Adjuvant chemo/radiation

Hi all,

It is quite common that the surgeons do not appreciate chemotherapy or radiation if they have a successful resection. My Mum’s Dr also did try to convince us to avoid an adjuvant chemo as he was afraid that it would affect her health, even worse than doing nothing. However we decided to do it, because it was a 50-50 case. We are never sure that the cancer is going away, so we need to do something to get a piece of mind. And thanks God, she has been fine till now, except the CA 199 increasing in 3 recent months.

Hi Dale,

From your posts, you are so lucky that it has been 6 years till now. Wish you always healthy and happy . I have a question: During this 6 years, has your CA 199 ever increased?

Minh

Maggie…I would call and ask to make sure. There is nothing lost with a phone call. Others may also be able to help you out with more information.
Best wishes,
Marion

Maggie…..I agree with Dale. Pride has no place in the cancer business. I meant to ask you: are you able to retrieve your mom’s medical records? If so, then I would make a few appointments with different physicians. Nothing should stop you from consulting with specialists in the field. Once more opinions have been gathered, a decision will be based on acquired knowledge. Good luck.
Marion

Dear Dale,

Thanks for your info and advice. My mom was not treated at a cancer center. She was treated by a private surgeon who appears to be not as update on the medical oncology aspect of cancer. This was mainly indicated by his lack of knowledge on extra vs intrahepatic CC when I asked him about my mom’s case. I think he is a good surgeon for CC and he is extremely busy with the many patients in Hong Kong. However, I have doubts about his scientific knowledge on the management of CC other than surgery. He even told my mom that there is no oral drug to treat CC, but obviously xeloda can be given orally. When I asked him about the possibility of adjuvant therapy using xeloda, gemzar, tarceva and radiation, he felt that he was challenged. He did mention that if I consult an oncologist, he/she would likely agree to chemo treatment just because of wanting to do business. He also said that radiation would be harmful to my mom’s liver which is already weak after surgery. By the way, she had 70% of her liver removed. How much of your liver was removed? How many cycles of radiation did you receive?

Maggie

Dear Dale,

My mother had her surgery one month ago in Hong Kong and she also had clear margins, but like yours, they were small (0.1 cm in some areas). However, her surgeon is against chemo and radiation because he thinks that she would suffer and the treatment would not help in lowering her chance of recurrence. He is so stubborn that he does not wish us to consult other oncologists in HK.

I still have not completely abandoned the possibility of adjuvant therapy for my mom. I am wondering how long after your surgery did you have your radiation and xeloda?

Maggie

Marion, thanks … that’s a great article. I saved a copy of the pdf file (45 pages) and plan to read it later.

Also wanted to add, under the “Uses of radiation therapy – After surgery for resectable cancers” section on the web-link, its basically word-for-word what my surgeon told me for my adjuvant therapy.

Dale

Snezzie….try to drink as much as possible in order to flush the chemo through your kidneys and please, eat as much as you can handle including, high protein foods, with some carbs.
Hugs coming your way,
Marion

I too got my reoccurance at original tumor site. I didnt have chemo or radiation…boy I wish I had then I would not have to question the what ifs.

Kris