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Just diagnosed with rectal cancer.
Good morning all. I’m writing as I’m sure hundreds of thousands have before me. Was having some issues over last year and decided to finally get a colonoscopy done. What came back was not good and needless to say I’m scared &&@“less. I’m trying to find some positivity but it’s very hard at the moment. All the immediate thoughts that flood your mind are overwhelming. Never in a thousand years did I think I’d ever be diagnosed with any type of cancer. A large polyp was found and biopsied and they’re saying it in fact does look like rextal cancer. Had the catscan done and a few lymph nodes are affected and there is a new spot on the lower lung. Talking with my new oncologist nurse she said she’s had patients in same situation that have had the area removed from lung if it indeed has spread to there. My bloodwork came back good which is odd to me. I don’t really have any other symptoms as far as anemia vomiting jaundice etc. is this normal or is it a positive in a sense? I know I’m rambling and just looking for support. I go for MRI and petscan hopefully next week to get a more definitive answer as to where I’m at. Just lost at the moment and looking for inspiration I suppose idk. Just need another place to vent and open up. Anyone on this journey I wish the best for and hopefully we can all find a way to beat this! Thank you for reading if you have. I appreciate you.
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Suggest you read up on the possible side effects of radiation and the Prospect Trial.
The PROSPECT trial (Alliance N1048) is a phase III study establishing that selective use of pelvic radiation (chemoradiation) can be avoided for many locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) patients. It found that neoadjuvant FOLFOX chemotherapy followed by surgery (total mesorectal excision) is noninferior to standard chemoradiation for disease-free survival.
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2 Reactions@jaspithill1946 I will look it up. Met with oncologist yesterday and they’re wanting to do 8 cycles of Folfox. Then after we go from there with possible LAR surgery and see where we’re at.
I had 12 cycles of Folfox. 8 probably would have been sufficient.
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1 Reaction@jaspithill1946 I’ve heard treatment has come a long way. Did you have any severe side effects? I know I’ll have a few im sure and everyone reacts differently. Said hair loss and vomiting aren’t highly likely but we’ll see
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1 Reaction@johnmac14 glad to hear things have gone well. What stage were you? They’ve finally given me stage 3a stating it’s low risk
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1 ReactionI think I was more fortunate than most in terms of side effects. The worst side effect one time, when returning my 48-hour chemo-to-go, was feeling like “a hangover from a really bad cold,” as I told the chemo nurse. I always drove myself to my chemo sessions without any problems.
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3 Reactions@jaspithill1946 yes, I have heard that 8 treatments do the most good….pain-gain ratio should be a consideration….docs often over-prescribe…I’d want to test after 6 or 8 to see how it’s going.
@clayc84, this does sound like things are moving forward and hopeful. I'm sure it was explained that chemotherapy is sometimes given before surgery to help shrink the tumor. This is done to improve the outcome of surgery, allowing the surgery to get clear margins. Clear margins are healthy tissue around the tumor, so that cancer cells are not left behind.
As you prepare for chemo and then surgery, you may appreciate these related discussions:
- Folfox chemo: What side effects to expect?https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/folfox-chemo-regimen-side-effects/
- Rectal Cancer Surgery: Anyone have LAR (low anterior resection)?https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/rectal-cancer-surgery/
When do you start chemo?
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2 Reactions@colleenyoung thank you for your response! I start the 23rd of this month and I go this coming Monday for the install of my port.
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3 Reactions@clayc84
They never actually gave me a level, just said it was early. My lower lymph nodes were involved.