Stage 3 colon cancer: What's your experience?

We know what the Oncologist will say and tell you ; have a good discussion with your surgeon first or at least seek a second opinion.
This is just my opinion based on personal experience to date.
Actually, your saying that the surgeon didn't seem too concerned of your stage 3 and was ok with it is troubling.
Best Wishes to you !

What is your Personal experience? The oncologist said I will need 6 months of chemo every two weeks. It sounds like that is my best option. The surgeon felt that my cancer is all gone and had removed 27 lymph nodes which is good but since 7 had cancer I guess chemo it is. The oncologist said that some people don’t opt for chemo but didn’t recommend that. I am going to do the chemo. I am interested In your thoughts and experience though.

Apparently you did some online research and said that "Google tells a different story" as compared to your surgeon, right?
Your Oncologist told you, "Some people don't opt for chemo but didn't recommend that". I'm shocked.
But prior to that, your surgeon said to you that your "cancer is all gone". So why didn't you run with that and seek an alternate plan to chemo ?
The destruction done to one's health by chemo should be taken seriously and in my opinion, avoided at all cost, at least until cancer returns as seen in blood tests and CT Scans every 90 days.
A lot of people begin chemo at a time where no cancer is evident. Especially under that circumstance, for me, chemo is a hard sell.
Again, best wishes to you in your journey !

I was stage 2A, could have been stage 1 but it has spread a bit to colon wall. I was also considered higher risk because I have ulcerative colitis. I had surgery first, because the tumor was causing a partial obstruction. I had no lymph node involvement and it had not spread. My surgeon wasn’t involved in the oncology decision. My oncologist gave me the choice of doing nothing further, or doing three months of chemo. That was his recommendation and I felt confident in his recommendation so gave chemo a try. Ultimately, I wasn’t able to finish, but I’m glad I tried everything. Chemo definitely has side effects and risk, but microscopic cancer cells can remain. Maybe get a second opinion? Lymph node involvement would also worry me a bit so I would try and fight it with everything.

I was at a cancer center and my surgeon did say he didn’t think chemo would be needed. But it wasn’t his call. I also had to meet with a hematology oncologist due to a blood clot I developed after surgery. He had said it could go either way. But I think you’re making the right choice by following the oncologist. For me, knowing there was more I could do was enough motivation

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.

Christmas gift of Colon Cancer Stage 3
Hi all, new to this group. Have learned a lot so wanted to first say thanks!! After a colonoscopy FINALLY, was diagnosed with Colon Cancer in upper ascending colon, they attempted laparoscopic surgery to remove it, but found it was too close to abdomen side wall to cut around. So, next... will be 3-5 months???? of immunotherapy (Keytruda) to try to shrink it somewhat first. I have had two treatments thus far and thus far no big side effects. I was experiencing some pretty bad pain from the tumor but that has subsided this week. (I was sure keeping Advil company in business tho!!) My understanding is that immunotherapy works quite slowly compared to chemo, so hard to believe any changes in tumor could have already happened?? Am more than willing to share what I have learned and/or experiences during this process . Thanks again for this resource!! Ruth

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.

I got my port put in today. Part of my choice for chemo is because of my age. I’m quite young. Early 40s. My wife was very worried about me getting chemo too but the oncologist was very certain that this would be the best chance of living saying that the chemo would kill left over cancer cells. He said if we wait then the cancer could go to the liver ir lungs resulting in stage 4 cancer. My wife is more on your plan but I definitely feel the chemo is the best choice for me. But I have respect for your choice as well. There’s a lot of research about healthy living and beating cancer from coming back. May I ask you age range? If I was older I would probably not have taken chemo. I’m afraid so I’m trying to find comfort in my choice I guess.

I would first want you to not be afraid facing any health procedure be it surgeries, cancer treatments or more.
Go into this with clear determination and all of your strength that you will beat cancer !
Relieve yourself of worry and stress and march in saying, "OK. This is good. Let's get this over with !"
Attitude helps when facing adversity. Relax, smile, make a joke, hear others laugh. Hug your wife.
I am male, single, no nearby family and left my house on 30 occasions by myself driving to doctors appointments, hospitals for tests, surgeries and follow-ups.
My determination to successfully accomplish all of this while alone got me through. NEVER AFRAID.
I am 72. I don't act 72.
In my favor was being of normal weight, no high blood pressure, no high cholesterol, not being diabetic and in overall good health.
I sincerely wish you great success and great years ahead for you !!
Paul

Hi,
You have a great attitude! I am also on Keytruda w/ Avastin. It's all manageable. In fact for my 51st bday last week, I took myself on an 8 mile two peak hike in SoCal (escaping Chicago winter helps w/ the neuropathy in extremities).
Keep hydrated, keep attractive, and keep smiling.