Complete Clinical Response.

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Hi all

I was diagnosed with colorectal cancer about a year ago. I have had 4 months of chemotherapy then a short break followed by 25 radiotherapy sessions with chemo tablets. I was then left alone for a few months. I had an MRI and CT scan after and there was no tumour left. I then had a sigmoidoscopy and samples of scar tissue were taken and again no trace of cancer.

I have met with my consultant and he says that an op is still the best course of action as I did have cancer in my lymph nodes originally and the only way to test them for cancer is to have them removed even though there is nothing showing on the scans. The other option was watch and wait but he thinks I would be better to have the op as I am otherwise a fit and healthy 54 year old and there is not a lot of evidence for effectiveness of watch and wait for someone of my age.

I suppose I would be interested to hear from others who have been in a similar position or those who have had a lower anterior resection with a temp iliostomy.

After the news that the tumour had gone it's a lot to take in.

Any advice will be welcome.

Thanks so much x

crankshaft over 3 years ago

Hi Dancingdoll67

It is fantastic news that the treatment you have had so far has done so much but what a decision you have to make now. I did have a LAR with a temporary ileostomy, since reversed. Before the op I had the chemo radiotherapy you had and it had shrunk the tumour to a size that the surgeon considered not operating but decided it was best, which it was as they found traces of the cancer still there.

It seems that the thinking is that surgery is the best or only cure, cut it out and bin it! The surgery is major, it is doable and the stoma is manageable and after the reversal it will take time to get get used to the new normal. I can see in your situation it would be hard to decide to go that route if all seems well at the moment.

Do they say how often they will monitor you and how the cancer would manifest itself if it came back, just in the same place or shot off somewhere else?

It is a difficult decision to make, I don't envy you and I am glad mine was made for me. Hopefully other people in the same boat will add their experiences.

Whichever way you go I wish you well for the future, John

Dancingdoll67 over 3 years ago in reply to crankshaft

Thanks John

Because there is no guarantee that it's not in the lymphs unless they take them out and test, they consider the op to be the best option as if there are minute amounts it could spread elsewhere.

Kareno62 over 3 years ago

Hi Dancingdoll67. That’s great news but leaves you with a bit of a dilemma doesn’t it? There’s a couple of people on here had success with watch and wait (if you type it in the search box at the top you will see a lot of posts by Jogey) but everyone’s circumstances vary.

My personal opinion would be to get it removed and then you can get on with your life. I think I would feel like I was living from scan to scan with the worry of a return constantly at the back of my mind and every little ache or pain sending my stress levels sky high.

I had a LAR in 2016 with follow up chemo as there were 2 lymph nodes affected and my stoma reversed in 2018. If you click on my name then you can see my journey so far but I’m now 5 years cancer free and I’ve been discharged by the hospital.

I hope you are able to come to a decision that you’re happy with

Take care

Karen x

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