Colon surgery - stage II cancer

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Hi all, I’ve had my surgery just before Xmas and all went ok with key hole. The outcome was the tumour was taken out. The tumour had gone through the tissue but the MDT advised lymph nodes clear and margins clear. Cancer gone. 
As it was stage II I have been to see an oncologist regarding possible capcetabine tablets for 6 months to look to prevent any return. There is only a 3% benefit of having it. Atm I’m in a tug of war with myself on whether to have it or not especially with all the effects of having chemo. I am in my early 60s. Has anyone else had this dilemma and what did you do in the end? 

  • Hey there.  Yours sounds exactly like mine.  I am meeting with the surgeon on Wednesday but I have not been offered any further treatment.  If I’m honest I’m happy with that but  I’ll be interested to see what others say.  

  • Hi Sunny,

    Why don’t you give it a try with the chemo to see if you think you could manage? Statistics and numbers are one thing, but in reality it could be avoiding something that could literally save your life. I had a Stage 3 tumour and 2/44 lymph nodes had cancer, so Capox was offered. Unfortunately, my body did not respond well to the Capecitabine and it was stopped for clinical reasons after only 2 doses (caused cardiac vasospasm). I still feel unhappy about the fact that I am unable to have that treatment because I really like being alive and having had a brush with the grim reaper, it has made me want to open my arms to anything that could stop me from dying of cancer. 
    It’s only my personal view, but don’t forget that you can stop the treatment at any point if it gets too much for you and that isn’t a weakness, it’s a strength.

    Good Luck with it all, whatever you decide to do xx

    Nic

  • I didn't have very bad side effects with the tablets so I'd suggest you take them if offered. If you find the side effects too bothersome you could always stop them early. 

    60 is the new 30. You have potential for many more years. 

  • Hi it's a really personal choice. I am having an operation tomorrow so not sure yet if I will need chemo or not. I am pretty sure that if it's offered, even as a bit of an insurance policy, I would say yes. That's me though and we are all different.  Best of luck x

  • Its a very personal choice and is what seems right for you.I had over 60 lymph nodes removed,none of which showed anything however I accepted the full capox as I didnt want to think "what if"further down the line you can always stop if you really cant cope with the chemo.

    At the end of the day its your body and your choice

    All the best with whatever you decide

    Kath

    Ps. Im 5 yrs post treatment now and doing fine.

  • Hi there

    I am also stage 2 (b) and had a right hemicolectomy in July 2024.  My surgeon recommended that I could benefit from adjuvant chemo but when I saw my oncologist he mentioned a trial to me TRACC Part C in conjunction with the Royal Marsden Hospital.  It's a ctDNA trial to look for circulating tumour cells after surgery.   To qualify i had to be high risk stage 2 or stage 3, be post surgery and be N0M0.  I really didn't want to have chemo if surgery would have got all the cancer out so doing the trial for me was a no brainer as there was a 50:50 chance of having or not having chemo based on the blood test result.  I got randomised into the testing group and my first blood test in October was negative and am now awaiting the second blood test results.  Good luck to you.