Rectal Cancer

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Hi Everyone

I was diagnosed in early January with Stage 3 rectal cancer. My treatment starts in two weeks' time with five days of radiotherapy, followed a few weeks later by IV Oxaliplatin and Capecitabine tablets for four three weekly cycles. Then an operation to remove the rectum and surrounding lymph nodes. I'll have a temporary ileostomy and then a reversal operation. There are lots of things that worry me about all this, especially the side effects of the radiotherapy. I'm also worried about the ileostomy reversal, which might leave me with LARS. Maybe it would be better to have a permanent ileostomy? If anyone has been through something similar and has any advice, I'd be very grateful to hear from you. Thanks.

Kareno62 over 3 years ago

Hi Elaine and welcome to the board. If you click on my name then you can see my treatment to date although things have changed a little over the last couple of years with people having shorter more intense radiotherapy sessions. I’ll attach links to a couple of posts that we have running about radiotherapy and chemo.

https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer_types/bowel-colon-rectum-cancer-forum/f/bowel-colon-rectum-cancer-forum/221768/chemo-care-top-tips--

https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer_types/bowel-colon-rectum-cancer-forum/f/new-here-say-hello/227598/radiotherapy-care-top-tips

I found the radiotherapy to be very doable - I was given a bag of pills and lotions to combat any side effects and the radiographers keep a close eye on you. Any side effects tend to clear up after a couple of weeks

With regard to having your Ileostomy reversed and LARS I would cross that bridge when you get to it. Radiotherapy is given to shrink the tumour and until the surgeon removes it then he won’t know how much of the rectum he will have to remove and how much you will be left with. You will discuss any reversal with the surgeon and he will be able to advise you on the LARS side of things. There is an online LARS calculator and I scored pretty highly on it but I’m pretty much ok since my reversal in 2018 - your bowels will never to go back to how they were but you can get used to a new normal.

Hope this helps and feel free to ask if there’s anything else you want to know - there is nothing too daft or embarrassing on here!

Take care

Karen x

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

Gemmary over 3 years ago

Elaine, don't over worry about LARS, this is livable with. Can't comment on the ileostomy as I was able to be rejoined!! Take care

Elaine over 3 years ago in reply to Kareno62

Many thanks for the links and your helpful reply Karen. I must learn to take one step at a time and one day at a time!

Elaine over 3 years ago in reply to Gemmary

Thanks Gemmary, that's reassuring. There are some things I've read about LARS which seem to make quality of life very poor. I suppose everyone is different. I must hope for the best!