Lung Mets - Chemotherapy following resection?

Aicirtap
Aicirtap Member Posts: 55
in Colorectal Cancer #1

Hi,

when I read about lung mets (colon), it seems that one strives for surgery and chemo, if any, is used neo-adjuvently. My boyfriends doctors don't seem to be inclined to give my boyfriend chemo following the lung surgeries that he is currently undergoing through which they expect to resect everything (my boyfriend is actually really happy about this). however, I don't really understand that approach although it seems to be common from what I read. The doctors state that this is a curative approach. My question is probably very naive: if the cancer has made it from the colon, to the liver and then the lungs, doesn't that mean that it is in the system? Are there actually cases where cutting out the mets can be enough? 

My boyfriend has been treated over years now for mets in the liver via ablation. however, although they always got them out, each scan showed 1-3 new (or old) spots. is that an indication that the same will happen in the lung With surgery options being more limited? It would just seem logical to me to follow surgery up with chemo in order to catch wandering cancer in the system.. Is a chance of "curative" treatment really in the cards by only resecting? 

Thank you and best,

patricia

Comments

  • taraHK
    taraHK Member Posts: 1,952 Member
    #2
    Controversial

    It's a controversial issue. Some doctors like to "save" chemo for when it is really needed (ie if/when there is a recurrence). I had three surgeries for lung mets and I had chemo after every one. The reason was exactly the one one you articulated -- if the cancer has already spread from, say, the colon to the liver (or lung) then there is a pretty good likelihood (sorry to say this) that "it's out there" - ie that there are micrometastisies (sp?) which can't be seen but which are floating around the body. It's THOSE guys we want to attack with "mop up chemo". But this is just my opinion (and that of my oncologist). Would you feel comfortable/able to seek out a second opinion?

     

    Tara

  • tanstaafl
    tanstaafl Member Posts: 1,313 Member
    #3
    immuno- and molecular help

    Have you looked into protocols like Life Extension Foundation's with mild, generic drugs and nutritional supplements as immunological and molecular means to reduce recurrence odds?  

    We talk about cimetidine with pre-post- surgery a fair amount here, along with vitamin D3, PSK, celebrex and many supplments.   Cancer surgery.  Nemeroff article on surgery.  Long term stuff.   Since my wife was not really curatively resected with distant lymph nodes, we use a light, daily oral chemo too without the heavy stuff.  

  • KFalvey
    KFalvey Member Posts: 118 Member
    #4
    Hi Patricia,
         I had mets

    Hi Patricia,

         I had mets in both lungs from colon cancer during my last recurrance. Had a wedge resection on one and bottom of the other lung removed.  Also had mets on the outside of sigmoid and rectum removed. They recommended chemo because pathology showed microsatellite mets in fatty tissue removed. I had already done all the chemo available at that time and still had mets after, so I decided no more chemo. Changed my diet and did many supplements and juiced carrots alot. It's been 5 years and I'm still doing well and NED!!! Thankfully!!!  It can happen so don't give up. Good Luck to what ever you decide.

    Kandy 

  • YoVita
    YoVita Member Posts: 590 Member
    #5
    We're all different

    Just want to start with that.  Here's my story.  Initially Stage IIIc rectal.  Two and a half years later, one lung nodule found.  Removed surgically and biopsied to confirm that it was a metastasis from my rectal cancer.  CTscan and PETscan only showed the one nodule.  Although I was expecting follow-up chemo, my oncologist recommended against it.  He felt that given my situation and based on his research, follow-up chemo would not be effective for me.  I was happy to comply with that suggestion.  But we are all different.  I really don't want to speculate on your doctor's approach.  Maybe it would be helpful to you to get the second opinion.  Good luck to you and your boyfriend and your decisions to come.   

  • Aicirtap
    Aicirtap Member Posts: 55
    #6
    taraHK said:

    Controversial

    It's a controversial issue. Some doctors like to "save" chemo for when it is really needed (ie if/when there is a recurrence). I had three surgeries for lung mets and I had chemo after every one. The reason was exactly the one one you articulated -- if the cancer has already spread from, say, the colon to the liver (or lung) then there is a pretty good likelihood (sorry to say this) that "it's out there" - ie that there are micrometastisies (sp?) which can't be seen but which are floating around the body. It's THOSE guys we want to attack with "mop up chemo". But this is just my opinion (and that of my oncologist). Would you feel comfortable/able to seek out a second opinion?

     

    Tara

    Hi Tara, thank you for this!

    Hi Tara, thank you for this! The mop up is exactly what seems to be missing when I hear about resection only. I will try to address this with my boyfriends doctors and keep you guys posted! 

  • Aicirtap
    Aicirtap Member Posts: 55
    #7
    tanstaafl said:

    immuno- and molecular help

    Have you looked into protocols like Life Extension Foundation's with mild, generic drugs and nutritional supplements as immunological and molecular means to reduce recurrence odds?  

    We talk about cimetidine with pre-post- surgery a fair amount here, along with vitamin D3, PSK, celebrex and many supplments.   Cancer surgery.  Nemeroff article on surgery.  Long term stuff.   Since my wife was not really curatively resected with distant lymph nodes, we use a light, daily oral chemo too without the heavy stuff.  

    No, we have not looked into

    No, we have not looked into this. I will certainly do that though. Thank you! 

  • Aicirtap
    Aicirtap Member Posts: 55
    #8
    KFalvey said:

    Hi Patricia,
         I had mets

    Hi Patricia,

         I had mets in both lungs from colon cancer during my last recurrance. Had a wedge resection on one and bottom of the other lung removed.  Also had mets on the outside of sigmoid and rectum removed. They recommended chemo because pathology showed microsatellite mets in fatty tissue removed. I had already done all the chemo available at that time and still had mets after, so I decided no more chemo. Changed my diet and did many supplements and juiced carrots alot. It's been 5 years and I'm still doing well and NED!!! Thankfully!!!  It can happen so don't give up. Good Luck to what ever you decide.

    Kandy 

    Wow, you always hear people

    Wow, you always hear people saying that there are patients out there that had this happen. But I have never heard or read of somebody directly. That is wonderful and amazing! Congratulations and thank you for your post! May I ask what nutritional changes you made? I am currently looking into a ketose diet, however, cutting out red meat as much as possible. 

  • Aicirtap
    Aicirtap Member Posts: 55
    #9
    YoVita said:

    We're all different

    Just want to start with that.  Here's my story.  Initially Stage IIIc rectal.  Two and a half years later, one lung nodule found.  Removed surgically and biopsied to confirm that it was a metastasis from my rectal cancer.  CTscan and PETscan only showed the one nodule.  Although I was expecting follow-up chemo, my oncologist recommended against it.  He felt that given my situation and based on his research, follow-up chemo would not be effective for me.  I was happy to comply with that suggestion.  But we are all different.  I really don't want to speculate on your doctor's approach.  Maybe it would be helpful to you to get the second opinion.  Good luck to you and your boyfriend and your decisions to come.   

    Sounds very much like the

    Sounds very much like the approach here and I am not saying it is wrong - how could I judge that .. It just leaves a gap in my logic but I will discuss it and maybe my boyfriend changes his mind regarding a second opinion. Thank you! 

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