ONLY chemo without surgery? anyone?

I'm stage IV and not slated for surgery. I am not entirely happy about this, as everything I've read on this board and on the 'net says that people have a better chance of survival if the tumors are removed surgically. when I was diagnosed last summer, I went to a surgeon first and he ordered scans to see where the tumor was and if it had spread.  Since it had in fact spread (liver - large tumors, lungs - little bitty ones) he recommended that I try chemo first to shrink everything, so that surgery might be possible.  So I did that. 

I finished one cycle (my first) of chemo - Folfox plus Avastin - and am getting scans to see how well it worked.  I was seeking second opinions and went to MD Anderson in Texas. Well, my rectal tumor (which was 5 cm) is gone as a result of chemo.  Colonoscopy and biopsy of surrounding tissue confirmed this.  I'm really happy because now I don't have to agonize over whether to have surgery on that area or not, and it buys me some time.  Rectal cancer surgery is difficult because the rectum is situated inside the pelvis, and everything is more difficult to reach, apparently.

Supposedly the liver tumors are gone, and they can't detect anything in the lungs but haven't ruled it out.  I have a CT scan tomorrow to be sure.  I'll see my onc on Thursday to talk about options.  If everything is gone, I'll take Xeloda until it stops working. If some bits remain, we'll have a chat and decide what to do.  Maybe beads in the liver, or even laproscopy if there is a solitary lung met - I don't know.  But probably more consultations will be necessary. 

I wish your husband good luck during his chemo. I got plenty of rest, drank a ton of water (1+ liters a day), and avoided food with additives so as to lessen the burden on my liver. Also i ate lots of protein to build red blood cells. Not sure if that helped but I"m sure it didn't hurt. Definitely water, water, water.  

best

Karin

if it's possible to get one.  One other thing I would suggest is to try, as hard as it is, to not look too far down the road at this point.  Kind of like the AA people, we cancer folk really have to take it "one day at a time".  There's a decent chance that the chemo will get it to the point of being resectable, and then you and Jason are in a whole new ball game (or he may even achieve long-term NED like Randy from chemo alone, although I think that's pretty unusual).  For me, the best way to approach things has been to assume that I am going to be one of those people who get lucky and make it through (even though I know perfectly well the odds).  It makes living day to day a lot more pleasant, and if I get proven wrong at some point, then I'll just deal with it when it comes.  Just keep thinking (and telling Jason) that he's going to make it!  Stay strong~Ann Alexandria

gizzyluv said:

This is to EVERYONE.....=)

First, let me say that I'm still trying to learn how to navigate around the site so I want to say that this is for EVERYONE who replied to my post, I think sometimes it looks like I'm just answering 'one' person & that just isn't so, so this is for everyone.....

THANK YOU ALL for your advice, opinions, & sweet comments....it really makes me feel better knowing that just because Jason may not have surgery at all isn't automatically a "bad" thing. The stories about being NED for years with ONLY chemo is SO encouraging! I know we aren't suppose to speak too in debth about our religious beliefs, but just let me say that when I took care of my mother, (who btw suffered from severe COPD, but no cancer, thank god) my sisters & I were told we would be lucky to have her 5 years....I can now proudly say that because THE best Doctor (his office is "upstairs" ) had the last say in it, she was with us for almost 18 years.....so, that being said, I know the doctors have their opinions & their beliefs, but I personally believe that what is meant to be WILL be, regardless of what any of us say or do. And no, of course I'm not one of those people who don't believe in medical treatment, after all, God made doctors for a reason, right? (ooops, I mean "the Doctor upstairs"....) so, yes I want Jason to have the chemo, and I will do everything in my power to help him through every last bit of it, I will do what I can to improve what he eats, I will love him & make him as comfortable as I possibly can, & above all, I will try my best to make him feel like he's not sick at all....but I truly believe that it's all in "his" hands. And I trust that "he" will take care of both of us, the way we were meant to be. I apologize if I have offended anyone, which I don't think I have or I wouldn't have said anything to begin with. I just love all of you & feel blessed to have found you all! ((((HUGS)))) Kris

I actually should go and read the guidelines for this message board, but my thoughts are (and I may find I'm off base) that if you post about feeling God's love and help in JASON & YOUR life, and not preach that others should believe, then you are fine. 

I think its grand when people post how their belief system, wether it be religious or not, has helped them. 

So, as long as your not on here telling people they SHOULD believe in the 'Dr. Upstairs' (I loved that), then go ahead and expresss yourself, as that in itself brings comfort to you, and those who believe. 

Hi gizzy luv, my husband did have surgery to remove the primary from colon August 2010. Ten months later he had mets to perineum, lung and liver, no surgery this time, he has been on chemo since then. He will be on chemo for life, we have very good days and yes some bad days, but he's here, and we are hoping he will continue for a very long time. Sending all my thoughts to you both, and hoping that he will be able to have surgery. Good luck.