IS IT THE RIGHT TREATMENT?

florinavoicu
florinavoicu Member Posts: 4
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
MY MOM IS STAGE IV. SHE IS ON 5-FU AND LEUCOVORIN . SHE HAD 4 SESSIONS OF THIS TILL NOW, HANDLED THEM OK. BUT I WONDER IF THIS IS ENOUGH. I HEARD THAT THERE ARE BETTER RESULTS WITH OXIPLATIN,5FU AND LEUCOVORIN. CAN SOMEBODY GIVE ME A PIECE OF ADVICE? SHE HAS A VESICA INVASION AND ABDOMINAL WALL.

Comments

  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #2
    Hi. My husband who is stage III is on the 5FU/Leucovorin regime. It is my understanding, and I could be wrong here, that stage IV is usually a three part mix that can consist of Oxiplatin, 5FU and Leucovorin, and I believe there are also others. My husband had his tumor break through the bowl wall, with regional lymph node involvement, but was still (THANK GOD!!!) staged at stage III because there were no metastesis to other organs. Again, it is my understanding that stage IV contains three components. I'm sure you'll be hearing from the more experienced among us real soon...stage IV's who can better share with you their information. Hang in there and you have most definitely come to the right place. This is such an upbeat and knowledgeable group...one of the best I have found on the net. Take care. Monika
  • Chrisswife
    Chrisswife Member Posts: 50
    #3
    My husband "only" has stage II disease but he was given the full regimen of Oxiplatin/5FU/Leucovorin because he is young (33) and could tolerate it and they wanted to go after it aggressively as insurance against recurrence (our Onc has been refered to as a "Pit-Bull" more than once in reference to his agressive style treatment:)

    If you haven't already, I would encourage you to get a second opinion. It's a good idea even if you are satisfied with the treatment presented.

    Good luck.
  • Pewter
    Pewter Member Posts: 24
    #4
    Your Mom has stage IV disease, that defines there are metastases, and as you stated, they have been identified on both the bladder and the abdominal wall. Treatment with 5-FU/Leucovorin is the least likely of any of the regimens to benefit her. It is decades old, and up until a few years ago, was all that was found to be effective; however, with the contribution of irinotican and oxaliplatin to the armamentarium, the 5-FU/Leucovorin regimen is pretty much just for Stage II or III adjuvant therapy (treating micromets).
    You need to be quite upfront with the oncologists that you want your mother treated more aggressively, otherwise find a different oncologist.
  • WLawrence
    WLawrence Member Posts: 6
    #5
    I have stage4 rectal cancer with mets to the liver. At this time i am NED.
    I was treated with radiation with chemo and about 6months of chemo. The chemo was 5FU only. Now if it recurs I have not used up all my options. If I had colon cancer the treatments might have been different. I hope you have a relationship with your Onc.so you can ask him about your treatments. He or she is the one to ask.
  • jjho
    jjho Member Posts: 3
    #6
    I have been on 5-fu, leucovorin and oxylinplatin - no results to speak of. I am going to try xyloda. This is a pill you take for 14 days. It is the last resort for me.
  • 2bhealed
    2bhealed Member Posts: 2,064 Member
    #7
    jjho said:

    I have been on 5-fu, leucovorin and oxylinplatin - no results to speak of. I am going to try xyloda. This is a pill you take for 14 days. It is the last resort for me.

    jjho,

    If you exhaust your last resort please take note....there are alternatives that have healed cancer where chemo has not.

    A Cancer Battle Plan by Anne Frahm is one such success story.

    Your Child Does Not Have to Die by Leanne Sorteberg is another.

    There are many protocols out there that folks have had success with when all else fails....or in my case when chosen instead of chemo.

    peace, emily
  • sharynann
    sharynann Member Posts: 28
    #8
    WLawrence said:

    I have stage4 rectal cancer with mets to the liver. At this time i am NED.
    I was treated with radiation with chemo and about 6months of chemo. The chemo was 5FU only. Now if it recurs I have not used up all my options. If I had colon cancer the treatments might have been different. I hope you have a relationship with your Onc.so you can ask him about your treatments. He or she is the one to ask.

    What is the difference between colon and rectal cancer? Am I to understand that they treat it different? My FIL was diagnosed with colorectal cancer. I've also heard people say "bowel cancer". Is that the same thing?
    I guess I'm confused on all the different names. Also, what is NED?
    Thanks, Sharyn

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