Treatment choice

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Hi all

I had my MRI for staging my rectal cancer but they told me in my meeting that they think it's Stage 2 but they won't know for sure until surgery.

They then gave me a choice for treatment:

Surgery to remove the sigmoid colon as it's very rigid with diverticular disease, the tumour and surrounding infected tissue and lymph node. They will also create a ileostomy which will be reversed. My spleen may also be removed. They will then follow that with mop up chemo. Then a CT scan every couple of years. This is booked for 4th November.

Or full chemo/radiation. However, taking this option will undoubtedly mean that I will end up with a permanent stoma. Plus, I will have to have a colonoscopy every 4 months and regular scans and check ups.

Chemo terrifies me and I don't want to become sick. I feel that there is also more risk with chemo as it may not work and I will then have to go thorough surgery anyway. I have an appointment with my oncologist next week to get more information as I think my lack of knowledge in this field is what's making me more afraid.

Has anyone else had this option and, if so, what did you do and how did it work out for you?

Susan13 7 hours ago

That's a brutal choice... but then again all the choices we make with cancer are a bit brutal. This is an extremely personal decision and you need to consider what works best for you. My case was very different.

The thing that jumps out at me from your post is the colon is "rigid with diverticular disease". It sounds like that area of your colon needs to come out anyway. So keep in mind that you may need the surgery eventually even if the cancer is eradicated by the radiation/chemo. This would be a good question for your doctor.

That said, surgery is no walk in the park. It is not necessarily the least impactful choice. Good luck!

Kareno62 3 hours ago

Hi RosieL25 Personally I would have the surgery to get the tumour removed as then it’s gone. There’s no guarantees that chemo radiotherapy would eradicate the tumour completely and then you’d be living from check up to check up to make sure there’s no recurrence.

Chemo can be tough but sometimes its reputation is worse than the actual experience. There can be a lot of side effects and everyone’s experience can be different but there are lots of pills and potions and options to reduce the dosage if you’re struggling. There’s a really great post on the go at the minute by people actually having chemo so go in with an open mind.

https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer_types/bowel-colon-rectum-cancer-forum/f/diagnosis/292722/capox-journey

Have a chat with your oncologist and ask anything you like about chemo on here and we’ll give you honest answers. Things were done a little differently back in 2016 when I was diagnosed but I had chemo radiotherapy which shrank the tumour from 4cm to 1cm then surgery with a temporary stoma then mop up chemo then a stoma reversal. I had a couple of set backs along the way but I’m still ‘no evidence of disease’.

Take care

Karen x

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