Stage 4 Survivors

mom_2_3 said:

Stage IV
I was diagnosed (like Nana) in November 2008 with 5 bilobar liver mets. Colon resection, liver resection and HAI pump implanted in February 2009. Last chemo in November 2009. NED since (29 months) and next scan in August.

I found lots of hope in "meeting" other long-term survivors here when I was first diagnosed. It's the least one can do to share hope with another.

I hope you find strength in these posts,
Amy

PS. Our best friend's father just had his 7 year clean scan since diagnosis of Stage IV. This particular survivor had extensive lymph node mets throughout his chest and neck and became NED via colon surgery for primary and chemo only (Folfox/Avastin) for lymph mets. I just saw him last month at a birthday party and is he is feeling great!!

Amy, don't you know how many rounds of chemo he needed
to smash the lymph nodes by chance? .I know is a difficult question ! Hugs!

pepebcn said:

Amy, don't you know how many rounds of chemo he needed
to smash the lymph nodes by chance? .I know is a difficult question ! Hugs!

Pepe
Pepe,

He did 6 months of chemo and then had colon surgery. The six months cleared the nodes as the doctors told him no surgery if nodes were present. After surgery I think he did an additional 3 months of "insurance" chemo.

Hugs to you!

Stage IV
Stage IV
7-years Active Fighting Since Dx
3 Recurrences
3 Wins!

Just finished up my last year of protocols in this round of battles with Full Thoracotomy, 30 tx of IMRT radiation w/24 hour for 6-wk 5fu pump. Also 12 rounds of Folfiri w/pump as well.

Current scan found no new growths and things looked clear in rectum, liver, and lungs.

It's not been easy, but I've had it 3x times and got rid of it 3x - that's a pretty good record here in the cancer world.

If this is not a "feel good" story, then I'd be hard pressed to find it.

JB - you hang in there. I know how rough it is to be on the chemo. Some of us it just hits harder than it does others. Your mom read my article on chemo that I had written recently and I think it really put it in perspective for her how hard it is to continually take that abuse. I know it must hurt her to see you hurt so much. Hurts me too, 'cause I do get it.

Let's hope we see some good news after the next 2 tx's. I'll be here cheering you on! I know you can finish this chemo regime so you can rest up.

Lag, hope today is a little bit better. Things lose their perspective at times when we are in the throes of treatments. Sometimes seeing something good can give one hope and I hope that my story does just that.

-Craig

Sundanceh said:

Stage IV
Stage IV
7-years Active Fighting Since Dx
3 Recurrences
3 Wins!

Just finished up my last year of protocols in this round of battles with Full Thoracotomy, 30 tx of IMRT radiation w/24 hour for 6-wk 5fu pump. Also 12 rounds of Folfiri w/pump as well.

Current scan found no new growths and things looked clear in rectum, liver, and lungs.

It's not been easy, but I've had it 3x times and got rid of it 3x - that's a pretty good record here in the cancer world.

If this is not a "feel good" story, then I'd be hard pressed to find it.

JB - you hang in there. I know how rough it is to be on the chemo. Some of us it just hits harder than it does others. Your mom read my article on chemo that I had written recently and I think it really put it in perspective for her how hard it is to continually take that abuse. I know it must hurt her to see you hurt so much. Hurts me too, 'cause I do get it.

Let's hope we see some good news after the next 2 tx's. I'll be here cheering you on! I know you can finish this chemo regime so you can rest up.

Lag, hope today is a little bit better. Things lose their perspective at times when we are in the throes of treatments. Sometimes seeing something good can give one hope and I hope that my story does just that.

-Craig

thanks craig
sometimes we just need a good cheering section.all the best to you and ((((HUGS)))...Godbless....johnnybegood

lmchils57 said:

How bad was your liver mets
I was curious how bad your liver mets was? My son also has bilobar liver mets and they have said because it is in both lobes he can not have a liver rescetion. Basially from what I get that they are saying it is the location of the tumors in his liver that keep him from being able to have a resection. We have not had a third opinion so that is why I am asking how bad your was.

Bilobar liver mets
I have heard others state that because they had bilobar liver mets the doctor sad that they were inoperable. I always found that confusing as I did have mets on both sides of my liver. The original oncologist I went to, did tell me I was inoperable but the second oncologist (who I see now) said no such thing. Position of the mets on the liver can obviously impact operability.

In my own case I had 3 mets on the left lobe, 1 in the middle of the left and right and 1 (the largest at 5 cm prior to chemo) on the right lobe. During my liver resection I had the entire left lobe removed and 2 wedges were removed in the middle and right lobe. According to the surgeon about 40% of the liver was removed.

During that surgery I also had an hepatic arterial pump (HAI) placed and I had 7 months of systemic and direct liver chemotherapy after surgery. B the intention of the HAI pump was to prevent recurrence. This treatment is also used to attempt to make inoperable patients operable. I have mentioned before that I have met more people than I can count on my fingers and toes that were originally operable and became so via the pump. At my last doctor appointment I was talking to my doctor about her perception on the Internet and she said she found it hard to understand the negatives people post about her (long waits in waiting room, not friendly/personable) given that she has more colon/liver met patients alive than any other doctor. She has data on patients greater than 15 years. Most oncologists don't have such a record. This particular oncologist at memorial Sloan kettering is the lead doctor in the HAI field. If you want her name and info, please PM me.

Good luck,
Amy

Stage IV - semi-surgical remission
Hi - I am in what I call "semi surgical" remission. Diagnosed 5/05 with liver met. Lap sigmoid colon resection in 6/05. Six cycles Xeloda/oxaliplatin/Avastin. NED after 2 cycles. Lung recurrence in 11/08 - removed via VATS in 4/09. Did 6 cycles of Xeloda/Avastin followed by Avastin only up thru 4/26.

Currently NED.