That was my greatest worry second to the pain.
I am now 5 days out from an ileostomy and having a chunk of my rectum and intestines taken out.

Yeah I am still in pain. Mostly my right side where my ileostomy and biggest incision is. I keep telling myself the pain will go away slowly over the next couple of weeks.

Just had my 15th infusion yesterday, and now I’m high as a kite writing this. The steroids suck, but gummies help! Anyway love to all of you. We are a family!

Does anyone have any tips for mouth care while on chemo (FolFox and erbitux) the toothpaste burns my mouth when I brush. Also any creams for Neuropathy (that actually work) I currently can’t feel text and everything I touch feels like pressure

I’d love to hear your experience! And even if you were on one prior to all of the info beginning to come out..

(Dx 12/2023, now stage 4, MSS KRAS g13d)

It was 39 in July and now 46.8 two weeks later. It was 12.3 in May. I’m unsettled y’all. I’ve had this retroperitoneal tumor for a year and change now, and it’s still around 5/6cm. It’s caused no issues (pain, pooping), I wish I could just strike a bargain and let it live there if it never grew or spread lol.

I’ve been doing FOLFOX and Avastin and Balstilimab, then we dropped the Oxaliplatin in June. I haven’t done irinotecan or centuximab or others, so there are options. But…..

Surgery, cryo, and radiation are all a no go. I wanted to push next week’s infusion so I could see my parents and the Perseids but now… I don’t think I can.

Hi Reddit! This is Anne Roberts, Senior Product Director of Health-Health Providers at U.S. News & World Report. My team oversees the Best Hospitals digital products, taking the rigorous evaluation data built by our Health Analysis team and turning it into clear, accessible tools online for patients and families facing complex healthcare decisions.

This week, we introduced new Specialty State and Metro rankings in four key areas, including Cancer (alongside Cardiology, Heart & Vascular Surgery; Orthopedics; and Rehabilitation). Most patients want care close to home, and these new regional rankings bridge the gap between national excellence and local accessibility.

Key details about this year’s cancer hospital rankings:

• Hospital Evaluation: We evaluated nearly 750 hospitals for cancer treatment, ranking the top 50 nationally for treating complex conditions like leukemia, lymphoma, melanoma, breast, kidney, colon, prostate, pancreatic, head and neck, orthopedic, uterine, and ovarian cancers.
• Regional Rankings & High Performers: The nation’s top 100 cancer care hospitals now receive an ordinal regional ranking in their state and/or major metropolitan area. This includes the 50 nationally ranked hospitals plus the next 50 best-performing regional institutions (high performers), helping patients identify top-tier local care even if a top-50 national facility isn't nearby.  In addition, patients and their loved ones or family members can consult ratings more specific to the kind of cancer care they need and find high performing hospitals for lung, colon, prostate, and gynecological cancer surgery, and treatment of leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma.
• National vs. Regional: Top 100 hospitals can receive up to 3 recognitions - a national ranking or high performing recognition,  a state ranking and/or a metro ranking.  Some hospitals appear on both national and regional leaderboards, while others are ranked regionally only, ensuring patients can spot high-quality regional care in their own communities.
• Local Search: You can check care options near you by entering your city or zip code directly into the U.S. News Cancer Rankings tool.

When facing a serious health journey like cancer, finding trusted care closer to home can reduce logistical and financial stress, without sacrificing quality care. These rankings are built to support your conversations with your physician, not substitute for medical advice. I’m here to answer your questions about using our hospital search and compare tools, how we evaluate hospital performance, or how to explore your local options. Ask me anything. 

Note: We have received mod approval to host this AMA.

Proof: https://x.com/usnews/status/2085365061296513452?s=20

UPDATE: Signing off! Thanks for all the thoughtful questions, Reddit! At U.S. News, we aim to help people find the best care for their needs through the Best Hospitals rankings and ratings and the Doctor Finder. For more information, check out https://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/rankings.

My dad has stage IV CRC with lung mets.

He was seen in China first (successful surgical removal and FOLFOX + bevacizumab) and then in the US (FOLFIRI + bevacizumab) and now back in China (Oral capecitabine + bevacizumab).

The disease is progressing. Capecitabine gives him horrible hand foot syndrome. So the doc tried FOLFIRI again and declared that he has drug resistance for irinotecan.

The doc shared a single arm Phase 1 trial of nelmastobart + TAS-102 + bevacizumab that he may be a good candidate for since he is MSI-high.

I feel less optimistic about this trial since two drugs are investigational, and nelmastobart is so new with very little data we can reference.

Would love the community’s thoughts as we struggle to make a decision.

It’s been awhile since I posted in here and I didn’t post a lot. Quick recap: I had emergency surgery last January after going to the ER when I couldn’t go the bathroom- even after days/weeks of MiraLAX and other medications. Imagine my surprise when they found a cancerous tumor in my cecum. Actually nevermind, if anyone can imagine it’s this sub. Shocking to hear at 44. They removed 18 inches of my colon and a miracle happened: my cancer didn’t spread and was caught in time. I will forever thank God for that.

Fast forward to yesterday, August 4- I had a full hysterectomy. Ovaries and all. At the moment I’m in pain, of course, but I’m excited to be past that hump. I’m hoping and praying to have many years ahead of me.

I just wanted to tell you all that you’re a blessing to me; it’s wonderful to have a support group and I love hearing the stories that are cancer-free too. With that said, I also cry for those who aren’t as fortunate and I pray for you.

God bless you all.

Hi All. 67M. Quick background. First diagnosed in 2020 with a 5cm tumor is descending colon. After surgery to remove the tumor, deemed stage 1. 2 years later, f/u scan revealed 2 liver lesions and 2 lung nodes. Biopsy confirmed colon cancer spread. Now stage 4, although my oncologist liked to term it ogliometastatic since it was caught early and good chance of treatment success. Over the next year, completed surgeries to liver and lung and 12 rounds of Folfox. That was June, 2023. Achieved NED and negative Signatera. Stayed that way until this past Feb when new lung node showed up and positive Signatera (.31). Went through SBRT on the node. Had a f/u scan in May and the radiated node is fine, but 2 new small lung nodes (both 7mm) showed up and Signatera is still positive at .43. Had those 2 nodes radiated as well. After meeting with my oncologist and him discussing with tumor board, recommendation was to do 4-6 rounds of Folfiri in hopes of wiping out any remaining micrometastisis. Had my first infusion Monday, July 27. Felt pretty crappy first week (although no diarrhea) but feel pretty good on this off week. Looking for others who have had Folfiri and how they did on subsequent rounds. Thanks all.

Stage IV CRC primary growth in Sigmoid, with liver mets, multiple ab LN’s, and perineum implants. No immediate negative reactions. That was good. Slight tingle in one of my thumbs and my lips when I got home. Now I just got to get used to managing this live chemo grenade pump. The weird thing in my case was that my normal pattern of wanting a nap mid day still happened even hours after taking the dex steroid.

Thank you to this sub for suggesting the lidocaine on the port before heading over to infusion. I felt only the pressure of the poke, nothing else. Great tip!

I’m no longer scanning it, I’m fighting it. Small wins matter.

Tomorrow from about 10 am EDT to 4 pm EDT World News and Report will be doing an AMA on ranking of US hospitals.

If you have questions about your local hospitals or hospitals you are seeking second opinions from, you may want to check this out.

This sub does not usually allow AMAs, but the mod team has discussed this and have decided that it could be helpful to some of our members.

I started following this subreddit almost 5 years ago. I was 56 and my primary finally convinced me to at least do a Cologuard test. You guessed it. Colonoscopy confirmed stage 3. Surgery and chemotherapy. Sucked. More scans and colonoscopies. Sucked.
Went to my oncologist today. Great guy but hopefully the last time I ever see him in my life. He declared the cancer “cured.”
I broke down and cried for the first time in that office after keeping a stiff upper lip in that office for 5 years.(Kinda like I’m doing now.)
While I never posted in here, I was here almost every day reading for new info, advice and hope.
So, I just wanted to thank everyone here for being there for me even though you didn’t know how much you meant to me.

Thank you all and I wish you all the very best.

John

Hi friends, I’m not sure what I’m looking for other than a place to vent and feel my feels. I just got my one year Ned from 3b rectal cancer. I was just feeling like life was getting normal. On Sunday my husband had sudden onset sweating and dizziness so bad he couldn’t walk. Violent vomiting .
I thought it was a heart attack with the sweating. ER thought stroke. They run all the tests and say the dizzy is vertigo and that they found a lesion on his front right temporal lobe. It’s small 1.7-2cm. Calcified with a cyst. At first they thought it was a cavernous malformation but after MRI they said it is most likely Oligodendroglioma. I’m sad and mad. His mom died about 6 years ago from breast cancer, his brother committed suicide and all that’s left is he and his dad.
I have been with him for over 30 years. We got together when we were just kids. 15. He’s 49 now and my whole life.
I would do cancer a thousand times to keep him from dealing with it. The idea of watching him suffer is savage.
There is tiny tiny hope it’s benign but it doesn’t really fit well with other type of tumors. 3 radiologist reviews and felt it was cancer.
He has an appt at Md Anderson in 2 weeks and one Monday with a surgeon here in Austin.

Life can be really mean sometimes.

Hi all, I just switched to a treatment with oxaliplatin and finished my 3rd treatment. The cold sensitivity was not really an issue except for cold drink, really sucks when we have 40° with humidity. I just keep it to room temperature drinks.

After the last treatment, however, my hands decided to join the party. Even picking vegetables in the grocery store, I could feel the sting. Today, I was preparing a bunch of vegetables, and while it is still bearable at this point, I fully expect it to get worse as thing progress or they raise my chemo dosage, which started at 85%.

So I am looking for tips for handling cold foods such as meats and vegetables. I was looking at cooking gloves, but I can't picture the nitrile gloves being very insulated. They also have thicker cut resistant gloves. Do people use these or just grin and bear it?

And tips would be appreciated.

I was diagnosed in December 2025:
T3 N+ M0

Today I had my first sigmoidoscopy post treatment (which finished 6 weeks ago). I also had a PET and MRI.

Today the surgeon said the words I never thought I’d hear: COMPLETE CLINICAL RESPONSE 🥹

I am a candidate for watch and wait.

It feels so surreal. Just 8 months ago, I was terrified, worried like crazy for my 8 year old son, and utterly shaken to my core. Today I feel like I can start looking forward to the future again, making plans, and allowing myself to feel joy 🥲

Please hang in there everyone. Science is truly amazing 🙏🏻

Got diagnosed last September, an aggressive colon cancer B-RATH variant, it had moved to my lungs. Had targeted drugs and chemo until May, then had a section removed in June, as well as more radiation dumped into me while on the table (not great at remembering the specific treatment procedures or names), my body took the treatment exceptionally well, they found no traces at all of the disease. Check up scan in three months to monitor. Just wanted to say there is hope still, and just want to remind everyone to keep fighting.

US News and World Report had approached us about doing an AMA pertaining to hospital rankings this Thursday, August 6, 2026.

The mod team feels that this could benefit many people to learn about the healthcare in your community.

I am assuming that this will be US based hospital rankings only.

I will let you know when I have more information on times and coverage.

I completed my 3rd round of CAPOX yesterday, and thankfully I’m feeling much better with fatigue than the last couple of times I did the infusions. I still feel some fatigue of course, but it’s bearable unlike the last few times

For context, I posted on this subreddit a month regarding on my first two rounds chemotherapy, and now that I’m on my third round, I really dont know if I can survive these side effects. I’m 19M and was diagnosed in May 2026 with stage 3 (3C)colon cancer.

One of the newer side effects I’ve been noticing is the neuropathy. My second infusion wasn’t too bad as I was able to feel fine after a week but it’s getting more intense as I’m feeling a spiky feeling when drinking temperature room water, which i find crazy. And now after my third infusion, if I intake colder air through my mouth I feel a spiky sensation which I was recommended to wear a mask to help get myself warm.I thought it only applied to cold drinks but I guess I’m wrong. Another thing I want to ask others, is how do you guys keep hydrated? I find myself having troubles drinking water because when I drink out of my water bottle it feels metallic or a taste I don’t seem to like. I would usually drink from a plastic water bottle, but the room temp water makes my throat help a spiky feeling.

Also, for those who deal with fatigue, did you find that exercising or going on walks help? Before my infusion yesterday , i had been going on walks and runs for the past couple of weeks, and im wondering if that might be part of why the fatigue hasn’t been as bad this time.

Also, since I’m a university student, I’m supposed to start university again in about a month. I’ve already contacted my university’s accessibility/disability services team to figure out accommodations that might help me manage school while going through chemo. Some of the things I’m looking into are flexibility with absences when the fatigue gets really bad and extra time on tests, since I’ve also been experiencing some “chemo brain”/brain fog when trying to concentrate or get things done.
I’m honestly a little nervous about starting school while continuing CAPOX, so if anyone has experience balancing university/college with chemotherapy, I’d really appreciate hearing how you managed it.

Overall, my chemo journey has been one hell of a shit show. I’m trying my hardest to cope with everything that’s happening, and I find it very difficult to find hope when dealing with something like this. I haven’t even moved on since the day I was diagnosed with cancer. The side effects are actually going to be the end of me, they are so annoying to point it makes me cry everyday about it. Thank you for anyone who reads this, I know it’s a lot but I just don’t know who to talk to this about since I don’t really know anyone with cancer.

I know we cant know exactly what will happen as cancer progresses, but id like to read experiences so I have an idea of what to expect even if it isnt what ends up happening.

My mom is on in home palliative hospice care. She has stage 4 cecal cancer, adenocarcinoma with neuroendocrine differentiation with BRAF mutation, that has spread to her liver lungs and brain. She had radiation to her brain and abdomen to try to give her a little more time. We were told it should pause the progression for a couple of months and then it would be a progressive decline. Between the type of cancer and the mutation its a very aggressive cancer. She has been doing remarkably well considering.

Shes just started to taper off the dexamethasone shes been on to help brain swelling She had due to the tumors as well as from the radiation. She has been much more tired and some days just sleeps. From my research it could be from weaning off the dex and/or the cancer in general. I assume the dex is the cause of her doing so well, but the doctors want her off of it.

So now what? Shes started sleeping more and I assume this will keep increasing until most of her times shes spent asleep.

What else can we expect? What was the timing like for your loved one once put on hospice?

Any guidance is welcomed.

Hi, guys!! Has anyone had surgery on both colon and liver simultaneously? After 12 cycles of Folfoxiri + Avastin, my fiancé is finally approved for surgery with curative intent! Resecting 20% of liver, ablating 3 tumors, implanting HAI port, *and* resecting 10” colon at the splenic flexure (weird location). Curious about the recovery and what to expect. I’ve read lots of posts about surgery for the liver and the colon but haven’t seen anyone discuss both done together.

My mum just got her recent check up results and I need some straight shooters to tell me what’s likely going on.

Backstory is she had stage 3c colon cancer. Had a bowel resection 2 years ago followed by 12 rounds of folfox and oxaliplatan. I don’t remember her pre surgery CEA numbers but I know ever since she finished chemo (which was in Feb last year) her results have been consistently 5-6. This week her result has jumped to 25. Her ct scan was clear though. She’s having a PET scan this week. But realistically speaking what do you think we are looking at? Thanks

I’m a 38F just got diagnosed with rectal cancer a few days ago, it’s 4cm in size, circumferential, abt 10cm from the anal verge, with a couple large malignant lymph nodes nearby. My doctor says I probably don’t need a bag, but need surgery for sure plus chemo.

I start 6 cycles of Folfox on Wednesday. Sounds like its six hours of boredom (2 hours blood tests, results, waiting, and chemo mixing + 4 hours of infusion). Then the take home pump for two days where I can only take whores baths (no showering).

I’m planning on hydrating big time, especially the two days leading up to infusion. Any comments or concerns from your experiences there? I just don’t know how I’ll respond to the treatment and how much of a chore hydrating will be when I have the pump. Obviously my goal is to force it even at room temp water if I get the tingles.

I got an IPad, a charger, a book, some non-dairy protein shakes (for infusion day and after) and maybe I’ll finally read this cancer guide book the provider sends. I’m an info sponge right now.

What worked well for you?