Devastated

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LMighty
LMighty Member Posts: 14
in Colorectal Cancer #1

So after 3 rounds of Irinotecan + Erbitux, my mom got a swollen abdomen full of ascites. Paracentesis to be done tomorrow but ascites means peritoneal involvement. Our onc ruled out Stivarga and recommended immunotherapy (Keytruda).

I feel really devastated exhausting all standard chemo regimens in less than a year. Keytruda seems promising only if MS status is MSI-H while the majority of stage IV patients are MSS, meaning they are very unlikley to benefit from immunotherapy.

Could this be the end?

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  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,796 Member
    #2
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    Every day could be the end (for any of us)

    its hard to say.  That is why it is important to live life to its fullest.

    Enjoy your mum as much as you can, and you may find yourself posting here in a year, two, that she is doing well on the new meds. 

    I am sorry to hear of her latest setback; and pray the Keytruda works well for her, and that she gets relief from tomorrow's procedure. 

    Tru

  • MyJourneywithCancer
    MyJourneywithCancer Member Posts: 82
    #3
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    Hope
    I am so sorry to hear about your mom. Hope she feels better with the immunotherapy. I was just wondering whether any actionable mutation is known for targeted therapy.
  • traci43
    traci43 Member Posts: 773 Member
    edited May 2017 #4
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    What about HIPEC?

    HIPEC is a combination of tumor redcution surgery followed immeadiately by heated chemo wash in the abdomen.  It's something that is done for peritoneal involvement.  It's not an easy surgery by any means, and may not be right for your mom, but it's an option.  I had it done, but had a recurrence within a year, others have had more success.  Just something to think about. 

    I'm sorry to hear about your mom, I hope the immunotherapy works.  Traci

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