Today I went to the oncologist for my first meeting since surgery last month. At that time they did a resection. He suggested that I could be in a research trial that is divided into 3 groups. All groups use meds that are currently in use and approved for colon cancer. This would be for 6 months, chemo 2 days every 2 weeks. He said if I did the standard chemo, it would be the same time and same frequency. Have any of you participated in a research study? Any pros or cons? I know like all of you, no one wants to go through this, but all my doctors have said that eventhough they think all the cancer was removed, why take a chance. The oncologist said, they at this point they don't have a way of knowing who was cured by surgery and who will be helped by adding the chemo. I guess, one way or another, I'm starting on a path I don't want to be on.

It is safe to say that no one wants to be on a path that includes cancer.

My oncologist said that surgery removes what can be seen and they also take "margins", tissue near the mass in hope that this will get all that is there, even what cannot be seen. The chemo is to make sure that they get what might also be remaining after surgery, same with radiation.

Being in a trial that may exclude chemo/rad is your choice. On the one hand you are giving up one facet of treatment, on the other you may advance science of cancer treatment.

That's exactly what the oncologist told me. He said that at this point they don't know who is cured by surgery alone, so why take a chance. Yesterday i posted as Slummyj-my computer had a problem and I could only get on with my old name.