Treatment Or No Treatment

I am 62 yrs old and have stage three colon cancer with 2 Lympnode's involved. I had a Tumer in the colon area removed on Dec 14, 2005. Surgery went fine. I feel great and enjoying life to fullest. My Surgeon says I need chemo. I met with my oncologist and she has talked to me about all my choices with Chemo. At this age in my life I'm not really sure Chemo is what I want. Is there anyone out there that has elected to do nothing with stage 3 colon cancer. If so how are you feeling? Quality of life is more important to me than Quantity. This has to be the hardest decision I've ever made in my life.

Hi,my name is Michelle and my mother passed away on Dec 21st of stage 4 colon cancer. You need to fight! Being only 62 with stage 3 your chances of surviving is great. My mother had a chemo treatment called FOLFOX which worked so well for 11 months and se felt great (a bit tired) and didn't ever get sick. Unfortunatly for my mom her cancer metadtisized to her liver and lungs and thats what put her to her death. However, you should fight because the chemo works wit little side effects. Go for it!!!
Good luck, Michelle

At 44 I have been diagnosed with Stage IV with mets to the liver. Started chemo last week with 18 weeks to go. I'm on FOLFIFI which lasts two days out of 2 weeks. Side effects not that bad for me ( cramping,occasional flashes) and they're gone two days or so after the treatment ends. Be it 42 or 62, each day is precious and well worth the fight. By doing nothing you can be assured things will only progress and your quality of life will alter. Hang in there and give anything a shot.

Hi Miss Kim,

While you wait to decide on chemo or not, you should do something to stop any cancer that may still be there from spreading. *** I have and had colon cancer since 2004 and did the same as you. While I was deciding to have surgery or not, I was told about a way to prevent the cancer from spreading. I took two products to prevent the spread of any cancer that I had. They are from Dr. Rath’s Cellular Health Programs. They are Vitacor Plus and Epican Forte. *** To down load the information on how the products prevent the spread of cancer go to www4.dr-rath-foundation.org , put the arrow on Publication Library and click on Books. Scroll down to the cancer on and download it. *** I just tried to get to that web site and could not get to it for some reason. You can do a search for Vitacor Plus and get info on it, but they want $ for the booklet on how it works. *** I had the colon cancer in 2004 and had it cut out. No chemo after. It came back in 2005 and we did some things to find out why I pulled the cancer back in and it went away. Here it is 2006 and it came back. This time we are doing some things to find out why I keep pulling the cancer back in. *** All that aside, I have had that colon cancer off and on for three years now and the colon is the only place that I have had it. Three CAT scans have shown that I have no cancer anywhere else. So Dr. Rath's product must be doing some good. *** As far as the chemo, I took Xeloda at a lower dose for 25 days and never had side effects. Of course I was taking Mannatech products: Ambrotose, Phyt-Aloe, PLUS and Catalyst. This is to aid my body to fight the cancer and reduce the potential effects of the chemo and radiation. *** To decide about the chemo, inform yourself honestly about the objectives and actions of the chemo industry, brushing aside all bias and rumor. That last might be hard to do, but try to do it. *** Then examine the statistics for chemo. Don't just listen to the statistics, but look at them. and then decide. *** By the way, I am still taking Vitacor Plus, Epican Forte, Ambrotose, Phyt-Aloe, PLUS and Catalyst. *** May you have many well years ahead of you, Max

Thanks Michelle.

Hi Max,
Thanks for all your info. what stage colon cancer do you have?

Hi Ian. If only there was a chemo that didn't destroy the good cells, I would have no questions on what to do. Right now I'm eating healthy and staying very active. My next appt. with my oncologist is Tues. March 7. Blood work will be done to check my CEA. My cea was perfect three weeks ago, hopefully it is still the same.
Good luck with your chemo.

Hi Miss Kim,

Just like you, stage three.

Max

I'm 52 and had tumor removed with part of my colon on March 4, 2005. I had 5 limphnodes involved. Then I had 6 month Chemo with medium side effects. It has been almost 6 month since my last chemo. I do CT scan every 3 month with blood work and 1 colonoscopy test and I'm still clear from cancer. I suggest to do chemo as this is more probability to survive and have both quality and quantity of your life. Having cancer cells in limphnodes is having short cut to spread cancer out into critical organs such as lung and liver which is hard to treat.
No matter, what you decide, try to stay on healthy diet that can improve your immune system to fight the cancer.
Good luck,
aranb

I am sorry to hear you have colon cancer. I do know two people that have had colon cancer, one did not have treatment and died quickly after. My mom was diagnosed with reoccuring colon cancer in her liver. She no longer had colon cancer in her colon but three years later, it was in her liver. My advise to you is to get chemo. No, I have not gone through it, but my mom has and the only thing that is truly bothering her is the neuropathy, but unless you have a mets tumor you most likely will not her this because it was caused from oxiplatin. My mom continued to go to work throughout her chemo. She is a fighter and has had an amazing quality of life.

I completely understand when you say you want QUALity of life, not quantity. My uncle died of a brain tumor two years ago, glioblastoma. He did not want treatment and lived an amazing life for 4 months after diagnosis. He said it was the most difficult decision ever, but he wanted to spend every moment enjoying life.


His cancer was very different than my moms. She has the chance to fight and she is fighting. Is it a piece of cake? No, judging from her fatigue its not but is it tolerable absolutely. I am so proud of my mom, she is 54 years old and still full of life.

She had 6 months of the 5folfox (?) and then started radiation 4 weeks ago. She remains strong, takes her vitamins, eats healthy organiz foods and takes green tea, EGCG, pills. Many people believe in a wide variety of things but when it comes down to it you have to do what your heart tells you. I wanted my uncle to fight but it was HIS decision and that was the hardest to accept but he lived a happy life (died one month after his 50th birthday) and was able to tell his family he loved them.

As far as CEA levels go, don't count on them. They can or can not be accurate. What do the PET scans show?

Also, three years ago they told me mom she had stage 1 colon cancer, after surgery they said they 'got it all.' What they failed to mention is that 65% of people have it reoccur in their lungs or liver within three years. I wish my mom would have been offered chemo. Would it have helped? I don't know but I think it would have been worth the chance.

Do your research...not just on the internet also. Look for credible sources such as medical journals.

Talk with your doc and please get more than one opinion even if you are comfortable, it does not hurt anyone.

When it comes down to it, you have much more life to live and you deserve every moment life has to offer. I wish the best for you.

Jaime