My 22-Year-Old Son Has Just been Diagnosed with Stage 4 Colon Cancer

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Comments

  • Pdmetzger
    Pdmetzger Member Posts: 3
    #42
    Sandi1 said:

    How Dare
    Cindy, how dare the doctor say that to your son. Yes, there is no cure, but your son can sure as hell fight. My husband is stage 4 and like you we were in shock for awhile, but then we regained our composure and decided that we are going to fight the good fight. After 2 years, my husband is now cancer free but for this he will have to be on chemo for the rest of his life. Not the aggressive chemo that your son is probably on right now, just mild chemo and he gets it every three weeks. I can't even imagine how you are feeling, my son is also 22 and I don't know what I would do or think if it happened to him. Anyway, your son needs the will to fight, and then he will overcome this. Is your son going to have surgery? My husband had part of his colon removed. He also has multiple spots on his liver and numerous spots on his lungs. He is doing fine, it's a fight but it's worth it. Send me a private message if you have any questions or just need someone to talk to.

    Sandi

    Sandi,
    I too am stage 4. I
    Sandi,
    I too am stage 4. I was diagnosed a year ago with colon cancer. I too have lesions on my lungs and liver. It really made me happy to hear that your husband is doing so well. I had 4 inches of my colon removed last December. I have been on Chemo since last January. I had a setback in June when my lung collapsed. I have allergies and asthma and I had coughed so hard that I caused a whole in my right lung. The doc said it was because I had weak spots where the Chemo had killed the cancer. I am still fighting. My last scan showed no substantial new growth. My oncologist said he considers me stable. I will still have to have Chemo every other week for the rest of my life. I go in on Wednesday and then wear the pump till Friday. I will do whatever it takes. Again your post has given me new hope. The doctor that did my colonoscopy said I had 6 months to a year to live. I don't plan on going anywhere anytime soon unless God has other plans for me. I will pray for you and your husband. Again thank you so much for your post. Pege
  • SusanPCS
    SusanPCS Member Posts: 3
    #43
    stage 4 colon cancer
    Hi Cindy,
    I am a 66 year old female who was diagnosed in May of 2009 with stage 4 colon cancer. I had colon surgery at he Medical University of South Carolina and learned that the cancer had not spread to the lymph nodes, but it had spread to my liver where I had two small spots.
    After the colon surgery, I underwent one half of a typical folfox plus Avastain treatment. Then (when the cancers had shrunk) I had surgery on my liver at MDAnderson in Houston. Several months after the surgery, I received the other half of my folfox treatment.

    As of May 2010 and September 2010, my PET scan, CT scans, and blood work indicate that I am cancer free. I thank God and bless modern medicine for my spectacular results. I also know that I have to be watchful because the cancer can come back.

    Susan
  • AnneCan
    AnneCan Member Posts: 3,673 Member
    #44
    SusanPCS said:

    stage 4 colon cancer
    Hi Cindy,
    I am a 66 year old female who was diagnosed in May of 2009 with stage 4 colon cancer. I had colon surgery at he Medical University of South Carolina and learned that the cancer had not spread to the lymph nodes, but it had spread to my liver where I had two small spots.
    After the colon surgery, I underwent one half of a typical folfox plus Avastain treatment. Then (when the cancers had shrunk) I had surgery on my liver at MDAnderson in Houston. Several months after the surgery, I received the other half of my folfox treatment.

    As of May 2010 and September 2010, my PET scan, CT scans, and blood work indicate that I am cancer free. I thank God and bless modern medicine for my spectacular results. I also know that I have to be watchful because the cancer can come back.

    Susan

    Welcome Susan!
    Welcome to this forum! It sounds like you are doing well; good for you!
  • pete43lost_at_sea
    pete43lost_at_sea Member Posts: 3,900 Member
    #45
    cindy5 said:

    Son with Colon Cancer
    Thank you, Dawn, for your optimistic response! It gives me hope and helps me realize that we are not alone.

    Hope and love are reasons we fight
    Cindy,
    All I can add to the excellent previous comments is never ever give up. Your son is lucky to have your love. I hope you find doctors that say this is how we beat this illness. Keep looking till you do. At the moment I am focusing on relaxing and reducing stress and I think initial DX is probably the most stressful part of the cancer journey.
    Prayers,
    Pete
    DX 3jun10 rectal
    chemo radiation
    Ultra Low LAR 7oct10
    Folfox6 1 of 12 started 9nov10
  • xcguy08
    xcguy08 Member Posts: 1
    #46
    Hi
    Tell me about your son? I, myself am 22 years old, and am a little worried that I may have it or a possibility of having it, it has run through the men in my family and lately, I have experienced off GI problems, I have never had before, I am sure they are nothing, but I saw your post, and wanted to learn about your son.
  • taraHK
    taraHK Member Posts: 1,952 Member
    #47
    Things have changed
    Hi Cindy.

    So sorry to learn about your son. I was 44 when diagnosed. 22 is heart-breaking.

    As others have said, approaches to cancer -- including Stage IV cancer -- have changed so much over the past few years. Old models, statistics and ideas are simply obsolete. There are many new drugs, types of surgery and technological advances, new ways of managing the side-effects of treatments, and new "attitudes". I myself am a strong believer in the "chronic disease" model. Of course, our first choice for everyone is always complete cure! But, if that is not possible (and I am in this group), then we can perhaps think of cancer as something like diabetes or other chronic health conditions ....needs management, but we can live WITH it for a long time.

    I was diagnosed almost 8 years ago. I've had periods when I've been receiving treatment, and many periods when I have been NED (no evidence of disease). I have lived a good quality of life throughout -- even when on treatment I've managed to work, exercise, travel and play. When I'm NED I do even more -- especially of the last three!! I did a 25 km hike (lotsa mountains) last year (brag brag!). Now I'm on chemo again and can't hike but I'm doing more yoga......(for example).

    MD Anderson sounds like a very good move. The most important thing is to find a doctor -- or a team of doctors -- whom you trust and respect. For me, that meant finding doctors who were supportive of my "personality/style" (I ask a lot of questions, I come with some opinions of my own to discuss, I like research data to support decisions, etc.). But everyone is different. Whatever David (and you - his family) needs, he should make sure he gets -- the doctors serve us.

    Sending prayers love and best wishes your way

    Tara
  • plh4gail
    plh4gail Member Posts: 1,238 Member
    #48
    Cindy
    Hi Cindy, so sorry your family had to hear those terrible words. Your son is so young. Now it's time to get busy his treatment and just know you have found the right place to be on here to help you with love and support. He will find the Dr that feels right for him and gives him the support, treatment, and encouragement that he needs to have in that way also. I hope he gets on here soon to see for himself there are so many others with similar stories...just not so dang young!

    Gail
  • Nana b
    Nana b Member Posts: 3,030 Member
    #49
    xcguy08 said:

    Hi
    Tell me about your son? I, myself am 22 years old, and am a little worried that I may have it or a possibility of having it, it has run through the men in my family and lately, I have experienced off GI problems, I have never had before, I am sure they are nothing, but I saw your post, and wanted to learn about your son.

    XCguy08
    XCguy08
    Tell me about your son? I, myself am 22 years old, and am a little worried that I may have it or a possibility of having it, it has run through the men in my family and lately, I have experienced off GI problems, I have never had before, I am sure they are nothing, but I saw your post, and wanted to learn about your son.


    ********************

    you may want to start you a new post so others can chime in. If it run in your family then you should get a colonoscopy 10 years earlier. For example my age was 50 when DX so my daughters should get checked at 40, or earlier if they feel something is not right. Don't wait!!

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