Views on chemo after bowel cancer been removed by surgery

I've had 56 removed  and none of them were cancerous  the tumour was removed  with some of my bowel but it hadn't  broken  through.  That's two reasons  I'm considering  not having  the chemo as they said  its only  to kill any cells they can't see. Then I think  should  I have it just incase 

My operation  went well and I have healed fantastically  I was home from  hospital  on the third day. I feel really  well too so I'm dreading  if I have the chemotherapy  if it knocks me back. I hope you  heal soon xx

I feel for you , I think it’s one of the harder decisions that surface on this forum . Most others lean in a particular direction .

One point I always highlight to people wrestling with this . Chemo doses can be reduced and modified to be more tolerable or stopped altogether .  You can chat this aspect through with your team before you make your final decision and it’s part of being fully informed about what is involved .

Its a difficult risk /benefits analysis.

Take care ,

Court 

I had a left hemicolectomy in May '19 & my Oncologist was insistent that I did not need mop up chemo. However, in March '20, after a routine CT scan, I was diagnosed with two very small lung nodules. I was then put on Capecitabine Tabs. (I refused the Oxyplatin infusion.) I was given 6 cycles - to see if shrinkage occured; which fortunately worked, & I was then able to have a Lung Ablation procedure. My most recent scan was in March this year - showing all clear.

Re. side effects of Capecitabine, I had none - until the 5th cycle, when I developed Palmar Plantar in my hands & feet. My Oncologist then took me off them, & I had the ablation a few weeks later.

So, based on my own personal story, I would be inclined to take the Capecitabine & record any effects you may have. The dose can then be lowered if necessary.

Best of luck with your decision.

Marianne

It’s entirely up to but like most of us here I’d say go for it, just in case later on down the line it comes back 

Hi Toby, clearly that’s a choice only you can make.  I had small bowel  cancer 10 years ago had a right resection and adjuvant chemo after as a belt and braces approach to clean up any cells that may have been hiding . They adjusted the dose for me as it was to much for me to cope with. . My cancer was stage 3. I’m still here and glad I took it as it gave me 10 years I never thought I would have.

Toby, if you start to feel the chemo is too much, you can just stop, it is always your choice. It will then be no worse than not having any, and you might have got a couple of cycles under your belt 

Hi Toby, I am having to make the same decision, I had stage 2b colon cancer and have been offered 6 months of capecitibine....i find it all very confusing and am struggling, I had a follow up CT scan this week and have my appointment next Wednesday to begin chemo. I believe I am only being offered it as a stage 2 patient because I am considered young (50)...I wish it was more clear cut, or even if the oncolologist would give me an opinion, they don't, it is all up to me...a non medically trained person. I like to think I make right decisions and in this case you just don't know what the right decision is and the fear of having a rare and potentially life threatening or unpleasant side effects is frightening but also frightening is the thought that there still may be cancer cells in my body. I only had 12 lymph nodes removed, all negative.  I thought most stage 3 patients do have chemo and statistically that shows to increase life expectancy so the stats for you are clearer than for my stage 2b...there is a paradox where stage 3a has higher survival after 5 years than stage 2b or 2c...they are not clear on why this is but generally stage 2 are not given chemo and stage 3 are.  Good luck with your decision.

Hi Toby,

I am in the same position. I had surgery beforehand too which was a walk in the park. they got the whole tumour & Removed 7/30 lymph nodes which were infected. I had my first Oxy infusion on Tuesday & have already decided that I’m having no more infusions. I will need to let my oncologist know when he contacts me. I’ve been in hospital since with chemo burn all on my arms & chest as well as the normal chemo side effects, so I know my body can’t cope already. 

Hi Toby

I just wanted to add my two cents worth! I had 5 weeks of capecitabine tablets alongside 5 weeks of radiotherapy, followed by a 3 month wait before surgery. I didn’t have any side effects from the tablets, although I had heart palpitations at the end of week 4. It turned out to be the stress of the 80 mile round trip just got too much! I agree with the others that you have nothing to lose in giving them a chance. Like you I found it very difficult to make that decision alone