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Stage 3 colon cancer: What's your experience?

Colorectal Cancer | Last Active: Sep 5, 2023 | Replies (52)

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@paul28

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.

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Replies to "I think that after cancer surgery and with a doctor feeling that all cancer was removed,..."

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.

My oncologist gave me the same 40% figure but said that chemo would reduce the risk to around 25%. That seemed to me to make the chemo worth a try but time will tell!