Lymphatic invasion and prognosis

Tim123 · New User Joined: 19 Oct 2007 Posts: 8

Hi Everyone,

So grateful for this forum as a place to ask questions. Thanks in
advance for any responses.

My mom had surgery to remove a cancerous polyp November 8th.
We only recently saw an oncologist for the first time. They are
classifying mom's cancer as stage 2. There was no cancer in the
lymph nodes (we are grateful), but the found what they call
"lymphatic invasion", which I understand to mean that the cancer
had begun to travel to the lymph nodes (but had not reached them).

I've done a little poking around on the net and can't have any
conclusive opinions (i.e. clinical trials) that suggest that lymphatic
invasion increases the risk of recurrence (or not). Normally it would
be recommended that mom not endure chemotherapy because she
was stage 2. But because of lymphatic invasion (which, it seems,
one could say makes her stage 2.5), the oncologist is recommending
she take the oral form of chemo (Xeloda).

I would appreciate any opinions regarding whether or not mom
should take chemo. Is the risk of recurrence high enough that
chemo is wise?

Thanks kindly,

Tim

brainman · Last edited by brainman on Mon Jan 07, 2008 12:28 pm; edited 1 time in total

Hi Tim, I am sorry about your mother's cancer but at the same time glad that it has not spread. Although her cancer is "only" a stage 2 cancer, colon cancer in general have one very big problem... they like to spread to some very bad places (like the lungs and/or liver).

Xeloda is sort of an oral version of 5FU and 5FU has been around for a very long time so all of the side effects and drug interactions are well known and understood. Your mother should follow her doctor's instructions. Her medical team will probably want to occasionally check her blood to see if Xeloda is affecting her liver and/or kidney functions. Nevertheless, the outlook is good.

You and your mother are in my thoughts and prayers.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

Tim123 · New User Joined: 19 Oct 2007 Posts: 8

Thank you Jim. You are a remarkable person and I appreciate
your thoughts about mom's situation. We are learning lots.

Blessings to you ....

Tim

Nellw · New User Joined: 19 Jan 2008 Posts: 4

My SIL is a 2b as well. Nothing in the lymph, but no clear margin on one side of the colon wall. Abdominal wall clear all lymph clear (24 of them that were taken out) but possible "micro cells in the fatty layer between the colon wall and the abdominal wall. He is getting I forget what kind of chemo, with a pump and a port for 6 months, and radiation to the site of the tissue that is suspect. He is 37 and the docs are saying they want to be aggressive because it can be such an insidious fast growing cancer. Prayers for you family from mine.
Nel

Tim123 · New User Joined: 19 Oct 2007 Posts: 8

Thanks Nel.

My mom decided to start the oral form of 5FU. She is tolerating it very well and feels good that she is further reducing the risk of recurrence. I found some studies that seemed to suggest the oral form to be even more effective compared to IV, but I may be misinterpreting the study.

Best to you and yours ...

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