Talk Cancer » Rectal Cancer » Radiation and chemo at the same time
Radiation and chemo at the same time
Question:
Who has experience with radiation and chemo at the same time? This is for cancer of the esophagus with 2 small mets of a quarter inch in diameter thanks for the response
Response:
I had radiation and chemo at the same time for rectal cancer. The chemo is supposed to make the tumor more sensitive to radiation. What else would you like to know?
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Response:
Who has experience with radiation and chemo at the same time? This is for cancer of the esophagus with 2 small mets of a quarter inch in diameter thanks for the response
I had chemo alone for 3 months and then a month of chemo and radiation taken together for esophageal cancer. No mets, but a 7 cm tumor at the distal esophagus. Had no effects from the chemo alone, but the radiation burned the heck out of my chest, back and esophagus. Had a bad couple of weeks until things healed up a bit. Best place for answers to esophageal cancer questions is the EC list on ACOR. You can subscribe at: http://listserv.acor.org/archives/ec-group.html With more than 1000 patients, survivors and caregivers online, there isn’t much we haven’t seen or experienced – a great source of info. Eric http://www.ngc1514.com/Dragon Eric Unofficial C8 Homepage http://www.ngc1514.com
Response:
I had pelvic radiation along with 5FU and mytomiacin for my stage II rectal cancer. The tumor was 3cm x 5cm and was 7cm from the anal verge. My surgeon wanted to shrink the tumor and felt that the mytomiacin was the best course (a very strong and nasty drug mainly used for anal cancer). The combination was pretty nasty for the first six weeks, i.e.; painful gas, diarrhea, and a very tender sphincter. The radiation also caused fatigue toward the end. Overall not a pleasant experience, however, my tumor was completely gone at time of surgery and my surgeon was able to save the sphincter so I don’t have an appliance. The radiation in and of itself is toxic and difficult to deal with, the chemo side effects will depend on the type used. Good luck and keep us all informed. — Steve Gossman Survivor webmaster Colorectal Cancer Network http://www.colorectal-cancer.net Links to support groups, assistance and information
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