I've just been diagnosed with SCC of the rectum. The tumor is
small, only 2 cm, so the surgeon is calling it stage I, but we won't
know for sure until I get the transrectal ultrasound next week. The
bad news is, the tumor is too close to the anus for a simple operation,
so the only surgical option offered is APR. I don't have a problem
with having a permanent colostomy if it's going to eliminate the
problem once and for all.
However, my surgeon does not want to go
the colostomy route on a stage I tumor and is recommending External
Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT) and chemo. I am not sold on chemo, I've
done my research and the 5 year survival rate is only improved 0.1%
over those who do EBRT alone. The only advantage of adding chemo to
the EBRT is better local shrinkage of the tumor.
Another option
that I have discovered through my own research is EBRT combined with
endocavity (contact) radiation treatment According to the journal
articles I have read, success rate at five years with this combination is 100% for
uT1N0 tumors and 85% for uT2N0. This study was done on adenocarcinoma patients, so it may not directly apply, however, the sample space is so small for SCC of the rectum that this study is the best I can go on.
My question for the group. Has anyone used EBRT and
endocavity radiation treatments for their rectal cancer? If so, how long was the recovery and how bad was the pain during the recovery period?
Of course, I will be getting a 2nd and perhaps 3rd opinion before embarking on a course of treatment.