Watch and wait or APR

Have a look Jogey profile and previous posts? It’s a tough decision especially when it’s such a big op. If you opted for watch and wait have they said how regularly you would be checked? x

Hi Vic40 

I echo that, if you look at my profile and search for the thread 'rectal cancer watch and wait' it will give you a flavour of my over 6 year experience. In short I have been clear for 6 years plus, but I recently failed the FIT test and colonoscopy today has found a small nodule that needs to be investigated.

Hi ive had APR surgery which like you say is major surgery 

I'm healing slowly and know it will take a long time but it eas my only option after chemo radiotherapy and then 6 cycles of chemo .I've spoken to others who had it last year and they are now getting on with their lives .xx

Hi,

I am in a similar position. T3 rectal cancer diagnosed in October 24, chemotherapy for 4 sessions over December, Jan - until I had PICC line failure, then Chemo-radiotherapy finishing early April. Same response as you - now given decision whether to have surgery with possible/probable life changing outcomes (tumour was very low down) or "watch and wait". Finding it very difficult to pick the "right" option!

Although feeling lucky that the cancer reacted so well to the treatment I feel the surgery option to be too much belt and braces with lots of risk. However, "watch and wait" seems like rolling the dice without knowing how many numbers are on the dice.

Surgery has been pencilled in for 30th June but I'm looking for other options with the medical team or possibly just being swayed towards the active surveillance route...

Never had such a difficult decision to make in my life.

Thank you. They said it would be a sigmoidoscopy and MRI every 3 months for the first year.

Thank you for your reply, it was really useful to read. I am pleased to hear that your recent scans were clear too. 

Thanks for your reply. I'm glad to hear you are getting there with the healing process. 

I share those thoughts too! I feel very lucky for the response but it is one of the hardest decisions I have had to make. I go round in circles with my decision. I have seen a surgeon now and have surgery planned sometime in July, just awaiting a date. I am hoping the surgery will enable me to get some closure perhaps but my mind is constantly thinking about watch and wait. I would be interested to hear if your team came up with any alternatives. Good luck with your decision and let me know how you get on.

Hi I had the same story as you and had a really good response to chemoradiotherapy. I went on to watch and wait but on my second sigmoidoscopy about 6 months after chemoradiotherapy ended they found a suspicious area which proved to be a recurrence and so I went through APR surgery  I found recovery was probably easier for me as I already had a colostomy wishing you all the best with your decision. 

Hi 

My diagnosis and treatment pathway was very similar to yours although I also had four contact radiotherapy sessions (Papillon) after achieving a near complete response to chemoradiation and chemo.  I found the watch and wait journey stressful although short lived, with recurrence detected on sogmoidoscopy after 6 months.  I had robotically assisted APR surgery in January this year and have recovered well overall. I think being as physically fit as possible before the surgery really helps with recovery although it does take some time and patience.  Good luck with your decision.