How long was the time between diagnosis to surgery for you?

@nikodean, there are guidelines that doctors follow to help with treatment decision-making. Chemo before surgery is called neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Chemo after surgery is adjuvant chemotherapy.

This article explains some of the reasons one may be used over the other for cancer like colon cancer, rectal cancer, breast cancer, pancreatic cancer and others.
- What's the difference: Adjuvant and neoadjuvant therapies https://www.cancercenter.com/community/blog/2019/01/whats-the-difference-adjuvant-and-neoadjuvant-therapies

Many stage 2 colon cancers have grown through the wall of the colon, and maybe into nearby tissue, but they have not spread to the lymph nodes. It is possible that they wish to shrink your cousin's tumor with chemo and radiation to make sure they can extract the tumor cleanly. This is a great question to ask the cancer team.

Has your cousin started treatment yet?

Why do some people get surgery before chemo, and some, many months after? Is there an answer to this other than “that’s what the doctor thinks is best?” Are there any rules that doctors follow when coming up with their approach that are evidence based? My cousin was diagnosed a few weeks ago and they want to do chemo pills for 3 months and radiation and then I believe 6 months later, do surgery. The tumor is ~5 centimeters (I think) and they say it’s stage 2. It just doesn’t make sense to me to wait to take it out, but hey, I’m not a doctor. Thanks.

I had my pre op yesterday and they didn’t give me an ekg. Does that seem normal? I should have asked but didn’t think if it until after the fact

All the best with your follow up appointment today, @ruthg. How is your recovery from surgery going?

I was diagnosed with stage 3 rectal cancer in May 2018. I had six months of chemotherapy and radiation. I had colostomy surgery in February 2019. In October 2022 doctor told me that the cancer had returned so I am now getting chemotherapy again.

I had surgery 4 days after diagnosis. Our private health care in South Africa is phenomenal.

Hi Everyone
I am South African and live in Johannesburg.
I had a colonoscopy on Thursday 11 August 2022 Gastroenterologist found a tumor. Biopsies were taken and the following day I was informed that it was malignant. My doctor said I needed surgery asap and he put me in touch with the top laprascopic doctor in the country. I was admitted on Monday 15th August and sent for CT scan with contrast- which was clear Bloods were pulled as well- also clear
surgery was done that afternoon. I had a right hemicolectomy.
I started preventative/precautionary chemotherapy called FOLFOX on 19 September
2022. It's been vicious and I am bed ridden for 10 days after each treatment. The Neupogen made me feel like my bones were exploding..
I'm one of the minority of people who responds very badly but I am managing my symptoms with Tramadol, ondansetron and imodium.
It's not easy but it's a small price to pay for my health.

Sending strength and courage to you all.
Dr. Keely Owen

I had a colonoscopy on November 8, 2022 and by December 5, 2022 had a CT scan and staging. s surgical consult and surgery. I am at home recovering and have a two week check with the surgeon on December 22, 2022.

Hello, I truly understand how you must feel, as I too was recently diagnosed with stage 3A colon cancer. Here is my story: October 20, 2022 I had my colonoscopy and endoscopy. I was told afterward that my doctor found a small tumor in my colon, but it was caught at an early stage and was treatable. The doctor put in a referral for me to get a CT scan, and to see a surgeon and an oncologist. I met with the oncologist on October 27, 2022 and then went to get the CT scan the same day. The oncologist said it was caught early and is treatable, but they would know more once the CT scan results came in. On October 30, 2022 I met with the surgeon, and when the CT scan results came in the following week, I was told nothing had spread, which was good news. I had the surgery on November 15, 2022. Not sure this will be very helpful, as every facility is different, but my recommendation is that you contact your surgeon's and oncologist's offices and ask their nurse or medical assistant to please get a message to the doctors to see if you could get in for surgery sooner. The surgeries are prioritized in order of severity, so consider it good news that they did not rush you in right away. It depends on the doctors' case load, so it could be that there are several people ahead of you who have a more severe situation. It is better to be proactive where your health is concerned, and don't be afraid to let your doctors know how you feel and that you appreciate their helping to expedite your case. Please keep us updated on your situation. You are not alone.

Guess what! The surgeon moved it to 12/27! Two weeks away now. Sometimes it helps to advocate for yourself. I emailed and just said I was afraid to wait and they bumped me.