oxaliplatin is it changing the stats?

timlou

When my husb. Tim was diagnosed stage 3 colon cancer with 8 positive lymph nodes I looked up all the information and stats I could find. The infor was grim and scarry. The info was also pre oxaliplatin for first time cancer patients. Does anyone have good news for me about survival rates for a 52 year old in Tim's situation? I worry every day. He has rectal pain alot we were told it is a thickening in the rectal wall. He had his last chemo treatment in Feb. 2005. Oxaliplatin/5fu/leukovorin. Thanks for your never ending support and Everyone have a Merry Christmas Louise

Betsydoglover

Louise - I wish you and your husband all the best. This is a very scary disease.

I'm Stage IV with one liver met. Very early on I made up my mind to ignore the stats. They just don't apply to any one individual, and are more likely to depress than help. Also as you observed most of the stats come from longer term studies and don't take into account the treatments being used today. The best advice I can give anyone is to ignore that survival "data" and concentrate on getting well (or helping your husband to get well).

You and your husband will be in my prayers.

Betsy

CAMaura

Hi Louise -- I don't know the stats either, but was diagnosed as stage three as well. This is how I look at my situation. I had a great surgeon, I have very good docs, and I made it through as much FOLFOX as my body could tolerate; now it is my turn. I research what I can do to keep my body healthy -- and there is a lot (both research and what one can be doing). And none of it is as uncomfortable as chemo was.....
This is a scary disease and worry does creep around all of us. But all of us are smart enough to look up things online, and to read about good lifestyle practices. I think if you try it, you will feel much stronger and be in a situation of less worry. I play around with word strings for online searches; a few days ago I tried: diet and colon cancer recurrence. There was a great list of articles to go through. Many things I was familiar with, but I learned a few new things and reinforced as well. It is just a thought...but it might help ease your mind and you might really like the results! Take care and all the best to you -- Maura

andyc56

Louise, my wife (age 45) was diagnosed with Stage III CRC (10 positive nodes) in Oct. of 2004. She finished the folfox6 regimen in May of this year.

Betsy is absolutely right. On an individual basis, the survival statistics are of very little use, in my opinion. They are obsolete and of little application to future survivability due to advances in treatment, including oxaliplatin.

My wife Kim is doing very well and is NED. She still has residual neuropathy from the oxaliplatin (she's taking 900 mg daily of alpha lipoic acid, which seems to be helping a little).

Please feel free to contact me privately if you would like to further compare notes. Best wishes!

Andy

Lisa Rose

Hi Louise,

I was 40 years old when I was diagnosed with stage 3 rectal cancer. My surgery was March 20, 2002 and I tested positive in 10 lymph nodes. My treatment was radiation & 5 FU for my chemo drug. But the number one cure is SURGERY. . . When I look back I wish that I was treated with Oxalipatin or CPT 11, if I was starting treatment today I would be.

March I will be 4 years cancer free ( knock on wood ) and I still just take it one day at a time. Maura is right nutrition does make a difference and I thank Emily ( 2behealed ) for that.


Andy, I'm happy to hear your wife is doing well also... The funny thing is ~ I'm married to an Andy.

Lisa

Moesimo

Louise,

When I was diagnosed with rectal cancer in 3/03, I like you read everything I could find. What I read was not very promising. When I was told by my surgeon that I had stage 3 disease, I was devastated. He assured me that it wasn't as bad as I thought it was. He told me I had a better than 65% of remaining cancer free. I, like Lisa Rose had only 5 FU and leukovorin. And I received only 4 out of 12 treatments postop because I was too sick from the chemo. I worry everyday that the cancer will come back. So far knock on wood, I remain cancer free. I also wish that oxyplatin was made available to me.

Moe

oneagleswings

Hi Louise:
My husband at 53 has stage 1V and I sure wish oxaliplatin had been available to him- he started out as stage 111 and did 6 months 5FU as adjuvant therapy..but got the horrid news 3 months after chemo was done that it was in his liver and lungs...I believe that since it appears that your husband is NED after his initial treatment that things will work out well for him...keep strong-
Bev

Kanort

Hi Louise,

Another stage 3, sigmoid cancer survivor here! I had my colon resection in October of 03 and and at that time, oxaliplatin was only approved for stage 4, not stage 3. However, my oncologist who was always ahead of the curve, thought it would be the best protocol for me, and went ahead and administered it to me, not even knowing if my insurance would approve of it. He also gave me 130mg. for the whole 12 treatments which I believe to be a rather large dose. I'm a year and a half out of treatment and so far all is well. I try and not think about the statistics. Try not and worry and keep us posted on Tim's progress.

Kay

fredrick55

I agree with betsydoglover, don't get hung up on stats. I have stage 4 with mets to the liver, I have had 4 chemo sessions of the same exact chemo your husband is on. After 3 sessions they did a CEA test, before chemo it was 20.1 it is now 5. I have been reading alot of the discussion boards and the common denominator seems to be a positive attitude, support of family and friends, a chemo program that works (and I believe your husband is on a good program) and last but not least faith in God. If you address this adversity with the attitude of a conquerer the stats don't hold water.

timlou

I was so very glad to hear from all of you positive people. I am a firm believer in treating the person not the patient and I let that slip my mind. I somehow thought I was in control by knowing all these stupid statistics as if nothing could sneak up on us.
Tim always looks to me for advice and I want to always give him the best so I turn to you wonderful people. I thank God each day that I have you to turn to and that you are always here. Take care. Louise