Rectal cancer watch and wait

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Hi all,

See my profile for my watch and wait journey so far after rectal cancer diagnosis in November 2018 and a clinically complete response to radiotherapy in January 2019 and since then I have been in remission.

I am recording my journey on watch and wait as I go through milestones hoping that this is helpful to others considering watch and wait or perhaps earlier on in the journey.

About 6 months ago I had an equivocal MRI, i.e. they were not quite sure whether there was cancer there or not, so they ordered another one earlier than usual and I had this yesterday and the CEA blood test too.

I just got the CEA result and it was normal and completely unchanged from 6 months ago which is great!

I should get the MRI result in about a week and will post the result on here when I get it. However I am very hopeful now that this will be clear.

However we all know that cancer is tricky and unpredictable so I don't know for sure until I get the actual MRI result.

Wish me luck!

Jogey

Kareno62 over 1 year ago in reply to Jogey

Hi Jogey and lovely to hear from you again. Good results from the FIT and CEA is reassuring but always best to be doubly doubly sure.

Take care

Karen x

Macmillan Support Line - 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week between 8am-8pm

Jogey over 1 year ago in reply to Kareno62

Thanks so much Karen and take care,

Jogey

Jogey over 1 year ago

So the good news is the colonoscopy is clear. Biopsies clear. So now over 6 years clear since the end of radiotherapy which is excellent and I'm really very pleased

process over 1 year ago in reply to Jogey

Fabulous news Jogey, and always good to share as it gives hope to others. And certainly for yourself. My husband diagnosed 2019 and clear now since October 21. Celebrate well Jogey and every right to be pleased.

Jogey over 1 year ago in reply to process

Hi Process,

So pleased to hear about your husband being clear since 21 and thanks for your kind words.

Arial88 over 1 year ago in reply to Jogey

So great to read your story. Over 6 years clear!!!!! So pleased you must feel elated xx

Jogey over 1 year ago in reply to Arial88

Thanks so much! I really hope your treatment goes really well too going forward

Jogey 10 months ago

So today I found that I had failed the government bowel cancer screening FIT test and they have referred me for a colonoscopy.

Jogey 10 months ago in reply to Jogey

I had 2 colonoscopies earlier this year which the surgeons said they thought were clear even though they said the bowel prep had not worked properly and parts of the colon were obscured so I don't feel too confident about that. I have booked a private CEA. I hope the bowel prep works properly on the next colonoscopy but if not I think, if the CEA is high, I will have an MRI privately as if the bowel is not clear I can't really rely on the colonoscopy. So I'm now about 6 and a half years clear on watch and wait but we will have to see what happens here. I am optimistic and think it is likely that the FIT test found bleeding from another non-cancerous source. We will see.

Bella12 10 months ago in reply to Jogey

Keeping everything crossed for a clear result for you. My OH is currently near the end of his chemo regime just one more cycle to go the oncologist said that after radiotherapy and chemo he had a 50% chance if not needing surgery. So hes hoping to be able to do watch & wait. How often did you have checkups

thank you