COLORECTAL CANCER SPREAD TO THE ASCITIES

LC53
LC53 Member Posts: 1
in Colorectal Cancer #1

Hi  my husband was diag. in Dec. with Colorectal cancer stage iv that had spread to the omentum. He has had 2 cycles of Chemo.  Oxaplatan and Ceptabine. told yesterday that the chemo has not worked in fact the cancer is worse.  But his creatine levels are high and to go home and drink plenty of water and will check the levels next week.  May want to try another type of Chemo.  The Oncologist is not holding much hope because the first line of chemo. has not helped. Strange thing is that his CEA levels are going down.   She told him with no chemo he has about 1 year to live. We are devastated. Getting a second opinion not a option, as when he was in the hospital in Dec. had seen someone else who pretty much told him the same thing with out any testing. Would appreciate any info on our situation.

Comments

  • fighting_ big_c
    fighting_ big_c Member Posts: 64
    #2
    3rd opinion

    So sorry to hear this. What is the Ceptabine for? My mother has the same thing, mets to the omentum. She just finished her 1st round and will start her 2nd cycle tom. The doctor will add Avastin to her regimen tomorrow following her post surgery last Feb. 21. Do not lose hope, try to go to another oncologist. Will be praying for your husband.

  • abrub
    abrub Member Posts: 2,174 Member
    #3
    Ascites and mets to the Omentum

    are common in Appendix cancer, and somewhat treatable.  Your husband needs to be seen by a colorectal specialist, not a generalist oncologist or oncologic surgeon.  He needs to get to one of the major cancer centers (I go to Memorial Sloan Kettering in NYC) to find out his treatment options, and not just be written off.  While I didn't have ascites, I did have lots of mets to the omentum, and general peritoneal seeding. I'm now 6 years out from diagonsis, and in full remission for the last 5 1/2 years, and hopefully for the long term.  What part of the country do you live in?  Push your insurance company, and get him to a top cancer center.  They may be able to help him.

    Alice

  • SharonVegas
    SharonVegas Member Posts: 189
    #4
    I am stage IV with mets to

    I am stage IV with mets to omentum and peritonium.  I have been on Folfiri + Zaltrap since October 2012, just did my 14th round today.  After 2 rounds acites disappeared and the disease is currently stable (not growing).  Everyone is different but if you and your husband are not ready to give up, I would recommend finding another oncologist who will keep trying for you.

    My best to you,

    Ron

  • SharonVegas
    SharonVegas Member Posts: 189
    #5
    abrub said:

    Ascites and mets to the Omentum

    are common in Appendix cancer, and somewhat treatable.  Your husband needs to be seen by a colorectal specialist, not a generalist oncologist or oncologic surgeon.  He needs to get to one of the major cancer centers (I go to Memorial Sloan Kettering in NYC) to find out his treatment options, and not just be written off.  While I didn't have ascites, I did have lots of mets to the omentum, and general peritoneal seeding. I'm now 6 years out from diagonsis, and in full remission for the last 5 1/2 years, and hopefully for the long term.  What part of the country do you live in?  Push your insurance company, and get him to a top cancer center.  They may be able to help him.

    Alice

    Alice if you don't mind me

    Alice if you don't mind me asking, how your docs get rid of the omentum & peritonal seeding?  Regards, Ron

  • abrub
    abrub Member Posts: 2,174 Member
    #6
    SharonVegas said:

    Alice if you don't mind me

    Alice if you don't mind me asking, how your docs get rid of the omentum & peritonal seeding?  Regards, Ron

    Ask me anything

    Ron,

    My surgeon removed my omentum and every visible sign of tumor/seeding.  It was a major debulking surgery that included resecting my colon in 3 places, and removal of bits of my peritoneum as well as removal of my omentum, part of which had already been removed during the surgery when my cancer was discovered (a hysterectomy for fibroids - surprise!)  The initial surgery included a total hysterectomy - removal of all "female parts", my appendix and part of my omentum, and was done at my local hospital by my gynecologist and a surgical oncologist that he called in.  After that, everyone knew I needed to get to an expert. 

    My second surgery, at MSK, was a big, open surgery during which my surgeon manipulated everything in my belly, rolling parts in his hands, and using magnification to find tiny tumors.  I should add that he reconnected my colon perfectly, such that I have a normally functioning bowel (and I sing his praises every time I take a poop!)  Following this surgery, I had a series of intraperitoneal chemo treatments with a form of 5FU (FUDR) to address any tumor cells that might be lingering. 

    Alice

  • janderson1964
    janderson1964 Member Posts: 2,215 Member
    #7
    I dont see how he can be so

    I dont see how he can be so negative after only two treatments. How does he know for sure it is progressing. You didnt mention a recent scan or testing. Get a third opinion. It is too early to give up.

  • smokeyjoe
    smokeyjoe Member Posts: 1,425 Member
    #8
    janderson1964 said:

    I dont see how he can be so

    I dont see how he can be so negative after only two treatments. How does he know for sure it is progressing. You didnt mention a recent scan or testing. Get a third opinion. It is too early to give up.

    I have spots too,  I was on

    I have spots too,  I was on folfiri for many many months .... kept those spots stable, had a 10 month break from chemo. with no progression,  then  scans after 10 months  showed progression... went back on folfiri with avastin but it didn't work , so now I've been switched to Folfox.   I haven't had ascites,scans mention no ascites seen.   But they did test my fluid in my abdomen during the surgery and showed nothing in the fluid, that was over two years ago.   I would keep up looking at treatments,  not sure how they know there is progression unless he's had further tests or scans?   Are these ascites causing him discomfort, I think it can be drained, but apparently it can build up again.      

  • mkdelo
    mkdelo Member Posts: 3
    #9
    Colon cancer spread to omental

    Get a secfond opinion, go to CTCA  anyone of their  hospitals, get the best treatment and hope of positive hope and encouragement from the staff, doctors and  many of the patients that were givven the death sentence elsewhere.

     

    Here is mmy story any help or suggestions appreciated

     

    I hope and prtay this reply finds  everyone ok?

    My wife had stage 3 Stomach cancer in 2009, had two surgeires to remove complete stomach, 13 blymnoids and her spleen. The surgery was done at Maidol University in Thailand, the number 1 hopspital there. She returned to the USA 4 months laster and received chem and radiatiuon thereapoy at MD Anderson and  in Oct 2014 was told she was cancer free. All of the CT scans shold no cancer. After  have cramping  in the transverse colon we went back in April 2015 (6 months after being told cancer free) and they preformed a colonoscopy and we were told she had stage 4 colon cancer and had less than 2 yrs to live and needed an almost immediaye colostom and the surgeon asked us why we waited so long???? WE were very upset and felt deci8eved asnd sought out a secvond opinion at CTCA in Atlanta. The tests there revealed basically the same disease, but thery did a colectomey not colostomy. During the surgery the doctor found thats the cancer  mass was in the and slightly around the transverse colon but  had tenticle  like spider webs spreading to the peritoneal cavity and that if would be impossible to remove as too much bowel would have to be cut out. So we are getting Chemo traetments, but all of her SCANS come back showing no spreading anywhere. This omental spread seem,s to like to hide in and arounmd thge bowel mand does not show up on scans.  So basically we get chemo not knowing if its doing anyt good other thanh its not spread to any other organs.

     

    Anyone heard of this or dealt with this or have suggestions?

     

    Thanks

    ''

    Micky and Ron

  • mkdelo
    mkdelo Member Posts: 3
    #10
    fighting_ big_c said:

    3rd opinion

    So sorry to hear this. What is the Ceptabine for? My mother has the same thing, mets to the omentum. She just finished her 1st round and will start her 2nd cycle tom. The doctor will add Avastin to her regimen tomorrow following her post surgery last Feb. 21. Do not lose hope, try to go to another oncologist. Will be praying for your husband.

    your mom

    Hope your mom is doing well! My wife is from Thailand and has Stage 4 colon cancer spread to the omentum. Any help of suggestions?

     

    God Bless

     

    Ron and Micky

  • traci43
    traci43 Member Posts: 773 Member
    #11
    mkdelo said:

    Colon cancer spread to omental

    Get a secfond opinion, go to CTCA  anyone of their  hospitals, get the best treatment and hope of positive hope and encouragement from the staff, doctors and  many of the patients that were givven the death sentence elsewhere.

     

    Here is mmy story any help or suggestions appreciated

     

    I hope and prtay this reply finds  everyone ok?

    My wife had stage 3 Stomach cancer in 2009, had two surgeires to remove complete stomach, 13 blymnoids and her spleen. The surgery was done at Maidol University in Thailand, the number 1 hopspital there. She returned to the USA 4 months laster and received chem and radiatiuon thereapoy at MD Anderson and  in Oct 2014 was told she was cancer free. All of the CT scans shold no cancer. After  have cramping  in the transverse colon we went back in April 2015 (6 months after being told cancer free) and they preformed a colonoscopy and we were told she had stage 4 colon cancer and had less than 2 yrs to live and needed an almost immediaye colostom and the surgeon asked us why we waited so long???? WE were very upset and felt deci8eved asnd sought out a secvond opinion at CTCA in Atlanta. The tests there revealed basically the same disease, but thery did a colectomey not colostomy. During the surgery the doctor found thats the cancer  mass was in the and slightly around the transverse colon but  had tenticle  like spider webs spreading to the peritoneal cavity and that if would be impossible to remove as too much bowel would have to be cut out. So we are getting Chemo traetments, but all of her SCANS come back showing no spreading anywhere. This omental spread seem,s to like to hide in and arounmd thge bowel mand does not show up on scans.  So basically we get chemo not knowing if its doing anyt good other thanh its not spread to any other organs.

     

    Anyone heard of this or dealt with this or have suggestions?

     

    Thanks

    ''

    Micky and Ron

    old, old post from 2013

    This is an old post, not sure how it got bumped up.

  • annalexandria
    annalexandria Member Posts: 2,571 Member
    #12
    mkdelo said:

    your mom

    Hope your mom is doing well! My wife is from Thailand and has Stage 4 colon cancer spread to the omentum. Any help of suggestions?

     

    God Bless

     

    Ron and Micky

    If you could make a new post

    with your questions, I'm sure you'll get some responses.  And welcome to the forum!

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