Peritoneal and colon cancer

Lisa5165

My husband was diagnosed in late september 2024 with Stage IV colorectal and peritoneal cancer (lining of stomach). He was very sick and had lost a good deal of weight and had a tumor obstructing the bowel (partially). He was in pain and felt bad or very bad almost every single day. After 6 rounds of chemo (48 hours each treatment), he has been doing great. His CA 125 went from 357 to 25 which is in the normal range. He is getting a laproscopy on Monday to evaluate and then if a candidate, will get HIPEC or CRS surgery. So….my question is this…to anyone that has already been thru this. The doctor had told me that my hubby may not make it a year, she seemed very pessimistic almost, and said they would "manage" his cancer. I don't quite understand how my husband seems like he is completely back to his old self for the last month or two. He does not have pain, he eats great, we go out occasionally and he is going to the bathroom regularly and takes hardly any meds. Some tell me that I should not get too excited because colon cancer generally does not cause pain, others tell me that maybe the doctors were wrong and the chemo shrunk a lot of cancer cells. Now finally to my question: Do most people w/stage 4 feel good after chemo all the time besides some tiredness. It is like night and day with him before and after chemo. Thanks

bibliophile

I am new to the site, so I know it has been a while since your post. I hope things are going well for you and your husband. I would love an update on how treatment is going if you care to share? After being very sick and misdiagnosed for a long time, in 2023 I was diagnosed with Stage IIIc colon cancer with lung nodules that required monitoring that turned out to be cancerous so really Stage IV. I have just this week been diagnosed with peritoneal carcinomatosis and lymphademopathy in the abdomen. I have never technically been NED. My treatment involved colon resection surgery in July 2023, 6 months of CAPEOX and lung resection in March 2025. To answer your question, I feel fantastic when I am not in treatment. Chemo takes a little while to bounce back from, but I had 9 months after where I felt 95% normal. I recovered from my lung surgery in about 2 weeks and feel really good right now. So, I have actively progressing Stage IV disease, but really good quality of life. I am so thankful for that. They are putting me on FOLFOXIRI starting July 1st to try and stop the growth of the peritoneal nodules in hopes of CRS/HIPEC so I am sure that will be difficult, but, yes, it is possible to feel good after chemo. Every person has a different experience, but that was mine.