I'm back!!!

iluvmms
iluvmms Member Posts: 134 Member
in Colorectal Cancer #1
Hello all. I have not posted lately, but read almost daily.
For those of you who do not know me or remember me, I was diagnosed with Stage 4 CC with mets to liver in July of 2009 at the age of 38 with an immediate colon resection that month. I then did 4 months of Folfox with Avastin. I was sent to Miami and was told I could not have a Liver Resection because of the location of the largest liver met. It was by the portal vein. I was sent to MD Anderson for a second opinion (Texas and I live in SW Florida). The agreed no liver Resection, just chemo. On my insistance I went to Moffitt Cancer center in Tampa, and they agreed, no liver resection yet, but wanted to try the THERASPHRES. I had that done in November 2009, and to my surprise within 3 months on my next visit, scans showed all good for surgery. I had liver resection in April of 2010. They took about 55%. I just went back for my checkup. I go every three months. I have been NED everysince resection in April 2010. Almost two years since liver surgery and 3 years since diagnosis. My CEA is 1.1 . Which is wonderful news.

I firmly believe if not for the THERASPHERES, I would have never been a candidate for liver resection. There are two types of these radioactive beads. There are Theraspheres and SirSpheres. I think there is a huge difference in the two. I know several who had the SirSperes, with not good results.

There is hope and I am still dealing with alot of side effects, but as long as thats all, it all good. I have Chemo induced RA now, with a lot of neuropathy.

Comments

  • Minnesotagirl
    Minnesotagirl Member Posts: 141
    #2
    wow, what a comeback story this is...
    WOW, WOW, WOW...
    What a great comeback story this is...so happy for you.
    I love that you were your own advocate and didn't except "No" for an answer. I do not have cancer in my liver but certainly love to hear that there is hope/cure for Stage 4's out there. Good for you and God's blessings to you in the future.

    Minnesota hugs to you~

    "Minnie"
  • janie1
    janie1 Member Posts: 753 Member
    #3
    Minnesotagirl said:

    wow, what a comeback story this is...
    WOW, WOW, WOW...
    What a great comeback story this is...so happy for you.
    I love that you were your own advocate and didn't except "No" for an answer. I do not have cancer in my liver but certainly love to hear that there is hope/cure for Stage 4's out there. Good for you and God's blessings to you in the future.

    Minnesota hugs to you~

    "Minnie"

    Glad you're back :)
    Thank you so much for sharing that. Glad you were persistent. Surprised MD Anderson said only chemo.
    Do you mind sharing what you know to be the difference between Thera and Sir Spheres.?
    Also, did you resume chemo (and for how long) after theraspheres?
    Do the radiation beads stay in the liver? How many cases does Moffitt do with the t-spheres?
    Any, and all info is very much appreciated. While everyone is different, there are many here with mets to the liver.
    Thank you again....and again!!
  • smokeyjoe
    smokeyjoe Member Posts: 1,425 Member
    #4
    janie1 said:

    Glad you're back :)
    Thank you so much for sharing that. Glad you were persistent. Surprised MD Anderson said only chemo.
    Do you mind sharing what you know to be the difference between Thera and Sir Spheres.?
    Also, did you resume chemo (and for how long) after theraspheres?
    Do the radiation beads stay in the liver? How many cases does Moffitt do with the t-spheres?
    Any, and all info is very much appreciated. While everyone is different, there are many here with mets to the liver.
    Thank you again....and again!!

    Always wonderful to hear
    Always wonderful to hear great news ... what a great outcome for you :)
  • janderson1964
    janderson1964 Member Posts: 2,215 Member
    #5
    Great story. Thanks for
    Great story. Thanks for sharing.
  • sdp
    sdp Member Posts: 181
    #6
    janie1 said:

    Glad you're back :)
    Thank you so much for sharing that. Glad you were persistent. Surprised MD Anderson said only chemo.
    Do you mind sharing what you know to be the difference between Thera and Sir Spheres.?
    Also, did you resume chemo (and for how long) after theraspheres?
    Do the radiation beads stay in the liver? How many cases does Moffitt do with the t-spheres?
    Any, and all info is very much appreciated. While everyone is different, there are many here with mets to the liver.
    Thank you again....and again!!

    Share with us ur details jan anderson !
    Hi,

    I have a similar predicament. Dx31 dec 2011 - sigmoid colon cancer with
    Mets to all segments of liver , largest being 13 cm and another 11 cm and varuious others
    Ranging from 2 cm to 5 cm.

    After two months of erbitux and folfox4 - had partial response,
    Liver mets shrunk 50 % , but still not resectable. Restarted earlier chemo
    Regime - in fact first one today in the next batch of chemo.

    Someone, did mention sir spheres but I am in India and I am doubting
    That anyone here has a good experience at giving it. I don't want it to leak
    And get into other complications.

    If u an share in more detail the treatment and response tothe chemo after your
    Two - two months of chemo I would appreciate. How many times did u do the
    Thera spheres treatment ? is it better to handle then chemo ?

    Also,which surgeon did the resections of the primary tumour.

    Is there any plan for a liver resection etc ?

    Kindly share the details as it may be helpful to me.

    Thanks

    Shitul
  • sdp
    sdp Member Posts: 181
    #7
    sdp said:

    Share with us ur details jan anderson !
    Hi,

    I have a similar predicament. Dx31 dec 2011 - sigmoid colon cancer with
    Mets to all segments of liver , largest being 13 cm and another 11 cm and varuious others
    Ranging from 2 cm to 5 cm.

    After two months of erbitux and folfox4 - had partial response,
    Liver mets shrunk 50 % , but still not resectable. Restarted earlier chemo
    Regime - in fact first one today in the next batch of chemo.

    Someone, did mention sir spheres but I am in India and I am doubting
    That anyone here has a good experience at giving it. I don't want it to leak
    And get into other complications.

    If u an share in more detail the treatment and response tothe chemo after your
    Two - two months of chemo I would appreciate. How many times did u do the
    Thera spheres treatment ? is it better to handle then chemo ?

    Also,which surgeon did the resections of the primary tumour.

    Is there any plan for a liver resection etc ?

    Kindly share the details as it may be helpful to me.

    Thanks

    Shitul

    Sorry my post meant for. Iluvmms
    Sorry janderson !
  • sdp
    sdp Member Posts: 181
    #8
    sdp said:

    Share with us ur details jan anderson !
    Hi,

    I have a similar predicament. Dx31 dec 2011 - sigmoid colon cancer with
    Mets to all segments of liver , largest being 13 cm and another 11 cm and varuious others
    Ranging from 2 cm to 5 cm.

    After two months of erbitux and folfox4 - had partial response,
    Liver mets shrunk 50 % , but still not resectable. Restarted earlier chemo
    Regime - in fact first one today in the next batch of chemo.

    Someone, did mention sir spheres but I am in India and I am doubting
    That anyone here has a good experience at giving it. I don't want it to leak
    And get into other complications.

    If u an share in more detail the treatment and response tothe chemo after your
    Two - two months of chemo I would appreciate. How many times did u do the
    Thera spheres treatment ? is it better to handle then chemo ?

    Also,which surgeon did the resections of the primary tumour.

    Is there any plan for a liver resection etc ?

    Kindly share the details as it may be helpful to me.

    Thanks

    Shitul

    Sorry my post meant for. Iluvmms
    Sorry janderson !
  • sdp
    sdp Member Posts: 181
    #9
    sdp said:

    Share with us ur details jan anderson !
    Hi,

    I have a similar predicament. Dx31 dec 2011 - sigmoid colon cancer with
    Mets to all segments of liver , largest being 13 cm and another 11 cm and varuious others
    Ranging from 2 cm to 5 cm.

    After two months of erbitux and folfox4 - had partial response,
    Liver mets shrunk 50 % , but still not resectable. Restarted earlier chemo
    Regime - in fact first one today in the next batch of chemo.

    Someone, did mention sir spheres but I am in India and I am doubting
    That anyone here has a good experience at giving it. I don't want it to leak
    And get into other complications.

    If u an share in more detail the treatment and response tothe chemo after your
    Two - two months of chemo I would appreciate. How many times did u do the
    Thera spheres treatment ? is it better to handle then chemo ?

    Also,which surgeon did the resections of the primary tumour.

    Is there any plan for a liver resection etc ?

    Kindly share the details as it may be helpful to me.

    Thanks

    Shitul

    Sorry my post meant for. Iluvmms
    Sorry janderson !

    Also I meant who did the Liver resection?

    Name of surgeon and facility if u can share.

    Regards and I hope u r cured !
  • sdp
    sdp Member Posts: 181
    #10
    sdp said:

    Share with us ur details jan anderson !
    Hi,

    I have a similar predicament. Dx31 dec 2011 - sigmoid colon cancer with
    Mets to all segments of liver , largest being 13 cm and another 11 cm and varuious others
    Ranging from 2 cm to 5 cm.

    After two months of erbitux and folfox4 - had partial response,
    Liver mets shrunk 50 % , but still not resectable. Restarted earlier chemo
    Regime - in fact first one today in the next batch of chemo.

    Someone, did mention sir spheres but I am in India and I am doubting
    That anyone here has a good experience at giving it. I don't want it to leak
    And get into other complications.

    If u an share in more detail the treatment and response tothe chemo after your
    Two - two months of chemo I would appreciate. How many times did u do the
    Thera spheres treatment ? is it better to handle then chemo ?

    Also,which surgeon did the resections of the primary tumour.

    Is there any plan for a liver resection etc ?

    Kindly share the details as it may be helpful to me.

    Thanks

    Shitul

    Sorry my post meant for. Iluvmms
    Sorry janderson !

    Also I meant who did the Liver resection?

    Name of surgeon and facility if u can share.

    Regards and I hope u r cured !
  • peterz54
    peterz54 Member Posts: 341
    #11
    Congratulations!
    was the liver tumor location, portal vein, the only reason given for not doing resection?

    I ask becuase my wife has large liver mets and has been doing chemo since December and has yet t be evaluated for resection. that will come in May or June.
  • tommycat
    tommycat Member Posts: 790 Member
    #12
    Thanks for sharing...and
    Thanks for sharing...and congratulations!
  • pete43lost_at_sea
    pete43lost_at_sea Member Posts: 3,900 Member
    #13
    great story
    thanks for sharing it.
    a little hope goes along long way.

    hugs,
    pete
  • iluvmms
    iluvmms Member Posts: 134 Member
    #14
    pete43lost_at_sea said:

    great story
    thanks for sharing it.
    a little hope goes along long way.

    hugs,
    pete

    Dr Yeatman and Dr Meredith at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa Florida are the Doc's that did my resection. Dr Shridhar is the one that did my Therashperes. I am not sure the exact difference between the two, but according to the Dr, there is a BIG difference. The SirSpheres I believe you do 2 doses for each lobe.
    The spheres are gone once the resection was done.
  • iluvmms
    iluvmms Member Posts: 134 Member
    #15
    peterz54 said:

    Congratulations!
    was the liver tumor location, portal vein, the only reason given for not doing resection?

    I ask becuase my wife has large liver mets and has been doing chemo since December and has yet t be evaluated for resection. that will come in May or June.

    It was due to the Portal Vein location and the number of large tumors, widespread.
  • thingy45
    thingy45 Member Posts: 632 Member
    #16
    iluvmms said:

    Dr Yeatman and Dr Meredith at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa Florida are the Doc's that did my resection. Dr Shridhar is the one that did my Therashperes. I am not sure the exact difference between the two, but according to the Dr, there is a BIG difference. The SirSpheres I believe you do 2 doses for each lobe.
    The spheres are gone once the resection was done.

    Great story
    Hope is all we have, everyday.
    This story gives us all Hope.
    thanks, Marjan

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