Hi all, I was diagnosed with rectal cancer, T3 tumor, stage IIa in mid-October. I finished 6 weeks of chemo and radiation at the end of January. It was rough at times, with spasms in my bowels being particularly painful early on, but that was treated with a medication and then got better as the treatment went on. The skin got really bad at the end, particularly the week after treatment ended, but that has healed really well now three weeks out. Daily moisturizing and then an ointment that was a mixture of Aquaphor and lidocaine really seemed to help. Fatigue and brain fog have been real, but ok.

I had an MRI at the beginning of last week, which I'm learning now was rather early compared to what's recommended as the radiation continues to work up to 8 weeks after treatment. But nonetheless, got really great news from the doctor on Wednesday that the tumor is gone. In the notes from the visit, the medical oncologist called my result "unbelievable" and "very surprising", especially only two and a half weeks out from treatment. This will need to be examined in an endoscopy on March 10, but may make me a candidate for "watch and wait" rather than lead directly to surgery, which is the protocol.

Anyway, it's really helpful to read the stories here (and hard to read them, I have to add), but am sharing mine in case it's helpful to anyone else. What a weird chapter of life we have all wandered into. Wishing peace and grace to all on this journey.

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