a 6cm cancer has been removed from my bowel on 1 Dec 2021. Doctor arranges chemoradiotherapy. She told me there have many side effect, not only hair loss, but almost other significant impacts. the chemoradiotherapy can increase 10% survival rate. Should I take it? 

Stage III , affected two lymph nodes

Hello. I think you should be guided by your treatment team regarding chemo.

I was offered chemo and decided to have it after discussing it with my team and understanding the possible impact of the chemo on my body and emotions. I had 9 months of chemo on a weekly basis. After about 4 weeks of starting the treatment I had a Hickman line as the veins in my arms just weren't managing at all . The Hickman line made it less stressful for everyone. 
 

The side effects I experienced were extreme fatigue, diarrhoea, nausea and some peripheral neuropathy in my fingers which improved once I'd finished the course of treatment. My hair thinned and some fell out but I didn't lose all of it.  The effects of chemo will vary according to the combination  of chemo given and an individual's response to it. I think I had to have a couple of weeks break from it about half way through and my team also had to alter the dosage. 
 

Emotionally I found it quite difficult. After surgery I felt better each day as my body recovered and I was able to do more and I could see an improvement. With chemo I found it was the opposite, the more chemo I had the worse I felt and there were no obvious signs of recovery or that it was 'working' . I did complete the full 9 month course of chemo and rang the ' end of treatment bell' on my birthday in 2018! 
 

I hope that you can make an informed decision about whether or not to have chemo and that you have a supportive team to assist you. All the best. Jo 

Hello. I think you should be guided by your treatment team regarding chemo.

I was offered chemo and decided to have it after discussing it with my team and understanding the possible impact of the chemo on my body and emotions. I had 9 months of chemo on a weekly basis. After about 4 weeks of starting the treatment I had a Hickman line as the veins in my arms just weren't managing at all . The Hickman line made it less stressful for everyone. 
 

The side effects I experienced were extreme fatigue, diarrhoea, nausea and some peripheral neuropathy in my fingers which improved once I'd finished the course of treatment. My hair thinned and some fell out but I didn't lose all of it.  The effects of chemo will vary according to the combination  of chemo given and an individual's response to it. I think I had to have a couple of weeks break from it about half way through and my team also had to alter the dosage. 
 

Emotionally I found it quite difficult. After surgery I felt better each day as my body recovered and I was able to do more and I could see an improvement. With chemo I found it was the opposite, the more chemo I had the worse I felt and there were no obvious signs of recovery or that it was 'working' . I did complete the full 9 month course of chemo and rang the ' end of treatment bell' on my birthday in 2018! 
 

I hope that you can make an informed decision about whether or not to have chemo and that you have a supportive team to assist you. All the best. Jo