Reccurant Stories?

jessjakem
jessjakem Member Posts: 18
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
I am in great need of some positive stories and experiences with reccurances. My dad has mets to lungs, abdomen, and nodes. Thank you guys!!

Jessie

Comments

  • midnte0708
    midnte0708 Member Posts: 166
    #2
    There are many on this site who are NED now after having mets in various places.
    My dad had his cancer spread to his liver (this is was 2nd reoccurance). His chemo shrunk the cancer a bit and he is now has "stable disease" ...tumors not bigger or smaller.
    Good luck and keep us updated. Sometimes the chemo takes a while to work. My father didn't have any shrinkage till 6 months after starting chemo. I don't know if this is common but I guess everyone if different.

    Sue
  • sandyjg
    sandyjg Member Posts: 71
    #3
    midnte0708 said:

    There are many on this site who are NED now after having mets in various places.
    My dad had his cancer spread to his liver (this is was 2nd reoccurance). His chemo shrunk the cancer a bit and he is now has "stable disease" ...tumors not bigger or smaller.
    Good luck and keep us updated. Sometimes the chemo takes a while to work. My father didn't have any shrinkage till 6 months after starting chemo. I don't know if this is common but I guess everyone if different.

    Sue

    When was your dad first diagnosed? I am just curious as my husband was dx July 05 and has "stable disease", no bigger no smaller. I am just waiting to hear from someone who has had this "stable disease" for many years.
    Thanks!
  • midnte0708
    midnte0708 Member Posts: 166
    #4
    sandyjg said:

    When was your dad first diagnosed? I am just curious as my husband was dx July 05 and has "stable disease", no bigger no smaller. I am just waiting to hear from someone who has had this "stable disease" for many years.
    Thanks!

    Hi Sandy,
    My dad was also dianosed in July 2005 also. 40% of each lobe of his liver has cancer. After roughly 6 months on chemo (around March 2006 scan) finally showed quite a bit of shrinkage...a few of the big tumors are gone and some small ones gone. Since then all scans showed "no change." He gets his chemo every other week and works full time and does pretty much all the same stuff he used to, although he gets tired faster and sometimes doesn't feel really great but it has been really tolerable for him so far. He's on Folfiri + Avastin.
    He recently was turned down by a liver surgeon who said the cancer is too close to major artery.
    "Stable disease " used to scare me but now I realize that it is a blessing compared to what it could be.
    I wish I could tell you he's been stable for many years and I am looking for someone like that too. I do remember that I read about a woman on chemo for a very long time and after about 3 years she was finally "NED."
    Another thing I was curious about is that my dad has never had a PET scan only a CAT scan and I wonder if the remaining tumors could be dead tissue that may not have dissolved out of the liver yet.
    Sue
  • sandyjg
    sandyjg Member Posts: 71
    #5
    midnte0708 said:

    Hi Sandy,
    My dad was also dianosed in July 2005 also. 40% of each lobe of his liver has cancer. After roughly 6 months on chemo (around March 2006 scan) finally showed quite a bit of shrinkage...a few of the big tumors are gone and some small ones gone. Since then all scans showed "no change." He gets his chemo every other week and works full time and does pretty much all the same stuff he used to, although he gets tired faster and sometimes doesn't feel really great but it has been really tolerable for him so far. He's on Folfiri + Avastin.
    He recently was turned down by a liver surgeon who said the cancer is too close to major artery.
    "Stable disease " used to scare me but now I realize that it is a blessing compared to what it could be.
    I wish I could tell you he's been stable for many years and I am looking for someone like that too. I do remember that I read about a woman on chemo for a very long time and after about 3 years she was finally "NED."
    Another thing I was curious about is that my dad has never had a PET scan only a CAT scan and I wonder if the remaining tumors could be dead tissue that may not have dissolved out of the liver yet.
    Sue

    My husband never has PET scans, only CAT scans, he has only had about 20% shrinkage, his mets are like a cup of chocolate chips mixed in batter, small and througout the liver, no discussions on surgery. Be encouraged, my hubby is doing fab, still working golfing and wearing me out. He is retiring early this summer, we both realize this is no dress rehersal, we are downsizing and going to live it up, travel enjoy each other and the family and mark off things on our "things to do before I die list". I truthfully feel like our guys have a great shot on a bunch more years with the new drugs and the alternative things we can do through nutrition. God bless
  • jessjakem
    jessjakem Member Posts: 18
    #6
    sandyjg said:

    My husband never has PET scans, only CAT scans, he has only had about 20% shrinkage, his mets are like a cup of chocolate chips mixed in batter, small and througout the liver, no discussions on surgery. Be encouraged, my hubby is doing fab, still working golfing and wearing me out. He is retiring early this summer, we both realize this is no dress rehersal, we are downsizing and going to live it up, travel enjoy each other and the family and mark off things on our "things to do before I die list". I truthfully feel like our guys have a great shot on a bunch more years with the new drugs and the alternative things we can do through nutrition. God bless

    I can't tell you how great it is to hear all of your stories. It has been a rough couple of days. My dad's initial rectal cancer was diagnosed last nov. He had chemo/rad, surgery w/ colostomy, then 5 months of chemo. August 06 PET showed cancer was gone. His CEA last week was elevated so they did a PET which showed mets to lungs, abdomen, and nodes. They were not real specific. The onc said he wanted to do the same chemo (xeloda) but add the avastin (sorry about spelling). Well they went to put the port in and said his kidneys were failing b/c of his weak bladder. So as we speak he is in the hospital w/ a catheter which the kidney and neurologist say is working. They want his kidneys back to normal before starting chemo. Now the onc is the one being the pesimist, telling my mom he is a very sick man. It sounds like my dad wants the port in and wants to fight. Like you all I would be very happy with a stable disease. At this point we are taking it day by day. Again thank you all for your support. Keep praying!

    Jessie

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