Watch and wait research

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Hi all,

I am on a watch and wait program for rectal cancer after a radiologically complete response. My last scans, sigmoidoscopies etc were around 14 months since I finished radiotherapy and fortunately were clear and I have more coming up this month.

I noticed this very interesting research for anyone on a watch and wait program "Conditional Survival in Patients With Rectal Cancer and Complete Clinical Response Managed by Watch and Wait After Chemoradiation Recurrence Risk Over Time"

https://journals.lww.com/annalsofsurgery/Fulltext/2020/07000/Conditional_Survival_in_Patients_With_Rectal.38.aspx

The main conclusion is "Conditional survival suggests that patients have significantly lower risks (≤10%) of developing recurrences after 2 years of achieving cCR following nCRT."

I have only had a quick read of these so could be wrong but I think this includes the risk of distant metastasis. So all in all if someone can manage to not have a recurrence or metastasis for the first two years, then you have an over 90% chance of being disease free 3 years after that.

Don't rely on this summary as I have only had a very quick look at the research so could be wrong in my interpretation, please read the research for yourself.

It is 18 months since I finished radiotherapy. I am obviously hoping that I can make it to the 2 year clear mark which would be a very important milestone.

Best of luck to all on this forum

Jogey over 5 years ago

apologies this is a repeated post. The new website did not seem to add the first post so I did it again and I don't know how to delete it

AnnieMC50 over 5 years ago

Hi Jogey

thanks for this. I have just gone past 2 years and just had recent sigmoidoscopy and scans. All clear. Will read this with interest .. when are your scans ? Xxx Annie xxx

Jogey over 5 years ago in reply to AnnieMC50

Hi Annie,

Congratulations on the two years! So pleased for you as it looks to be a very significant milestone for reducing risk.

CT scan on August 8th. Don't have dates yet for sigmoidoscopy and mri but they are due in august. Had a CEA in June which was good at 1.4.

court over 5 years ago in reply to Jogey

Lovely to hear you are both doing so well . So encouraging.

It was also my understanding that there is a big dive in recurrences after two years with bowel cancer . The further you are away from it the better it seems to be .

I think it’s a post that’s worth posting twice .

So good to hear you are doing well with watch and wait too! Glad it is working out that way for you .

Take care ,

Court

Helpline Number 0808 808 0000

Jogey over 5 years ago in reply to court

Thanks a lot Court much appreciated. I hope you are well too