Rectal Cancer - Post Surgery Downstaging Effect on Prognosis

golfgirl10 · New User Joined: 29 Mar 2008 Posts: 9

My husband was initially diagnosed with a T3, N1, M0 rectal tumor. He did chemoradiation and his tumor shrunk and was not visible on sonogram or sigmoidoscopy. Last week they did an LAR. Today the final pathology showed a few surface cancer cells where the tumor used to be but nowhere else. The surgeon said that this downstages his cancer to a T1, N0, M0 and improves his chances for survival. Does anyone know what this means exactly as far as prognosis? I understand rectal has a high rate of recurrence and this downstaging improves his odds. I was wondering what are the odds for recurrence?

brainman

golfgirl10, I do not have any numbers for you but any cancer that can be downgraded (which is very rare) has a much better prognosis. I say that it is rare because it is usually assumed that once a cancer has spread to a lymph node there is a high probability of it metastasizing so they do not normally change the treatment. Your husband is a very lucky man indeed.

You and your husband 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/

golfgirl10 · New User Joined: 29 Mar 2008 Posts: 9

Thanks Brainman!

	Cancer Forums Forum Index -> Colon Cancer and Rectal Cancer Forum	All times are GMT - 5 Hours
Page 1 of 1

A website for discussions about any type of cancer, including lung cancer, breast cancer, mesothelioma, prostate cancer, laryngeal cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma and others