Been up since 1:30 am

mukamom
mukamom Member Posts: 402
in Colorectal Cancer #1
Been absent from here since Oct when Robert seemed to be NED. Just had to get away from the cancer world. We've had a wonderful 7 months of everyday worries, joys, and good times. Robert just had twice a month treatments with Erbitux and camptosar, and scans q 3 mos. CEA was staying in the 1-2 range. Life was good.


Until the scan results yesterday.

I knew something was up when the onc started discussing what was clear on the scan...lungs good, pelvis good...

Two lesions in the liver, a smaller one, about 3cm, and a larger one 5x6 cm located smack dab in the middle of the left lobe, flanked on either side by hepatic veins.

We crashed the surgeons office after Roberts treatment, to find out what surgical options there were. There are none. Because of the hepatic veins it is un-ablatable, un-resecatable and un-cyberknifeable. No chance of getting clear margins, and chances are high the veins would be damaged causing liver death. We saw the scan, and even I could tell, this was not good. The surgeon did not give an optomistic prognosis.

Onc upped treaments to q week now. Hopefully increased drugs will at least keep 'em from growing.

Will set up with a second opinion at UAB within the next couple of weeks.


I scanned the boards. Was sorry to hear Lisa42 lost her fight. So sad.

Very uplifting to see everyone else (to my knowledge) still kickin.

Damn.This.Sucks

Angela
Wife and caregiver
Robert Dx 12/08 IV CC

Comments

  • steved
    steved Member Posts: 834 Member
    #2
    So sorry to see you back
    I always think that it is great thing when people can move on from needing this site and have done it a few times myself- feels right to have cancer occupy less time and space in your life and is all part of 'recovery' with this illness. So saddened to hear of your news, but pleased you have come back to use this site to help with this next phase. There are many here with similar clinical stories who can undoubtably provide advise and support better than myself but just wanted to welcome you back and let you know you ar in my thoughts.
    Give yourself time to adjust to this news but do try and keep as much of that 'normality' you treasured in the last 7 months going- this doesn't need to cancel out all that but means you need to let the cancer have a bit more space in your lives along side it for a period of time again.

    Steve
  • mukamom
    mukamom Member Posts: 402
    #3
    steved said:

    So sorry to see you back
    I always think that it is great thing when people can move on from needing this site and have done it a few times myself- feels right to have cancer occupy less time and space in your life and is all part of 'recovery' with this illness. So saddened to hear of your news, but pleased you have come back to use this site to help with this next phase. There are many here with similar clinical stories who can undoubtably provide advise and support better than myself but just wanted to welcome you back and let you know you ar in my thoughts.
    Give yourself time to adjust to this news but do try and keep as much of that 'normality' you treasured in the last 7 months going- this doesn't need to cancel out all that but means you need to let the cancer have a bit more space in your lives along side it for a period of time again.

    Steve

    Thanks Steve
    It's like Robert getting diagnosed all over again. Only this time, we know just how serious the diagnosis is.

    Onward.

    Best to you and yours,

    Angela
  • Sonia32
    Sonia32 Member Posts: 1,071 Member
    #4
    :-(
    Hugs sorry you're both back in the fight, you are both in my prayers and thoughts. And never say never, who knows if it's not operable today it might be tomorrow.
  • Kathleen808
    Kathleen808 Member Posts: 2,342 Member
    #5
    Angela
    Oh Angela,
    I do know that awful feeling when you are in the groove of life seeming normal and bam here is comes again. I am so sorry Robert's scan showed growth in the liver. I hope and pray that the increased chemo can smack it down.
    Be here if you need to be. We are here for you.

    Aloha,
    Kathleen
  • pepebcn
    pepebcn Member Posts: 6,331 Member
    #6
    Kathleen808 said:

    Angela
    Oh Angela,
    I do know that awful feeling when you are in the groove of life seeming normal and bam here is comes again. I am so sorry Robert's scan showed growth in the liver. I hope and pray that the increased chemo can smack it down.
    Be here if you need to be. We are here for you.

    Aloha,
    Kathleen

    Ángela feel so sorry about news, will be praying for
    Robert!.
    Big hug to both two!
  • PhillieG
    PhillieG Member Posts: 4,866 Member
    #7
    Angela
    Sorry to hear "it's back".
    When I was dx I had a huge tumor in my liver extremely close to the hepatic artery. I wasn't able to be operated on. I did 6 months of FOLFOX and 5 of Avastin (only 5 months because it was just approved) and it shrunk the tumor. I had the resection along with an HAI pump installed, and my liver has been fine since then (Sept 2004 was my surgery)
    Has Avastin been mentioned at all? It might be worth looking in to.
    I'm sure you'll keep us posted...
    -phil
  • janderson1964
    janderson1964 Member Posts: 2,215 Member
    #8
    PhillieG said:

    Angela
    Sorry to hear "it's back".
    When I was dx I had a huge tumor in my liver extremely close to the hepatic artery. I wasn't able to be operated on. I did 6 months of FOLFOX and 5 of Avastin (only 5 months because it was just approved) and it shrunk the tumor. I had the resection along with an HAI pump installed, and my liver has been fine since then (Sept 2004 was my surgery)
    Has Avastin been mentioned at all? It might be worth looking in to.
    I'm sure you'll keep us posted...
    -phil

    You should look into what
    You should look into what phil ha suggested. There is reason for optimism.
  • mukamom
    mukamom Member Posts: 402
    #9
    janderson1964 said:

    You should look into what
    You should look into what phil ha suggested. There is reason for optimism.

    Thanks all
    Meeting with onc next week. Robert recieved FOLFRI with avastin back when he first started chemo Feb, 2009. And it quit working, which is why he is on Erbitux and Camptosar now. I wondered if the folfri/avastin would work again, given he's been off it quite some time..

    Anyway, its on my question list for the onc.

    Thanks again for your support.

    You.Guys.Rock.

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