Did anyone's cancer spread quickly. I need to find just one living person who had this experience

Cancer can spread quickly and you can live ...
Helen, I know this is an understandably challenging and confusing time for you. You are doing the right thing to question and learn as much about your treatment options as possible. You seem like a very bright and feisty lady; your strong personality and preserving attitude will serve you well on your journey. As others have stated, the statistics you are reading are averages and by the time information is circulated on the web from a study or a paper it is likely outdated.

Always remember that as you read the experiences and suggestions of others on this message board who has, or cares for someone with, colorectal cancer each individual circumstances is unique. The direction that this disease takes varies ... the progression of the disease, the side effects to the chemotherapy, the responses to treatment, and ultimately longevity. There are so many factors involved in one's individual health both before and after your diagnosis that affect response to treatment. This ambiguity is especially hard to grasp when you are newly diagnosed and are seeking specifics and concrete answers.

I would encourage you to not take an adversarial role with your medical team. Now, that does not mean you do not question their role, seek answers to your questions, and be feisty when you have to be to advocate for yourself. I am just saying that they are not your enemy. I think they use the tools at their disposable to help you fight your disease the best they know how.

The doctors want to both fight your disease but also preserve your health. That is confusing but what it means is that chemotherapy and radiation are very strong and powerful treatments which must be used sparingly so as to preserve your health to be able to fight your disease.

As I understand from reading your messages you were diagnosed stage one and had a resection in March 2012 and then nine weeks later your scan showed reoccurrence and spread. This is not unlike my husband who after initial surgery had a quick recurrence not only in the original area but also had spread to simultaneously to the liver and lungs .... like you, we ask, how could this possibly happen?

Cancer cells can only be viewed by cat scans or pet scans when they are at a certain size. There can be microscopic cells floating throughout the body both before and after surgery that are not and cannot be removed by the surgery and can cause reoccurrence or mets. It would seem that both in your case, and my husband's, that microscopic cells were present that could be seen and thus not removed that resulted in your reoccurrence. When tissue is resected during surgery the margins are tested until they are clear and this is how they deem they have resected enough. I feel through you research you are undoubtably aware of this and forgive me if I am being too simplistic in this explanation.

My husband had recurrence after his stage one diagnosis and it quickly became stage four with mets to his liver and lungs after his initial surgery. Has he lived longer than 18 months? YES! He is now in his 31st month since his recurrence and mets. He has been having chemotherapy, with some breaks, the entire 31 months. He is 71 and has worked the entire time just retiring this past month. His blood work and vitals have remained good and so has his quality of life.

Helen, you can do this. Trust yourself, but also trust your medical team. Hang tough and breathe.