Decision time- thoughts welcomed

2

Comments

  • steved
    steved Member Posts: 834 Member
    pepebcn said:

    Steve , no options of a new chemo, Regoranfenib , to try to
    shrink the tumor and then may be ciberknife or so?
    Hugs my friend!

    OTher chemo
    I have looked at chemo options- I have been on irinotecan and have discussed teh new ones with my onc as wellas looked at the data on them. In truth no chemo is likely to offer me a cure. The evidence suggests in stage 4 for pretty much everyone they are holding tactic. They prolong the nonprogressive phase of the illness but are unlikely to kill it. It is the same as my understanding of Taanstfak approach- he is an expert at techniques to combat the illness but I feel they are mainly going to hold teh illness at best.

    In truth in this battle surgery is the main option to offer cures- best chance at that first surgery removing the primary before it spreads, but still some chance if your secondaries are sufficiantly localised in places they can cut out.

    That bluntest tool of the sharpest scalpel remains our biggest weapon (feeling poetic today).

    (I will try and find time to relook at the two new chemos and comment my impressions of them on another post as I know you are exploring them and I have foind some reading I need to wade through on them)

    steve
  • steved
    steved Member Posts: 834 Member
    thingy45 said:

    Kids
    Again Hi Steve,
    I did not mention it before in my reply earlier, but I have been there were you are now with my husband. He lost his left leg and was able to function very wel after rehabilitation,walking, driving etc. I was amazed how quickly he adapted, Ofcourse every case is different.
    Your kids are very young and they will understand part of it, kids are also very resilliant.
    They wil understand that their Daddy is ill, but that the doctors are trying to make him better. That it might kill you ( your expression in your post) is not on the order right now. If it get to that point then there is time enough to inform them of that possibility, if you tel them now then they will worry every day for something we all hope will not happen for a long long time.
    Ask your team of doctors if there are books for children how to deal with illnes of a parent.
    I am glad that you have made a decission and are moving forward. Keep your options open.
    My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
    Marjan

    Thank you for the personal story
    It is strange how here on this board of people with the same illness you can still feel like the only one with the problem. In that I appreciate your husbands story.

    I do think my kids will understand- my greatest sadness is that their whole lives have existed under the shadow of my cancer as my wife was pregnant withour first when I was first diagnosed. However, they never cease to amaze me with their resilience and acceptance. I do want to be thoughtful and minful of how we handle this next stage though. My son i 8 and very sporty and a lot of our relationship is based on doing sports together as it is one of my loves. I have been able to do increasingly less due to my leg and will need to adapt if I lose the leg completely. It will be a loss for my son too. My daughter is only 4 (5 in July) and I feel her young age means more goes over her head and is jsut accepted as the way it is.

    steve
  • smokeyjoe
    smokeyjoe Member Posts: 1,425 Member
    steved said:

    Thank you for the personal story
    It is strange how here on this board of people with the same illness you can still feel like the only one with the problem. In that I appreciate your husbands story.

    I do think my kids will understand- my greatest sadness is that their whole lives have existed under the shadow of my cancer as my wife was pregnant withour first when I was first diagnosed. However, they never cease to amaze me with their resilience and acceptance. I do want to be thoughtful and minful of how we handle this next stage though. My son i 8 and very sporty and a lot of our relationship is based on doing sports together as it is one of my loves. I have been able to do increasingly less due to my leg and will need to adapt if I lose the leg completely. It will be a loss for my son too. My daughter is only 4 (5 in July) and I feel her young age means more goes over her head and is jsut accepted as the way it is.

    steve

    Steve......I don't know what
    Steve......I don't know what to say. When I read your situation I get so friggen frustrated.....I'm speechless.....all I can think is there must be some other way!!! Have you looked at clinical trials...dumb question, of course you have.....hugs and best wishes to you.
  • annalexandria
    annalexandria Member Posts: 2,571 Member
    steved said:

    Thank you all
    Thank you to all those that have posted their responses- as a group your kindness made me weep. I feel priveleged to be able to access such a wise thoughts.

    Mags/ Winter MArie/ Phil/ Jeff/ Vickilg/ Donna/ Robin- your caring words mean a lot and I appreciate them. I am not looking for solutions in this as I don't think there is one but your kind words make the decision easier to see.

    Sundance your clear thinking is as ever incredibly appreciated.

    Taanstfal- I can always rely on you to have another perspective and the thinking you bring from that angle is invaluable.

    TAra the pure length of your journey always means your wisdom shines through in your post.

    Heather/ Tommycat- I appreciate your special perspectives as parents of young children, which I think is a component of our journeys that provides different challenges, that I love your thoughts on.

    I talked thing through with my wife last night and have told a couple of close colleagues and friends at work. My decision at present which I think I started to make while putting my first post up (so often simply writing things brings a clarity to our thoughts) is to proceed with putting plans towards the surgery together. It is through getting the details of it planned that I will know more of its potential and can make a final decision to proceed or not. I have arranged to meet the surgeon with my oncologist and will meet with the enablement team (who do prosthetics and rehabilitation) to get a clearer idea on the level of disability I will face. They are developing a team of surgeons from around the country and perhaps from DEnmark together to work on the details and I will work onthem with it. I can pull out at any time.

    I talked with my wife also about how we tell the children. I would appreciate other people thoughts on how they approach this. So far we have told the kids teh stuff we KNOW- I have cancer, I have a sore leg, I am on treatment. We have not told them the stuff we don't know including leaving out the 'it is going to kill me one day' aspect thinking that it is the uncertainty they struggle to manage and process. I don't think there is a 'right way' of handling the kids but woiuld like to know others' thoughts.

    Again thank you all for your kind and wise comments- you are truly overwhelmingly brilliant.

    steve

    I have three kids,
    ages 5, 14 and 17 when I was diagnosed. My sister had died of cancer a few years before, leaving behind her teenage son, so my children (at least the two older ones) were well aware of the threat that cancer posed. One of my daughters asked me directly if I was going to die, and I had to tell her that in all honesty I didn't know. I told her that I had a good team of doctors working for me, and that I would do everything in my power to beat the cancer, and that if at all possible, she should focus on the present and not worry about what might or might not happen in the future. I think I would not have brought up my possible mortality with her if she hadn't asked, but since she brought it up I felt the need to address it as honestly as I could. But that was dealing with a teen..when my little guy told me he didn't want me to die, while crying hysterically, I just assured him that I was going to be around a long time (and I'm still alive three years later, which is an eternity to a kid his age, so that was true in its way). Like you say, there is no one right way to do things (my sister's son wasn't told she was dying until two days before she went into a coma, and i honestly don't think that changed his experience of grief after she was gone one way or another). My only thought would be that at this stage of things you still have hope for the future. It sounds like there will be a heavy price to pay for that hope, and I'm so sorry you have to make such a terribly difficult decision, but in the eyes of your kids, it will be a very real thing that you can offer them...hope that you will be around for many years to come. Sending strength your way-Ann
  • danker
    danker Member Posts: 1,276 Member
    Steved
    What tough choices you have. I'm sure whatever decision you make, it will be the right one. My best to you, brave one!!
  • pepebcn
    pepebcn Member Posts: 6,331 Member
    pepebcn said:

    Steve , no options of a new chemo, Regoranfenib , to try to
    shrink the tumor and then may be ciberknife or so?
    Hugs my friend!

    So you mean you have not been in Folfox yet?
    I have to disagree with you there are here many survivors which have been NED being treated just with chemo ,I mean Stge.lV, who had a recurrence and the recurrence has been grated with chemo only.
    I think is a better option !
    Hugs and very good luck in your decision Steve !
  • Doc_Hawk
    Doc_Hawk Member Posts: 685
    Tough choice
    Hi Steve. I'm very sorry to read about this horrible choice that faces you; this is one time that Occam's Razor pretty much flies out the window. I've thought and prayed about your dilemma and can only say that I would have the surgery. Perhaps what you could do is sit down in front of a mirror and hold a counselling session with yourself as a patient. Ask the questions that you would of a patient who came to you with this problem and then answer as you would as a patient. A bit of self-imposed bi-polarism, I suppose. I will pray that whichever your decision is, that it is the correct one and you have spectacular results.

    God Bless

    Doc
  • steved
    steved Member Posts: 834 Member
    pepebcn said:

    So you mean you have not been in Folfox yet?
    I have to disagree with you there are here many survivors which have been NED being treated just with chemo ,I mean Stge.lV, who had a recurrence and the recurrence has been grated with chemo only.
    I think is a better option !
    Hugs and very good luck in your decision Steve !

    Chemo
    Have done oxaliplatin and xeloda together (what you call FOLFOX) then with avastin. I had an allergic reaction to oxaliplatin so now remain on just the avastin and xeloda- recent trials have shown this is just as effective as with oxaliplatin for some. I have never been on irinotecan (what is in the concoction named FOLFIRI) and not tried cetuximab either though as they have none of my tumour to do KRAS on probably would struggle to get it.

    Have talked it through with my oncologist and she is clear that she doesn't feel chemo would be at all likely to be curative. It could jhold it and that would be the plan if I don't do surgery. I know of stories of cures from these chemos (often clouded by other treatments including surgery) but realistically none of them claim to be cures.

    I guess as for allof us it is a game of weighing up the odds- they are usually all crappy in my experience

    steve
  • steved
    steved Member Posts: 834 Member
    Doc_Hawk said:

    Tough choice
    Hi Steve. I'm very sorry to read about this horrible choice that faces you; this is one time that Occam's Razor pretty much flies out the window. I've thought and prayed about your dilemma and can only say that I would have the surgery. Perhaps what you could do is sit down in front of a mirror and hold a counselling session with yourself as a patient. Ask the questions that you would of a patient who came to you with this problem and then answer as you would as a patient. A bit of self-imposed bi-polarism, I suppose. I will pray that whichever your decision is, that it is the correct one and you have spectacular results.

    God Bless

    Doc

    Thank youfor your thoughts
    I have found people's responses incredibly useful- I am sorry that I am imposing my feelings impotence in this decision on others as I know there is no 'right' answer and no specific thing others can say but hearing people's thoughts has helped enormously to get my own head ('ducks' to quote another regular) in order- you guys are my mirror I can sit infront of for therapy.

    Thank you also for the thoughts around the children- I have so many supportive and sensible friends locally who are also parents but none face dilemmas like this and so your thoughts mean so much (I still feel surges of irrational jealousrage that my friends lead such straight forward lives). I cope fairly well with most of this but still find thinking about the impacts on my children the one intolerable avenue I can hardly bear to go down.

    Thank you again for all the marvellous responses.

    steve
  • smokeyjoe
    smokeyjoe Member Posts: 1,425 Member
    Doc_Hawk said:

    Tough choice
    Hi Steve. I'm very sorry to read about this horrible choice that faces you; this is one time that Occam's Razor pretty much flies out the window. I've thought and prayed about your dilemma and can only say that I would have the surgery. Perhaps what you could do is sit down in front of a mirror and hold a counselling session with yourself as a patient. Ask the questions that you would of a patient who came to you with this problem and then answer as you would as a patient. A bit of self-imposed bi-polarism, I suppose. I will pray that whichever your decision is, that it is the correct one and you have spectacular results.

    God Bless

    Doc

    I go from time to time to
    I go from time to time to check on avail. clinical trials, so I know what's out there should I have progression.....this one in particular was of interest to me...don't know if it's available in your area....Home About this site Cancer View Canada Français A- A+

    Gamma-Secretase Inhibitor RO4929097 and Cediranib Maleate in Treating Patients With Advanced Solid Tumours

    SummaryTrial DetailsEligibilityCentres / Contacts Trial Status: Recruiting
    Start Date: May, 2010
    Expected Enrolment: 50
    Type of Trial: Treatment
    Protocol IDs: NCT01131234, CDR0000673867, CAN-OCI-PJC-004, PJC-004
    Trial Design: Masking: Open Label
    Primary Purpose: Treatment
    Trial Phase: Phase 1
    Medical Conditions: Brain and Central Nervous System Tumors, Breast Cancer, Colorectal Cancer, Kidney Cancer, Lung Cancer, Melanoma (Skin), Ovarian Cancer, Pancreatic Cancer, Unspecified Adult Solid Tumor, Protocol Specific
    Drugs: cediranib maleate
    gamma-secretase/Notch signalling pathway inhibitor RO4929097
  • dmj101
    dmj101 Member Posts: 527 Member
    steved said:

    Thank you all
    Thank you to all those that have posted their responses- as a group your kindness made me weep. I feel priveleged to be able to access such a wise thoughts.

    Mags/ Winter MArie/ Phil/ Jeff/ Vickilg/ Donna/ Robin- your caring words mean a lot and I appreciate them. I am not looking for solutions in this as I don't think there is one but your kind words make the decision easier to see.

    Sundance your clear thinking is as ever incredibly appreciated.

    Taanstfal- I can always rely on you to have another perspective and the thinking you bring from that angle is invaluable.

    TAra the pure length of your journey always means your wisdom shines through in your post.

    Heather/ Tommycat- I appreciate your special perspectives as parents of young children, which I think is a component of our journeys that provides different challenges, that I love your thoughts on.

    I talked thing through with my wife last night and have told a couple of close colleagues and friends at work. My decision at present which I think I started to make while putting my first post up (so often simply writing things brings a clarity to our thoughts) is to proceed with putting plans towards the surgery together. It is through getting the details of it planned that I will know more of its potential and can make a final decision to proceed or not. I have arranged to meet the surgeon with my oncologist and will meet with the enablement team (who do prosthetics and rehabilitation) to get a clearer idea on the level of disability I will face. They are developing a team of surgeons from around the country and perhaps from DEnmark together to work on the details and I will work onthem with it. I can pull out at any time.

    I talked with my wife also about how we tell the children. I would appreciate other people thoughts on how they approach this. So far we have told the kids teh stuff we KNOW- I have cancer, I have a sore leg, I am on treatment. We have not told them the stuff we don't know including leaving out the 'it is going to kill me one day' aspect thinking that it is the uncertainty they struggle to manage and process. I don't think there is a 'right way' of handling the kids but woiuld like to know others' thoughts.

    Again thank you all for your kind and wise comments- you are truly overwhelmingly brilliant.

    steve

    I don't know if these are
    I don't know if these are part of you assembled teams but I wanted to give this to you as food for thought.
    The colostomy and Urostomy will require care.. be sure to include wound nurse and proctologist and urologists in the plan as you or your wife or another caregiver will need to know what to do with these Stoma's... making sure the appliances you use fit properly and you or someone else now how to care for them... may seem rather simple but believe the first time you have to do it on your own or you have an incident it all become very humbling....
    Just sayin'

    Glad you have a plan...
    much love and support on this side of the pond...
    Donna
  • maglets
    maglets Member Posts: 2,576 Member
    smokeyjoe said:

    I go from time to time to
    I go from time to time to check on avail. clinical trials, so I know what's out there should I have progression.....this one in particular was of interest to me...don't know if it's available in your area....Home About this site Cancer View Canada Français A- A+

    Gamma-Secretase Inhibitor RO4929097 and Cediranib Maleate in Treating Patients With Advanced Solid Tumours

    SummaryTrial DetailsEligibilityCentres / Contacts Trial Status: Recruiting
    Start Date: May, 2010
    Expected Enrolment: 50
    Type of Trial: Treatment
    Protocol IDs: NCT01131234, CDR0000673867, CAN-OCI-PJC-004, PJC-004
    Trial Design: Masking: Open Label
    Primary Purpose: Treatment
    Trial Phase: Phase 1
    Medical Conditions: Brain and Central Nervous System Tumors, Breast Cancer, Colorectal Cancer, Kidney Cancer, Lung Cancer, Melanoma (Skin), Ovarian Cancer, Pancreatic Cancer, Unspecified Adult Solid Tumor, Protocol Specific
    Drugs: cediranib maleate
    gamma-secretase/Notch signalling pathway inhibitor RO4929097

    isolation
    when I am in treatment, especially chemo, I can find myself wandering down the street thinking.....all alone....just me...no one else knows or feels as badly as i do....the WHOLE world goes on and only I am here suffering.....hahah what crap

    the longer I live, the more I see suffering in every single life. All around us cancer or not just plain suffering.

    talking to you Steve is like carrying coals to Newcastle....if I may speak about your kids for just a sec as a retired teacher. Do not ever lie to them...kids have shite detectors that are sooooo strong. As you have been doing age appropriate info....whatever you determine that to be....One family amongst our close relatives always says ..."shhhhh don't tell the kids" Very soon after our daughter's birth we determined that was not the route we would go. We shared with her and soon she could tell if we were "holding out on her". Then she was hurt and angry to be out of the loop. My girl was 22 with my diagnosis...it was the most difficult thing for me.....protecting, helping, her....seeing her suffer....it was and is a kicker. Yup I think your reaction as a parent is pretty standard and pretty good stuff Steve.....hahah told you ....coals to Newcastle....

    have a hug

    mags
  • jjaj133
    jjaj133 Member Posts: 867 Member
    Hi Steve, I also wanted to
    Hi Steve, I also wanted to just tell you how sorry i am that you are faced with such a decision. I have no words to make telling the kids easier. But as a mother of 4 and grandmother of 11, I can suggest this.
    kids pretty much accept things their parents tell them. if you are calm it will help them to do that easier. They are very young, so just answer what they ask. Tell them what is going to happen,. Prepare them, but don't overwhelm them with too much info.i am sure you already know this, but its the only way I can even try to help you.
    Hugs to you and your family, prayers coming your way.
    Judy
    EDIT: Mags, I just read your post, great minds think alike.
  • steved
    steved Member Posts: 834 Member
    smokeyjoe said:

    I go from time to time to
    I go from time to time to check on avail. clinical trials, so I know what's out there should I have progression.....this one in particular was of interest to me...don't know if it's available in your area....Home About this site Cancer View Canada Français A- A+

    Gamma-Secretase Inhibitor RO4929097 and Cediranib Maleate in Treating Patients With Advanced Solid Tumours

    SummaryTrial DetailsEligibilityCentres / Contacts Trial Status: Recruiting
    Start Date: May, 2010
    Expected Enrolment: 50
    Type of Trial: Treatment
    Protocol IDs: NCT01131234, CDR0000673867, CAN-OCI-PJC-004, PJC-004
    Trial Design: Masking: Open Label
    Primary Purpose: Treatment
    Trial Phase: Phase 1
    Medical Conditions: Brain and Central Nervous System Tumors, Breast Cancer, Colorectal Cancer, Kidney Cancer, Lung Cancer, Melanoma (Skin), Ovarian Cancer, Pancreatic Cancer, Unspecified Adult Solid Tumor, Protocol Specific
    Drugs: cediranib maleate
    gamma-secretase/Notch signalling pathway inhibitor RO4929097

    NEw treatments
    Thanks for the info- will have a look. I am not convinced that chemo of any sort will offer a good chance of cure for me but am keeping my eyes on all new treatments so will see what I can find out about this.

    Thanks a lot for the information,
    steve
  • steveandnat
    steveandnat Member Posts: 886
    tough
    With so much on the line I pray you are guided to a decision you are comfortable with. That the hard thing with cancer we have to make such tough decisions. I will be thinking of you and family. Jeff
  • steved
    steved Member Posts: 834 Member
    maglets said:

    isolation
    when I am in treatment, especially chemo, I can find myself wandering down the street thinking.....all alone....just me...no one else knows or feels as badly as i do....the WHOLE world goes on and only I am here suffering.....hahah what crap

    the longer I live, the more I see suffering in every single life. All around us cancer or not just plain suffering.

    talking to you Steve is like carrying coals to Newcastle....if I may speak about your kids for just a sec as a retired teacher. Do not ever lie to them...kids have shite detectors that are sooooo strong. As you have been doing age appropriate info....whatever you determine that to be....One family amongst our close relatives always says ..."shhhhh don't tell the kids" Very soon after our daughter's birth we determined that was not the route we would go. We shared with her and soon she could tell if we were "holding out on her". Then she was hurt and angry to be out of the loop. My girl was 22 with my diagnosis...it was the most difficult thing for me.....protecting, helping, her....seeing her suffer....it was and is a kicker. Yup I think your reaction as a parent is pretty standard and pretty good stuff Steve.....hahah told you ....coals to Newcastle....

    have a hug

    mags

    Mags
    I think we would agree a lot about parenting (good thing if you are to be a surrogate mother). My kids can certainly pcik a lie a mile off and kids carry anxieties about the stuff they don't understand pretty heavily. We answer their questions very openly but is harder sometimes to judge how much info to give when they aren't asking.

    What I do know is they are incredibly resilient. I lost my own parents when I was 9 and have always been amazed by how I was able to carry on- it affected me but not in the same way as it would if if I was older. In many ways the younger they are the more protected by obliviousness they are.

    Parenting- its all about guilt anyway!

    steve
  • Minnesotagirl
    Minnesotagirl Member Posts: 141
    The Gift of Hope
    Hi Steve,

    You have been given the gift of hope. You must not let yourself be burdened with a heavy sense of wrongness. I would hope for good news for you ~ the key to peace that surpasses pain, to a confidence that dispels confusion, to a hope that replaces heartbreak. Blessings and much hope to you Steve.

    ~Minnesotagirl
  • YoVita
    YoVita Member Posts: 590 Member
    maglets said:

    isolation
    when I am in treatment, especially chemo, I can find myself wandering down the street thinking.....all alone....just me...no one else knows or feels as badly as i do....the WHOLE world goes on and only I am here suffering.....hahah what crap

    the longer I live, the more I see suffering in every single life. All around us cancer or not just plain suffering.

    talking to you Steve is like carrying coals to Newcastle....if I may speak about your kids for just a sec as a retired teacher. Do not ever lie to them...kids have shite detectors that are sooooo strong. As you have been doing age appropriate info....whatever you determine that to be....One family amongst our close relatives always says ..."shhhhh don't tell the kids" Very soon after our daughter's birth we determined that was not the route we would go. We shared with her and soon she could tell if we were "holding out on her". Then she was hurt and angry to be out of the loop. My girl was 22 with my diagnosis...it was the most difficult thing for me.....protecting, helping, her....seeing her suffer....it was and is a kicker. Yup I think your reaction as a parent is pretty standard and pretty good stuff Steve.....hahah told you ....coals to Newcastle....

    have a hug

    mags

    isolation
    As always, your thoughts are full of wisdom. You're so right about "the longer I live, the more I see suffering in every single life." That comment reminds me of a great quote which I keep at my work desk "be kind for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle" attributed to Plato. Ever since my own diagnosis, I'm learning about others' challenges. Certainly puts my own in perspective.

    My thoughts and prayers are with you Steve.
  • YoVita
    YoVita Member Posts: 590 Member
    maglets said:

    isolation
    when I am in treatment, especially chemo, I can find myself wandering down the street thinking.....all alone....just me...no one else knows or feels as badly as i do....the WHOLE world goes on and only I am here suffering.....hahah what crap

    the longer I live, the more I see suffering in every single life. All around us cancer or not just plain suffering.

    talking to you Steve is like carrying coals to Newcastle....if I may speak about your kids for just a sec as a retired teacher. Do not ever lie to them...kids have shite detectors that are sooooo strong. As you have been doing age appropriate info....whatever you determine that to be....One family amongst our close relatives always says ..."shhhhh don't tell the kids" Very soon after our daughter's birth we determined that was not the route we would go. We shared with her and soon she could tell if we were "holding out on her". Then she was hurt and angry to be out of the loop. My girl was 22 with my diagnosis...it was the most difficult thing for me.....protecting, helping, her....seeing her suffer....it was and is a kicker. Yup I think your reaction as a parent is pretty standard and pretty good stuff Steve.....hahah told you ....coals to Newcastle....

    have a hug

    mags

    isolation
    As always, your thoughts are full of wisdom. You're so right about "the longer I live, the more I see suffering in every single life." That comment reminds me of a great quote which I keep at my work desk "be kind for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle" attributed to Plato. Ever since my own diagnosis, I'm learning about others' challenges. Certainly puts my own in perspective.

    My thoughts and prayers are with you Steve.
  • pepebcn
    pepebcn Member Posts: 6,331 Member
    steved said:

    Chemo
    Have done oxaliplatin and xeloda together (what you call FOLFOX) then with avastin. I had an allergic reaction to oxaliplatin so now remain on just the avastin and xeloda- recent trials have shown this is just as effective as with oxaliplatin for some. I have never been on irinotecan (what is in the concoction named FOLFIRI) and not tried cetuximab either though as they have none of my tumour to do KRAS on probably would struggle to get it.

    Have talked it through with my oncologist and she is clear that she doesn't feel chemo would be at all likely to be curative. It could jhold it and that would be the plan if I don't do surgery. I know of stories of cures from these chemos (often clouded by other treatments including surgery) but realistically none of them claim to be cures.

    I guess as for allof us it is a game of weighing up the odds- they are usually all crappy in my experience

    steve

    Steve I have been in FOLFIRI twice , and in both cases my tumors
    shrunk till disappear so the result was great ,I know few months later in both cases there was a recurrence but in a different place ! so in my opinion you got a big chance to get cured through chemo! I'm sorry to insist I know I can be a little bit heavy but it's been my reality my friend! think that both two ( you and me) have to arrive to the world cup, in brazil ,in good shape!.LOL.As you have asked I'm trying to give you solutions so if l were you l would try with a couple of rounds of chemo and if you see a drop in your CEA, then continue,if not then go to surgery .
    Just trying to help to a friend .
    Hugs dear friend.