1. < Colorectal Cancer

Is anyone here on the Wait and Watch program instead of surgery?

Posted by evo @evo, Jan 17 2:21am

Please I need help with making a decision for Wait and watch program or surgery to permanently remove my rectum and given a permanent stoma. I have had an excellent response from chemoradiotherapy but surgeon still insist on doing a surgery. Apparently there's a 30 percent reoccurrence chance of cancer. Please anybody with this experience or information or anything should help me with this please please 🙏

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Feb 10 1:54pm
In reply to @eete "I am hoping to undergo 'watch & wait', I am 33 and was diagnosed with T4b..." + (show)
@eete

I am hoping to undergo 'watch & wait', I am 33 and was diagnosed with T4b rectal cancer.

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@eete, is this a new diagnosis for you? Do you know what type of rectal cancer you have, for example: adenocarcinoma (most common) or neuroendocrine/carcinoid tumor? Have you talked about treatment options with your team yet?

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jaspithill1946 | @jaspithill1946 | Feb 15 10:17am

Who is your surgeon to insist anything? Do not hesitate to object to a health care providers’ directives that do not align with your values and sensibilities. That’s not to say you should ignore sound, medical advice, but ultimately ALL decisions are yours; just make sure they are well informed decisions.

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troysmom1 | @troysmom1 | 4 days ago

I too am on watch and wait. My cancer is colon cancer and I had surgery and the ends were clean. I am waiting 6 months after a 3 month CT and MRI for my next check. I seem to be feeling ok, but I have lynch syndrome so this makes me uneasy, but prayer helps so much. I was told my cancer would not respond to chemotherapy. So I am pray fully waiting and living my best life day to day.

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jaspithill1946 | @jaspithill1946 | 2 days ago
In reply to @20pinckney "I understand all too well the difficulty regarding APR. I have had all my Mayo physicians..." + (show)
@20pinckney

I understand all too well the difficulty regarding APR. I have had all my Mayo physicians and the tumor board say for "cure" that is what I need to do. I am 77 and not a fan of major surgery at this stage without any metastases, no concrete evidence of any cancer at this time in lower rectum, I feel good, take dance fitness class and walk 1-2 miles most days. My cancer took a year and a half to find as it was inside a large tumor upon which they did an transanal resection. I was unable to complete the full chemo/radiation course as a result of a stroke-like reaction to an infusion. However, the tumor got much smaller and I was told I had a Near-complete response. I have read the MSK report and, 3-4 months post treatment, there was no change in size of the tumor. I go back in early April for another set of scans. I may be forced to have the surgery at some point, but I just cannot justify it now. They cite markers in the scans that point to the likelihood the remaining tumor contains cancer still. After study of all the tests, I have decided to wait and see. Good luck. I will cross my fingers for you.

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20pinckney - My situation sounds somewhat similar to yours. I’m not concerned with my longevity, the “cure”, but at 78 years old I am 100% concerned with my Quality of Life for my remaining years. My wife and I enjoy visiting our grandchildren, traveling on river and ocean cruise, and Bags and Diapers don’t fit well with those activities. I hope you will update this blog with your developments and decisions, and I wish you the very best. Jack

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mjdavey36 | @mjdavey36 | 1 day ago

We are in your same situation, Mom finished FOLFOX Treatment in the Fall and in January the scans showed the the mass had shrunk and the biopsy showed not cancerous. Yet the Surgeon who defines success as zero remainder of the mass was suggesting the surgery. We've decided to Watch and Wait and they will recheck every 4 months. How was your CEA blood levels?

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