CancerCompass message board discussion started by addy45 on 5/13/2008 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,23978,0.htm Sat, 11 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT Sat, 11 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ Greetings,I just had colon cancer surgery (Anterior Resection) 6 weeks ago. Thank G-d the surgery was succesful and all the cancer was removed.Initially the Dr said it was a T1 but after they examined the section they removed they determined it was T3. Patology also indicated N0/3 M0.The Dr is now recomanding Chemo-Therapy to prevent future speading of cancer cells. I am very afraid of Chemo-Therapy due to short term and long term side effects.My question:Did anyone have a similar surgery and decided no to have the Chemo-Therapy. I am 63 years old and would like to know if there are any alternative treatments to Chemo-Therapy.Any HELP will be appreciated.Sincerely - Addy addy45 Tue, 13 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT I have been on chemo three times and radiation once and have no tumors or mets indicated on my last PET scan.  He could recommend infusion or oral chemo.  I have had every side effect you can think of and have endured it.  The alternative treaments are mostly diet oriented, acupuncture, etc.  I have gone the chemo route and found it very effective,  Your oncologist should go over all the alternatives with you.  Make sure thery do - ask many questions.  I was also stage 3 a and then 3b after analysis of the tissue.  That was almost three years ago.  Stay strong and stay on these posts.  Please let us know has it turns out for you. God bless and good luck. Arnold Tue, 13 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT  On 5/13/2008 Arnold wrote:I have been on chemo three times and radiation once and have no tumors or mets indicated on my last PET scan.  He could recommend infusion or oral chemo.  I have had every side effect you can think of and have endured it.  The alternative treaments are mostly diet oriented, acupuncture, etc.  I have gone the chemo route and found it very effective,  Your oncologist should go over all the alternatives with you.  Make sure thery do - ask many questions.  I was also stage 3 a and then 3b after analysis of the tissue.  That was almost three years ago.  Stay strong and stay on these posts.  Please let us know has it turns out for you. God bless and good luck.Dear Arnold,Sorry for the earlier message. I must have hit some key and my message was errased. I am 63 years old and I am looking for people who decided not to do the Chemo and to get first hand feedback from them. Good Luck with your continued recovery. After 3 terms of Chemo you are still positive that it helps! You are very special and your feedback will be in my mind and in my heart if I decide to do the Chemo.  Regards, Addy  addy45 Tue, 13 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT Since no one has posted who has passed on chemo I think it best to focus on what will work.  As you review the posts you will find that radiation and chemo are the first line of defence.  Diet and others are usually a supplement to the basic treatment plans.   I don't know if those supplementals will work to eliminate the cancer.  I imagine there are some.  Time is critical at this point, and since it has worked for me and many others, I would encourage you to sit down with your Oncologist and put a plan together.  God bless and Good Luck Arnold Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT My hubby 66 low stage 3 colon cancer 2 nodes involved opted out of chemoafter resection last September.   So far so good.  He is on several supplements, avemar, essaic tea, flax oil and cottage cheese, changed diet to more organic less red meat.  He looks great, put on weight, works daily.  If you want all the supplements, let me know.  Research, research, we did a lot of praying.  Also I suggest a great book, Cancer and the Lord's Prayer by Greg Anderson.   livingbyfaith Sun, 18 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT What follow-ups are you doing,  PET Scan, CT Scan, CEA levels, etc.  If none are scheduled I would rrecommend that you check pretty soon on any possible mets or tumors.  Better to be on the safe side Arnold Mon, 19 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT  On 5/19/2008 Arnold wrote:What follow-ups are you doing,  PET Scan, CT Scan, CEA levels, etc.  If none are scheduled I would rrecommend that you check pretty soon on any possible mets or tumors.  Better to be on the safe side Dear Arnold,Thanks for your emails. Since I am only 2 months after the surgery no CT or PET scans are scheduled. My laterst CEA resolts were normal 1.6.I started the Cottage + Flax Oil diet that is highly recoanded by people who opted out of Chemo Therapy. What is your opinion on the Cottage+Flax Oil diet? Do you know any cancer patients who opted out of Chemo Therapy?Thanks for your help, Addy addy45 Tue, 20 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT Hi Addy - I think the response on  results from a non-chemo therapy choice are limited because there are no controlled trials on this issue that I know of..  There are individual responses that show some positive results but nothing conclusive.  You must follow up with a PET/CT scan routine to achieve the identification of progress on non-chemo/radiation routines.  I have not seen this reported.  Some cancers grow very fast and since you are stage 4 that could occur very quickly.  Hopefully, if there is some growth, it will be slow. As a backup, should you choose at some time to proceed with chemo, it might be a good idea to have a concurrent plan with an oncologist to follow you progress. Faith and a positive attitude, which you seem to have, is of utmost importance. Arnold Tue, 20 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT Sorry Addy - your chances are much better since your are stage 3 , but I was stage 3 and still had a recurrence. Arnold Tue, 20 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT Did you have chemo prior to your reoccurrence?  It is difficult to know what to do.  There is no funding for research for alternative treatment therefore we are plowing thru new soil.  I get concerned with all the radiation caused by CT scans.  livingbyfaith Thu, 22 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT My point is simply that chemo has been proven effective in most cases.  There have been many trials and formal testing and documentation that that identify this..  There have been no formal reviews that point to the effectiveness of alternatives.  The may be individual positive results utilizing alternatives.  If there are, I would appreciate reports on such data.  I am going with the odds here.  It would be best if individuals who are selecting alternatives to run a paralell program of CTand PET scans along with monitoring CEA levels.  My radiation Doctor identified what I had called a reocurence initialy as a surgical "mistake"  My tumor was a lymph node that should have been taken out during my first surgery.  Instead of only taking out 3 nodes they should have taken out 10 to 13. I received 6 months of Xeloda and should have opted for FOLFOX, etc., a stronger chemo regimen, It would have been more effective. CT  scans and PET scans, if controlled properly and utilized only when necessary, will have not a long range negative effect.  In any event, utilization of chemos, radiation and scan follow up has worked for me and many others.  Arnold Thu, 22 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT