful.  

I had 4 cycles of capox chemo, followed by 5 weeks of chemo radiation, if it wasn’t for these treatments I wouldn’t been able to have it surgically removed, as I was diagnosed stage 4a, with chemo capox and chemo radiation it shrunk to stage 3 and operable, I had a LAR surgery in November 2021, and just had my reversal of my stoma last week, my last scans in feb show  NED, listen to the doctors as they know what’s best for you, it really works. 

Thank you so much, this is really good to hear. I am delighted to hear that everything is going well for you. The very best wishes for the future

I had stage 3 rectal cancer and had 6 rounds of Folfox chemotherapy (oxiplatin and 5fu). It was winter and it wasn’t easy but manageable.  I wrapped up and went out everyday with my dog.  Wear gloves and a scarf.  It shrank my tumour from T3 to T2.  Just finished 5 weeks of chemoradiotherapy (capecitibine). And that was fine.

That sounds amazing. I am on round 4 of 9 cycles oxiplatin and 5fu,so tired at the moment, really kicked in this session. finding it difficult to go out for a walk. even takes it out of me eating have to have a sleep after.

So it will be surgery for you now. Good luck with everything.

Juls