Stage 4 treatments ?

tkd3g
tkd3g Member Posts: 767
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Hi everyone.

My friend's mom was just diagnosed with stage 4 Colon CA with mets to liver and lungs. She is in her late 70's.

Any idea's what treatments may be used? I was stage 3, so am not up on the current protocols.

I believe they are not looking at surgery or radiation. At least not yet.

Chemo options?

Thanks. I gave my friend this site address, so hopefully you will meet her soon.

Barb ( who continues to absolutely HATE this disease)

Comments

  • alharkabus
    alharkabus Member Posts: 9
    #2
    I am stage 4, rectal cancer. I am under treatment for 2 years now, havge had radiation to both the original tumor and the metastases. The ongoing chemotherapy I get is known as Folfiri, plus I also get Avastin. You can look these up in Google for more info. Treatment is every second week, infusions on Monday, plus a pump that I carry in a fanny pack for 48 hours. Side effects are numerous, but for me have been tolerable. My original rectal tumor has disappeared (it was quite small) and the metastatic site is stable. So far, so good.
  • CAMaura
    CAMaura Member Posts: 719 Member
    #3
    HI Barb, From what I have heard, Avastin and Erbitux are both approved for stage IV -- just not sure of the cocktail. I know that Erbitux is used for stage IV lung cancer as well (my sis-in-law is on it)....maybe it could be a double wammy for the mets?
    All the best to your friend and her mother - Maura
  • musiclover
    musiclover Member Posts: 242
    #4
    I have a friend taking Xeloda, the oral chemo pills and after two weeks is doing well. It is too early to tell if it is shrinking the tumor but from the many things I've read about the drug, it is as good and in some cases better that the regular chemo. It is much more convenient - no trips to the doctor for hook up during the week. You take it on your own at home. She may want to ask the doctor about this or do some research online. My friends doctor had not heard of it (!) so depending on the doctor isn't always the best idea. Much can be done proactively by researching online. Also, there may be a clinical trial that would work for her.
  • fredrick55
    fredrick55 Member Posts: 9
    #5
    Hi Barb, I had a colon resection last year (August 2004) and things looked good. My CEA levels began to rise in March of this year, in July was diagnosed with stage 4 mets to liver and possibly lungs. I am on a chemo regiment Oxaliplatin, Leucovorin and 5FU push and Cadd (I carry a fanny pack around for 46 hrs, hooked to a port in my chest). I have had 3 treatments they are 2 weeks apart and after the next one I get another pet scan to check the progress. I have some tolerable side affects. At this point I don't know how successful the treatment will be but am very hopeful. I live in Eastern Pa. and this seems to be the latest treatment for this type of cancer. I also have a friend who's Mother is about the same age as your friends mom and is on the same chemo as me. She had a problem with her white cell count and they had to postpone her 2nd treatment a week while they got it in range.
    I will let you know what progress I have with this treatment but won't know until Dec. 14th.
  • tkd3g
    tkd3g Member Posts: 767
    #6
    fredrick55 said:

    Hi Barb, I had a colon resection last year (August 2004) and things looked good. My CEA levels began to rise in March of this year, in July was diagnosed with stage 4 mets to liver and possibly lungs. I am on a chemo regiment Oxaliplatin, Leucovorin and 5FU push and Cadd (I carry a fanny pack around for 46 hrs, hooked to a port in my chest). I have had 3 treatments they are 2 weeks apart and after the next one I get another pet scan to check the progress. I have some tolerable side affects. At this point I don't know how successful the treatment will be but am very hopeful. I live in Eastern Pa. and this seems to be the latest treatment for this type of cancer. I also have a friend who's Mother is about the same age as your friends mom and is on the same chemo as me. She had a problem with her white cell count and they had to postpone her 2nd treatment a week while they got it in range.
    I will let you know what progress I have with this treatment but won't know until Dec. 14th.

    Thanks guys and gals. I'll check with my friend and see what's up. Maybe we can give her a heads up on what to expect.

    Most appreciative,

    Barb
  • glimmerofhope
    glimmerofhope Member Posts: 53 Member
    #7
    I would take Avastin and 5FU/leucovorin and consider ammonium tetrathiomolybdate to address systemic concerns. (you may want to read some of my other notes on this stuff) Avastin only works as I understand it, if your VEGF number is positive (some blood test). For me and two other people I know, the Avastin & 5FU definitely helps...and the beauty is it isn't very toxic.. Best of both worlds or at least as good as it gets for colon cancer treatment. The three of us that have taken this combo, believe in this for systemic treatment more than any other and we have tried it all..... camptosar, xeloda, oxaliplatin, erbitux (not me personally) and some others. Keep in mind, the avastin isn't even chemo... it is anti-angiogenic meaning it prevents the cancer growing new blood vessels to feed the cancer cells. The 5FU kills the little monsters.

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