Remission in Stage IV is long term possible?

Vickilg
Vickilg Member Posts: 281 Member
in Colorectal Cancer #1
Does anyone know how long someone in Stage IV can go into remission? Is there any people that go into remission for years?
«13

Comments

  • jams67
    jams67 Member Posts: 925 Member
    #2
    I had surgery in '05 for stage 4, followed by chemo. Avastin had just come out about that time. I have not had a reoccurance since then.
  • Vickilg
    Vickilg Member Posts: 281 Member
    #3
    jams67 said:

    I had surgery in '05 for stage 4, followed by chemo. Avastin had just come out about that time. I have not had a reoccurance since then.

    Thank you for responding.
    Thank you for responding. I needed any bit of hope I can get. Thank you!
  • joemetz
    joemetz Member Posts: 493
    #4
    I believe
    I believe that all the statistics for the 5 year survival rates for Stage IV.... are 5 years old

    therefore, anyone who answers this question in a Negative fashion, is living in the past.

    the response that Avastin had just come out in 05 tells you exactly that.

    I believe that Avastin and Erbitux are drugs that can give us all the hope and believe and reason to fight. new drugs and new treatments come out often, therefore our job is to fight for 5 years at a time... and more stuff will come out to help us should our cancer return.

    There are several people that I've heard from that were Stage IV'ers... yet have been NED for 5, 10, 15 years. Yes the statistics tell us that very few life that long... but I believe that the positive people on this web site all have a REASON to fight and we are all learning more options and ideas on how to live to keep the cancer at bay.

    I believe that if you believe you are going to beat this stuff... that you will.

    fight, live and love

    joe
  • Nana b
    Nana b Member Posts: 3,030 Member
    #5
    joemetz said:

    I believe
    I believe that all the statistics for the 5 year survival rates for Stage IV.... are 5 years old

    therefore, anyone who answers this question in a Negative fashion, is living in the past.

    the response that Avastin had just come out in 05 tells you exactly that.

    I believe that Avastin and Erbitux are drugs that can give us all the hope and believe and reason to fight. new drugs and new treatments come out often, therefore our job is to fight for 5 years at a time... and more stuff will come out to help us should our cancer return.

    There are several people that I've heard from that were Stage IV'ers... yet have been NED for 5, 10, 15 years. Yes the statistics tell us that very few life that long... but I believe that the positive people on this web site all have a REASON to fight and we are all learning more options and ideas on how to live to keep the cancer at bay.

    I believe that if you believe you are going to beat this stuff... that you will.

    fight, live and love

    joe

    I am going on 4 years in
    I am going on 4 years in remission.


    Joe, you rock, love the attitude.


    Health, love and laughter
  • luvinlife2
    luvinlife2 Member Posts: 172 Member
    #6
    Yes!!
    I've met a few people who have lived with a stage 4 colon cancer diagnosis but in remission. Several are in their 7th and 8th year. Another man was 11 years in remission but had recurrences in the ribs by the liver. Two ribs were removed and he was ned again for another 3.5 years. He's got 1 little spot in his abdomen now that he is on chemo again but it seems to be working.
  • janderson1964
    janderson1964 Member Posts: 2,215 Member
    #7
    I have met people who are
    I have met people who are over 10 years. I went 4 years before my most recent recurrence.
  • dorookie
    dorookie Member Posts: 1,731 Member
    #8
    we are here
    Im stage 4, in remission since November 2008, almost 4 years with no reoccurance thank God! Iknow several stage 4'ers that have many more years to include a few past ten years.

    There is always hope, please do your best to stay strong, and keep whatever faith you have.

    Hugs
    Beth
  • barbebarb
    barbebarb Member Posts: 464
    #9
    dorookie said:

    we are here
    Im stage 4, in remission since November 2008, almost 4 years with no reoccurance thank God! Iknow several stage 4'ers that have many more years to include a few past ten years.

    There is always hope, please do your best to stay strong, and keep whatever faith you have.

    Hugs
    Beth

    Good post
    I needed to hear this today.
    Was cleaning out papers and lots of memorabilia from my kids high school activities, as well as reading some of my medical reports.
    It made me cry....
    These posts helped me pull through the day.
    Thank you for your inspiration....
  • herdizziness
    herdizziness Member Posts: 3,624 Member
    #10
    Long term
    I plan on being long term, 2 1/2 years so far, was given 6 months tops with chemo. So Yep, I believe in the long term, it seems when we lose so many that we all get in a funk and start thinking about our mortality and our mortality rates of those with stage IV.
    I like to think that each before us has paved the way for us to last longer through various chemo combinations, diets and etc., and I thank them for this, and I hope fervently that I will be a long termer, passing advice down. There are many long termers among us, like Beth etc., they continue to give the rest of us hope.
    Here's to your long wonderful life!!
    Winter Marie
  • lesvanb
    lesvanb Member Posts: 905
    #11
    dx 08 stage 4a 1met to liver
    My docs always were optimistic of my prognosis. NED one year after chemo ended 5/09. Been NED 1.5 years after SBRT in Jan '11 to lungs. Just had VATS and hoping for another stretch of NED. Cancer is not preventing me from doing what I love to do - ride horses and be outside; and I work hard to stay as healthy and strong as I can to support that.

    Hang in there!
    Leslie
  • mikew42
    mikew42 Member Posts: 114 Member
    #12
    To answer your question, I think theoretically indefinetly. I was NED for almost 7 years (original diagnosis Jan. '04 Stage 4). Recurrence in liver in Dec.'10. (liver resection and chemo in 2011).Just saw my onc. Friday and now it has been 1 1/2 years for the second round of NED. I know of others who do not post anymore that were diagnosed before my 2004 diagnosis and have not had a recurrence. Very long term NED can happen.
  • Vickilg
    Vickilg Member Posts: 281 Member
    #13
    mikew42 said:

    To answer your question, I think theoretically indefinetly. I was NED for almost 7 years (original diagnosis Jan. '04 Stage 4). Recurrence in liver in Dec.'10. (liver resection and chemo in 2011).Just saw my onc. Friday and now it has been 1 1/2 years for the second round of NED. I know of others who do not post anymore that were diagnosed before my 2004 diagnosis and have not had a recurrence. Very long term NED can happen.

    So Encouraging
    Reading all of these post are making me very happy! I think this is discussion I will be reading over and over!
  • pete43lost_at_sea
    pete43lost_at_sea Member Posts: 3,900 Member
    #14
    vickilg
    Great question, it's brings out the sparkle in our group.
    Whatever my treatment having hope makes me smile.
    It's simple for me!

    Been super healthy for 2 years now.

    Hugs,
    Pete

    Ps as words and descriptions I don't like remission, or Ned. They always imply it's just about to come back or stop.
    For me, I say I am WELL today, my focus is on using this great day wisely.
    For me WELL IS POSITIVE.

    Whenever I say outloud I am well, well I just cannot stop that smile. Even if some cells make my onc nervous.
  • scared99
    scared99 Member Posts: 72
    #15
    This post is amazing!!!
    This post is amazing!!! When my mom was diagnosed with stage 4 with confirmed mets to liver and sacrum the oncologist said the goal is to treat the condition like a chronic illness. I took to the net and found cancer stats from 2000 and earlier. I love posts like this!
  • Doc_Hawk
    Doc_Hawk Member Posts: 685
    #16
    Gotta love it!
    I just love this string! I fully intend on being in remission for a very long time. When it finally comes, that is. Reading these posts has really strengthened my resolve to kick cancers butt and kick it very hard!
  • sailor_on_a_lee_shore
    sailor_on_a_lee_shore Member Posts: 52
    #17
    Starting to Think the Stats Might Be "Old" or Just Plain "Wrong"
    Since my diagnosis on June 13, 2012 I've been scouring various information sources including this web site and others like it.

    Despite the dire predictions of two-years following diagnosis, I keep seeing more and more people on these boards who are beating those odds. Granted some by only one-year but many, many others who are going out eight, 10, 12, and even a couple of third-party references to people who have survived 20 years.

    I think something that would be very valuable from a morale point of view would be if the ACS or CRC Alliance or other group would collect some data and see what's really happening in terms of Stage IV Colon Cancer. In my unscientific opinion, I'm seeing way too many who are outliving the averages for the average to be correct.
  • scareddaughter24
    scareddaughter24 Member Posts: 68
    #18
    sailor_on_a_lee_shore said:

    Starting to Think the Stats Might Be "Old" or Just Plain "Wrong"
    Since my diagnosis on June 13, 2012 I've been scouring various information sources including this web site and others like it.

    Despite the dire predictions of two-years following diagnosis, I keep seeing more and more people on these boards who are beating those odds. Granted some by only one-year but many, many others who are going out eight, 10, 12, and even a couple of third-party references to people who have survived 20 years.

    I think something that would be very valuable from a morale point of view would be if the ACS or CRC Alliance or other group would collect some data and see what's really happening in terms of Stage IV Colon Cancer. In my unscientific opinion, I'm seeing way too many who are outliving the averages for the average to be correct.

    I agree
    I am coming across too many people on this site alone who are doing far better than what you commonly think when you hear advanced cancer.... and this is one site alone. Imagine others on different boards, or the many others who dont even post because they arent into the internet or " this sort of thing" praise god and modern medicine i say.
  • scareddaughter24
    scareddaughter24 Member Posts: 68
    #19
    Doc_Hawk said:

    Gotta love it!
    I just love this string! I fully intend on being in remission for a very long time. When it finally comes, that is. Reading these posts has really strengthened my resolve to kick cancers butt and kick it very hard!

    this is the best string
    lets keep bumping to hear all the positives :) makes my day when i log on and hear from you guys.
    I dont want to sound selfish as i know the reality is not everyone beats this ****... and some people live long times without ever seeing a NED scan in their lives.. but the ones/ loved ones of those who are beating this beast need to keep posting...keeping giving hope... and keep supporting!!!!
  • janderson1964
    janderson1964 Member Posts: 2,215 Member
    #20
    sailor_on_a_lee_shore said:

    Starting to Think the Stats Might Be "Old" or Just Plain "Wrong"
    Since my diagnosis on June 13, 2012 I've been scouring various information sources including this web site and others like it.

    Despite the dire predictions of two-years following diagnosis, I keep seeing more and more people on these boards who are beating those odds. Granted some by only one-year but many, many others who are going out eight, 10, 12, and even a couple of third-party references to people who have survived 20 years.

    I think something that would be very valuable from a morale point of view would be if the ACS or CRC Alliance or other group would collect some data and see what's really happening in terms of Stage IV Colon Cancer. In my unscientific opinion, I'm seeing way too many who are outliving the averages for the average to be correct.

    I totally agree. It seems
    I totally agree. It seems that tbe statistics only talk about 5 year survival rates. I want to know about 10+
  • scared99
    scared99 Member Posts: 72
    #21
    scareddaughter24 said:

    I agree
    I am coming across too many people on this site alone who are doing far better than what you commonly think when you hear advanced cancer.... and this is one site alone. Imagine others on different boards, or the many others who dont even post because they arent into the internet or " this sort of thing" praise god and modern medicine i say.

    Just imagine how many people
    Just imagine how many people we never hear from. Id imagine there are alot of people who got the stage 4 diagnosis and never posted or used the internet. Id imagine some of the people that went NED no longer post. I know when my mom was diagnosed I kept asking my dad how long did the doctor give her. My dad said they didnt even give an expected life span. The doctor said we can treat this like a chronic condition thats the stage medicine is at with regards to colon cancer. I hope the doctor is right and my mom is around alot longer.

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