I have to believe there is hope

tkerber
tkerber Member Posts: 1
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
My 48 year old wife has recently been diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. 17 of 19 lymph nodes and liver metastases. She receives her port in two days and begins Fulfox 6 with Avasta on Monday. This is all new to us but the prognosis has not been encouraging. It can't be as bleak as what we have been hearing. Any advice?

Comments

  • katienavs
    katienavs Member Posts: 88 Member
    Hi,
    My best advice is to ignore the prognosis and believe that she will beat it. I was diagnosed stage iv last June with liver metastases and underwent 13 rounds of chemotherapy, 5 weeks of chemoradiation and surgery. I am doing wonderfully today with no signs of cancer.
    It is so scary at first with all of the predictions and statistics but just try to focus all of your energy on believing. This disease is beatable!
    There are many stage iv survivors on this board to give you and your wife hope. Stay positive, I truly believe that has been a huge part of my success so far.
    Katie
  • fedester
    fedester Member Posts: 753 Member
    hello,
    yes there is always hope.
    i am a stage II SURVIVOR of colon cancer. there are many stage 4 survivors here. a while back we did a post for stage 4 survivors, there are many.
    like kate said ignore the prognosis and do everything you and your wife can to beat this. you have found a great group here. caring,loving survivors and caregivers. you and your wife must have a great attitude to hit this head on and win.
    be well
    never,ever give up!!
    bruce
    i will try to find the post i was talking about.
  • fedester
    fedester Member Posts: 753 Member
    hi,
    i just went back to old posts.
    i have found posts on the following pages 17,37,45,60,68. also if you type in stage iv survivor in the keyword search, it will bring up more that way. we have a sister who is 14 1/2 years out (foxy) and many more.
    when you can read the posts and know that we are here for you both. ask questions and they will be answered by people who have walked the walk.
  • alta29
    alta29 Member Posts: 435 Member
    more than hope....Stage IV DX 2 1/2 years ago, currently NED (No evidence od disease). It's VERY hard at first, but there are new medicines like Avastin...DO NOT read stats...they are old...
    God bless
  • Faith4Cure
    Faith4Cure Member Posts: 405 Member
    Yes, You do have to believe there is hope! You have found it here. This is a great place to find support, hope and prayers. Stay positive and read about all of the survivors on this site. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

    Faith
  • sladich
    sladich Member Posts: 429 Member
    I was also diagnosed at 48 with Stage 4 colon cancer. After the initial colon surgery, I had my lower left lung removed and went through 6 months of chemo (FOLFOX). I had a recurrence (liver). I had a liver resection. I went through another round of chemo (camptosar). I had another recuurence in the liver. I had a 2 chemoembolizations and a RFA. It's been 2 years and 10 months since diagnosis. I'm currently clean. I thought things looked bleak when I was first diagnosed. Everything I read, I should be dead by now. Hang in there and best of luck!

    Debbie
  • robinvan
    robinvan Member Posts: 1,012
    Stage 4 here too. Diagnosed 3 years ago at age 46. I've had colon resection, liver resection, 6 months chemo, liver RFA, and another round of chemo. Things are looking pretty good now and I hope to be around for another 25-30 years or so. There have been lots of bleak spots along the road though... Hope helps us through those.
    I wrote a piece on diagnosis and prognosis in my journal a while back. I agree with others here... accept the diagnosis, defy the prognosis. Statistics are just not a good indicator of individual response. (http://rob-pollock.blogspot.com/2007/06/gno-sis.html)
    Don't forget to look for other medical opinions until you find a medical team who are able to provide your wife the treatment options that she needs.
    Peace and blessings... Rob
  • Betsydoglover
    Betsydoglover Member Posts: 1,248 Member
    Hi - There is much hope for your wife. Actually there is more than hope. There is a real chance of becoming disease free and staying that way.

    Just one example - I was diagnosed Stage IV with liver mets in late May 2005. I had colon surgery and then 6 cycles of chemo (Xeloda / oxaliplatin / Avastin). My PET and CT scans were no evidence of disease (NED) since 8/26/05 after my second chemo cycle. I went on to complete 6 chemo cycles. We took a chemo break, but scans (now every 3 months) have been NED ever since - as recently as last week. Of course I may recur at some time in the future, but if so, I'll put on the battle gear and go back for the fight.

    A liver resection is the textbook cure for liver mets and many people on this site have also had successful liver resections. There is also radio frequency ablation (RFA), chemoembolization, Sir Spheres and no doubt other treatments out there (with hopefully more coming.)

    Try and take it one step at a time and realize that scary as this is, it is not necessarily as scary as you think.

    Please keep coming back here with questions. And, lease ignore the stats (most are outdated and even when they involve the "new" drugs, the stats are not particularly relevant to any one individual today, especially not anyone who is just diagnosed.

    Take care,
    Betsy