Fourth Round

fatbob2010
fatbob2010 Member Posts: 467 Member
in Colorectal Cancer #1
Yesterday saw the Oncologist yesterday and started round four of treatment. The Oncologist said that there were hopeful signs from bold for and he was hopeful that the treatment was working. He said that he was ordering a CT in the next weeks and then we would meet with the surgeon one more time. He said that he felt surgery was next in the form of a liver resection. Previously the surgeon has said that surgery will most likely be a resection that will involve most if not all of the right lobe of the liver. No doubt this is major surgery with a large incision and extended recovery time. The Oncologist said that there is a chance that there may be one or two more rounds of Chemo before surgery which could put surgery off for a month or more as scheduling is handled.

This round of Chemo is different in that the Avastin has been held back to support probable surgery. The Oncologist said that Avastin can impede healing since it has a function of slowing new blood vessel formation. My understanding is that this is how it attacks cancers. Since, the reduced formation of new vessels stifles the uncontrolled growth of the tumor/mass.

This is taking an emotional toll on the family and your prayers are truly coveted. The uncertainty of the possible outcomes on each member of the home. Even though there is not reason to believe that there will some level of success with the scan results there is still "scanxiety." "Scanxiety" is a phenomena of cancer survivors. Each scan turns the rudder in direction of care and treatment. The scan can also alter the direction from curative to palliative. At the ultimate apex of hope is a diagnosis of NED (no evidence of disease).

Right around the corner from "Scanxiety" is "Labxiety" that involves the blood values from each blood draw which are revealed the day after the blood draw. However, there is a waiting period between blood draws when there is anxiety as to what will the results show. If that one imperfect marker of CEA is down there is a possible indication that the Chemo in use is helping :-)). Or, if it is up then there is a thought that the current treatment is not working :-((. These are to strong steering measures in treatment and life direction.

I guess this was a rant, unusual for me, thanks for reading.

Comments

  • Sundanceh
    Sundanceh Member Posts: 4,392 Member
    #2
    Something to Consider....
    I wanted to talk with you about this...

    " If that one imperfect marker of CEA is down there is a possible indication that the Chemo in use is helping :-)). Or, if it is up then there is a thought that the current treatment is not working :-((.

    If your CEA does start to rise during treatment, it is not an absolute indicator that the treatments are not effective.

    When cancer cells die, they emit a protein into the bloodstream - which can cause a rise in the CEA levels at the time blood was drawn. This is an indication that the treatments are having a positive effect - and some cancer cells are dying and thus, the TEMPORARY rise in CEA.

    Don't be panicked if this happens...levels fluctuate during treatment all the time.

    Continued best wishes with your fight! Stay with it.

    -Craig
  • steved
    steved Member Posts: 834 Member
    #3
    Scanxiety and labxiety
    Love the descriptions of these conditions but be careful- there will be a drug company out there looking to license its drug for these sexy new disorders! Can definitely identify though.

    I'm also stopping avastin as part of preparing for possible surgery- they say a good 6 weeks clear means your VEGF (the blood vessel growth factor avastin affects) is back acting normally.

    Best of luck and let us know your results and plans as they emerge.

    Thoughts and hopes are with you (atheistic equivalent to the prayers you covet)

    steve

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