Very low rectal cancer, I've got so many questions

Posted by gabriel74 @gabriel74, Jun 8 2:25am

Hello all, Im new here.
Im Gabriel, 49 years old diagnosed on march 11 th with low rectal tumor sessile 2.1 cm.
after MRI it was discovered that tumor had not gone through rectal wall, but they did say 3 lymph nodes look swollen.
so the staging was set to T1-2 N1 M0
the tumor is 1.6 CM above the anorectal junction.
It was found during a routine colonoscopy, I had no symptoms whatsoever.
My oncologist put me on CAPOX, 4 rounds or oxiplatin and xeloda, then radiation for 5 weeks as part of my CRT.
I just finished my 3 out of 4 infusions today with oxiplatin
I was sent to see a surgeon, who straight out told me APR surgery with permanent colostomy.
didnt trust this surgeon much because he is a general surgeon, not a proctologist.
Got a second opinion with a proctologist, he said some surgeons do whats called a Sphincter preserving surgery, but he doesnt do that and all he would be able to do is APR.
he did feel inside and also looked inside and said he didnt feel anything, or saw anything. He looked puzzled and said chemo seems to be reducing the tumor size quite a bit.
Im now temped to do watch and wait if cCR is achieved, or at the very least seek a surgeon that can possibly do a sphincter preserving surgery.
Does anyone have any experience with this kind of situation?
Id like to preserve my anus, if at all possible
Does anyone know surgeons that do that procedure?
I live in Arizona
Thank you so much, God bless.

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crollins527 | @crollins527 | Jul 16 12:48pm

I too had a very low rectal tumor 5cm so staged at 3 due to the size. I did 6 months of chemo and 5 weeks of radiation. All the cancer was gone. first two scans were still gone. Had an MRI in June, some concerns for residual/recurrence disease. Just had biopsy at Brigham in Boston yesterday. Surgeon said it does not look like cancer, looks like scar tissue, but doing biopsy anyway. we are on the Watch and Wait. So far it has worked. Hope everything goes as we think this week. I have another friend doing the same treatment, she had a stage 2 rectal cancer. she is still clean after 6 months on the watch and wait. If it reoccurs we will need the surgery but I am okay with waiting and hopefully will never need it. I did go to a general surgeon when I was first diagnosed and they wanted to take everything out and put a bag on me. I got a second opinion at Dana Farber, they told me they were going to cure me and if I needed surgery, they would do it not a general surgeon…so much to think about with this disease.. hope this helps.