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← Return to Stage 3 colon cancer: What's your experience?
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Stage 3 colon cancer: What's your experience?
Colorectal Cancer | Last Active: Sep 5, 2023 | Replies (52)Comment receiving replies
Thank you for the response and information. My surgeon did say I will need chemo but didn’t seem to be worried that I wouldn’t beat it with chemo but then yes explained the cancer is out of my body but that small fragments or cells could remain. The oncologist was the same saying chemo is the best option to truly get all the cancer out. I start next week. I’m terrified but I want to follow to recommendations. I don’t know what else to do.
Replies to "Thank you for the response and information. My surgeon did say I will need chemo but..."
I have just completed my 8th chemo session. I had a port inserted in my chest and have about 4hrs on a drip on Wednesdays, then go home with a small chemo pump which gets removed on Friday. I can say you feel absolutely exhausted after chemo but after about 4 days start to get some energy back.
I have not had hair loss or nausea (they gave me nausea tablets during each 3 day session) and I have also kept a healthy appetite. I don't know exactly what chemo I was on but was told it targeted fast growing cells. You will experience a kind of metallic taste and slight stinging sensation in nostrils and mouth, but it is nothing you will not be able to cope with. I will say, I was expecting chemo to be much worse. Expect to feel really fatigued after each session but you start to get energy back as the days progress until your next session.
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I think that after cancer surgery and with a doctor feeling that all cancer was removed, a majority of Oncologists will still recommend chemo regardless. I get it. There's always that chance that a cancer cell remained. ( * but isn't that the reason we do blood tests and CT Scans ?)
So the patient looks upon chemo as insurance against something bad happening.
In reality, something bad will come to approximately 40% of all colon cancer patients that will see the cancer return in 2 to 3 years after surgery, chemo &/or radiation.
So I could be doing chemo right now immediately after surgeries for a couple of years or so and still see cancer return afterwards.
While I wait to see if cancer returns, I am so far living a normal life free of pain or sickness at this time.
I seriously feel as good as I ever have and no one could guess that I have had two major surgeries in the past 7 months.
I have side stepped chemo in favor of blood testing every 3 months and CT Scans every 4 months. At 7 months thereafter, I'm good so far.
So I am choosing quality of life rather than chemo at this time and until future tests dictate otherwise.
I am at peace with my decision.
Life in itself is a gamble and I'm gambling that some period of time without chemo is better than with.
This is me. Others have to make a decision that is right for them.