I was diagnosed last April 2023, my tumor was 5 cm, lower rectum. Stage 3 as it was in one lump node. My local surgeon did the same thing, wanted to take everything out, put a bag on me for life and then to chemo. All this over the phone, didn't even take time to meet with me and do an exam. Said it was in my spinchter too..made an appointment at Dana Farber in Boston. They read my MRI, PET Scan and bloodwork. Not in my spinchter at all…after a very thorough exam, both the surgeon and oncologist told me..there will be no surgery, we are going to cure you and if you have any surgery done after treatment, it will be done in Boston. I could finally breath again. Fast forward…5 weeks, of radiation along with chemo pills, then IV Chemo every other week for 8 cycles with oxilplatin, and my tumor is gone. Second scan, still gone, Going for my third one next week…If I had listened to my surgeon in my home town, it would have been much worse. Sometimes cutting into a cancer mass can make it spread…so greatful Dana Farber is only 4 hours away. I was able to have all my treatments in my hometown, but my team of heroes are at Dana Farber, who set up my treatments to help me keep my rectum. So far, still have some side effects, but getting better every month...