Good News

Bear23
Bear23 Member Posts: 84
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Scan results from Wednesday show significant reduction in number and size of tumors in my lungs. Vectibix and Irinotecan has worked! We are doing the happy dance here. Wow! Not just stable but so much better. I am going to drop the Irinotecan and just do the Vectibix for the next three months and then have another scan. If things change then I can go back on the Irinotecan but for now I can do without those chemo side effects. I'll deal with the side effects from Vectibix. Hopefully just the Vectibix will continue to work.

Smiling all the time
Valerie

Comments

  • Sundanceh
    Sundanceh Member Posts: 4,392 Member
    Hi Valerie
    Sounds so good!

    Since the Irinotecan has worked so well and you've got good results from it...does your onc think that backing off now is the best plan?

    I'm asking because my onc wants to give me the full 6 months of Irinotecan and then have Vectibix in our back pocket should the other begin to fail us.

    I'm just thinking since you got the cancer on the run, why not really go after it and finish off the next 3 months - you might really be surprised at your CT results then!

    I'm just concerned for you is all:)

    I'm afraid that if we let up now for 3 months, that instead of moving forward, maybe all we do is hold the same ground or possibly take a step back. Vectibix might hold the line, but if we stay with the chemo, you will really be clobbering the cancer, but good.

    General Patton had a famous saying, "You never pay for the same real estate TWICE. We are moving forward all the time."

    I'm with you, but just wanted to throw that out there - I like to attack when it's going good, because the chemo can change and all of a sudden not work like it used to as the cancer cells mutate and adapt to those type of changes.

    I'd fire all the bullets in the gun now - you will always have Vectibix later to use if necessary. That's our plan and I think would be good for you as well.

    I'm sorry, just concerned for you....want to see you get ahead - and stay ahead!

    -Craig
  • pepebcn
    pepebcn Member Posts: 6,331 Member
    Sundanceh said:

    Hi Valerie
    Sounds so good!

    Since the Irinotecan has worked so well and you've got good results from it...does your onc think that backing off now is the best plan?

    I'm asking because my onc wants to give me the full 6 months of Irinotecan and then have Vectibix in our back pocket should the other begin to fail us.

    I'm just thinking since you got the cancer on the run, why not really go after it and finish off the next 3 months - you might really be surprised at your CT results then!

    I'm just concerned for you is all:)

    I'm afraid that if we let up now for 3 months, that instead of moving forward, maybe all we do is hold the same ground or possibly take a step back. Vectibix might hold the line, but if we stay with the chemo, you will really be clobbering the cancer, but good.

    General Patton had a famous saying, "You never pay for the same real estate TWICE. We are moving forward all the time."

    I'm with you, but just wanted to throw that out there - I like to attack when it's going good, because the chemo can change and all of a sudden not work like it used to as the cancer cells mutate and adapt to those type of changes.

    I'd fire all the bullets in the gun now - you will always have Vectibix later to use if necessary. That's our plan and I think would be good for you as well.

    I'm sorry, just concerned for you....want to see you get ahead - and stay ahead!

    -Craig

    Valerie what a great new, you make me happy to night
    by giving me lots of feith in iron!
    Thanks for post this great news ,that's what we need!
    and......CONGRATULATIONS.
    Hugs.!
  • Buzzard
    Buzzard Member Posts: 3,043 Member
    pepebcn said:

    Valerie what a great new, you make me happy to night
    by giving me lots of feith in iron!
    Thanks for post this great news ,that's what we need!
    and......CONGRATULATIONS.
    Hugs.!

    Same here...........
    Great News coming in tonight...Keep up the move forward....if your putting the fire out, keep the water flowing, shut it down when the fire is gone....Love and Hope to you and yours, Buzz
  • AnneCan
    AnneCan Member Posts: 3,673 Member
    Beary good news!
    Valerie,

    What a great response! Dance the weekend away!
  • pepebcn
    pepebcn Member Posts: 6,331 Member
    pepebcn said:

    Valerie what a great new, you make me happy to night
    by giving me lots of feith in iron!
    Thanks for post this great news ,that's what we need!
    and......CONGRATULATIONS.
    Hugs.!

    Mean
    Irinotecan, sorry.
  • Bear23
    Bear23 Member Posts: 84
    Sundanceh said:

    Hi Valerie
    Sounds so good!

    Since the Irinotecan has worked so well and you've got good results from it...does your onc think that backing off now is the best plan?

    I'm asking because my onc wants to give me the full 6 months of Irinotecan and then have Vectibix in our back pocket should the other begin to fail us.

    I'm just thinking since you got the cancer on the run, why not really go after it and finish off the next 3 months - you might really be surprised at your CT results then!

    I'm just concerned for you is all:)

    I'm afraid that if we let up now for 3 months, that instead of moving forward, maybe all we do is hold the same ground or possibly take a step back. Vectibix might hold the line, but if we stay with the chemo, you will really be clobbering the cancer, but good.

    General Patton had a famous saying, "You never pay for the same real estate TWICE. We are moving forward all the time."

    I'm with you, but just wanted to throw that out there - I like to attack when it's going good, because the chemo can change and all of a sudden not work like it used to as the cancer cells mutate and adapt to those type of changes.

    I'd fire all the bullets in the gun now - you will always have Vectibix later to use if necessary. That's our plan and I think would be good for you as well.

    I'm sorry, just concerned for you....want to see you get ahead - and stay ahead!

    -Craig

    Thanks for your concern
    Craig,
    Thanks for concern. This is my decision at this point, I was given options. This is my fight and I am always in control. Yes, part of our concern was dropping the chemo, but I want to know if just the Vectibix will work on its own without the chemo and side effects. Three months is really very little time and I will change directions if I need to. You are so knowledgeable and have been with this longer than I have and your input is valued.

    Hugs
    Valerie
  • pepebcn
    pepebcn Member Posts: 6,331 Member
    Bear23 said:

    Thanks for your concern
    Craig,
    Thanks for concern. This is my decision at this point, I was given options. This is my fight and I am always in control. Yes, part of our concern was dropping the chemo, but I want to know if just the Vectibix will work on its own without the chemo and side effects. Three months is really very little time and I will change directions if I need to. You are so knowledgeable and have been with this longer than I have and your input is valued.

    Hugs
    Valerie

    Valerie don't you can low the dosage or just do a 3 weeks
    regime instead of stop it ? is it that hard? I'm in folfiri + avastin first 4 rounds where quite fine but I have to recognize the 5th it's been so hard,
    I'm in my 7th day after unplugging and still quite bad!.
    hugs.
  • Lori-S
    Lori-S Member Posts: 1,277 Member
    Valerie
    I am so happy for your significant reduction news!
  • Bear23
    Bear23 Member Posts: 84
    pepebcn said:

    Valerie don't you can low the dosage or just do a 3 weeks
    regime instead of stop it ? is it that hard? I'm in folfiri + avastin first 4 rounds where quite fine but I have to recognize the 5th it's been so hard,
    I'm in my 7th day after unplugging and still quite bad!.
    hugs.

    No Pepe
    No Pepe, It is not that hard as compared to FOLFOX. I don't believe I could go to three weeks because the vectibix protocol is every two. I am prepared in my mind to resume the Irino if need to in three months. This gives me the holidays not to feel like crap and my kids will be home for their winter break from college for xmas and after, so I will be able to do things with them and not lose part of it by being on the couch with no energy. I have had many bad reports, and want to savor this one. I am in this for the long haul being Stage 4. And why not see if the vectibix will work on its own? I believe it will. It feels so great to be on the good side right now :)

    I am so sorry to here that you feel so miserable. Keep the strength and try to find one happy thing to do each day. Thinking of you.

    Hugs
    Valerie
  • pepebcn
    pepebcn Member Posts: 6,331 Member
    Bear23 said:

    No Pepe
    No Pepe, It is not that hard as compared to FOLFOX. I don't believe I could go to three weeks because the vectibix protocol is every two. I am prepared in my mind to resume the Irino if need to in three months. This gives me the holidays not to feel like crap and my kids will be home for their winter break from college for xmas and after, so I will be able to do things with them and not lose part of it by being on the couch with no energy. I have had many bad reports, and want to savor this one. I am in this for the long haul being Stage 4. And why not see if the vectibix will work on its own? I believe it will. It feels so great to be on the good side right now :)

    I am so sorry to here that you feel so miserable. Keep the strength and try to find one happy thing to do each day. Thinking of you.

    Hugs
    Valerie

    Ok Valerie ,understand you choice. Just notice that when I was
    on folfox ,I asked to low the dosage as I feel really bad.So they did it and it was a different story, easy to manage that dosage! just by low a little de dosage! well just wanted to let you know about this.
    Cheers!
  • Lori-S
    Lori-S Member Posts: 1,277 Member
    Bear23 said:

    No Pepe
    No Pepe, It is not that hard as compared to FOLFOX. I don't believe I could go to three weeks because the vectibix protocol is every two. I am prepared in my mind to resume the Irino if need to in three months. This gives me the holidays not to feel like crap and my kids will be home for their winter break from college for xmas and after, so I will be able to do things with them and not lose part of it by being on the couch with no energy. I have had many bad reports, and want to savor this one. I am in this for the long haul being Stage 4. And why not see if the vectibix will work on its own? I believe it will. It feels so great to be on the good side right now :)

    I am so sorry to here that you feel so miserable. Keep the strength and try to find one happy thing to do each day. Thinking of you.

    Hugs
    Valerie

    Valerie
    There are so many considerations when you have to make treatment choices. Having your children home for the holidays is definitely a good reason to switch it up if you will feel better and not have significant negitive effects for doing so. I'm so happy to hear that you've found a way to enjoy these times with your family and still be taking care of business with the cancer.
  • Nana b
    Nana b Member Posts: 3,030 Member
    Lori-S said:

    Valerie
    I am so happy for your significant reduction news!

    Awesome
    Thai is great!!

    Awesome

    Thai is great!!
  • Nana b
    Nana b Member Posts: 3,030 Member
    Lori-S said:

    Valerie
    I am so happy for your significant reduction news!

    Awesome
    Thai is great!!

    Awesome

    Thai is great!!
  • herdizziness
    herdizziness Member Posts: 3,624 Member
    Bumping
    Bumping up
  • Lori-S
    Lori-S Member Posts: 1,277 Member

    Bumping
    Bumping up

    Bump
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  • herdizziness
    herdizziness Member Posts: 3,624 Member
    Bumping
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