Refusing folfox treatment after chemoradiation

@115
So sorry to hear that. They may find that the polyp you have is not cancer.
In my case the next treatment after xeloda I should receive is Folfox.
You should ask your oncologist, so you can start to research about the chemo drugs. The hard part is that everyone reacts differently to the drugs so it make it harder to decide what to do.
My heart is with you

@girafe the oncologist I saw after surgery was more like a pushy salesman.
Totally unimpressed.
Much better experience after our move to Florida.

@girafe thank you I do appreciate that. They suggested Folfox for me too with a device that you wear for an additional 2 days. But then my oncologist said I could keep taking Xeludo. I don’t know what to do. I have to have this upper endoscopy done also the 1st biopsy showed some dysplasia. I’ve canceled it twice because of my treatment schedule and complications from the steroids I had to take to have a CT scan. I really want to figure this out and I’m sure I will.

@115 I got the results of the biopsy and it is benign. At first I it scared me into thinking I needed the chemo right away. After a weekend of worrying and talking to my SIL who is surviving stage 4 anal cancer, I wonder what would they be treating if the scans are clear and the biopsy is ok. What are my next steps?

@115 I just talked with my surgeon and although the biopsy was normal & the scans clear he feels I would benefit from more chemo. His stage of cancer for me is T3NO Stage 2 A.

@115 I got the results of my MRI and it is great T0N0. I was T3N1 before chemo radiation.
I saw my oncologist today and she told me the same as you. She recommended folfox treatment anyway so if there is any cells still alive it would be taken care of.
I do not know yet what I am going to do.

I talked with my surgeon yesterday and he gave me a site to read more about it. Basically I’ve only completed 6 wks of the 6 mo protocol. That’s why they recommend more chemo because they can’t be 100% sure the cancers gone. I had a really tough time with the Xeludo drug as I had an upper endoscopy prior to taking it and my stomach wasn’t healed enough. I just want time to build my body back up before I start anything else. Did they biopsy any of your lymph nodes? I think that’s why they’re uncertain about my case because they didn’t for me.

@115
No I had no biopsy of the lymph node. Could you share the site he advised you to read. Thank you so much.

@girafe I am on a "watch and wait" protocol. Every 3 months, I get a MRI, I see my surgeon for a proctoscopy and meet with my oncologist. I was told because the size of my tumor, there is a good chance it will come back. We will monitor closely. They won't call it remission until I hit 3 years with no sign but so far so good. It was weird being on folfox. I wore the pump to work and it was annoying but once it was done, I missed it. I felt like it was protecting me.

I hope you are well.

@girafe The site is Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer. I read some good information but now that I had an Upper Endoscopy my Gastro Dr said I really should try and power through with more chemo. It’s part of the 6 mo protocol because they can’t be 100% sure it’s gone. I’m more open to it now that I’m feeling stronger.