Phil64 One Point One Update

Phil64
Phil64 Member Posts: 838 Member
in Colorectal Cancer #1

It's been a little while since I've posted!

I have a lot to update on... 

Some of my last posts where during the Erbitux treatments and just before a follow-up CT / MRI.

The short update is that the follow-up MRI showed that the Erbitux was kicking the crap out of the cancer and that surgery was now an option. I had the surgery at U of M Health System on 4/19.  Surgery confirmed that there were only two tumors in my liver (they thought there could have been many) AND they were both removed with clear margins.  I've been rapidly recovering from surgery and I'm back to work and feeling good.

Yesterday I went to see the onc about follow-up chemo and I learned that my CEA has tested at 1.1.  Yes ONE POINT ONE.  That is the lowest in over a year and the FIRST TIME it tested in the normal range for me.  And given that my CEA seemed to correlate strongly with my cancer this is excellent news for me.

The onc wants to finish 8 more treatments of the Folfiri and Erbitux beginning in June (I already completed 4 treatments pre-surgery). The good part of that is I get to go chemo-free for a few more weeks. :-)

I have more detailed updates (with pics) on my blog.

Wow, After an orchiectomy (testicular cancer), radiation treatement, colon resection (colon cancer), lung resection (met of colon cancer), liver resection (met of colon cancer) I finally have a normal CEA...   I hope it will remain this way for a while.

God Bless you all!!!

Phil

 

Comments

  • AnnLouise
    AnnLouise Member Posts: 276 Member
    #2
    Phil.....

    I am so happy for you and your wonderful results. You have been through a lot and you deserve the great news. Thinking of you ~ Ann

  • jasminsaba
    jasminsaba Member Posts: 157 Member
    #3
    Wonderful news ...

    Absolutely elated for you ... thanks for sharing this wonderful news with us to kick-start the weekend on a positive and grateful note. God is great.

  • maglets
    maglets Member Posts: 2,576 Member
    #4
    jasminsaba said:

    Wonderful news ...

    Absolutely elated for you ... thanks for sharing this wonderful news with us to kick-start the weekend on a positive and grateful note. God is great.

    Phil

    that is rockin news! good work! so happy for you

     

    maggie

  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,804 Member
    #5
    Hope

    CEA...   I hope it will remain this way for a while.

    I hope it lasts WAY more than a while. 

    It must feel so good to be back to normal. 

     Blessings!

  • Semira
    Semira Member Posts: 381 Member
    #6
    Great!

    Such great news. Enjoying them with you. 

    Happy greetings

    Petra

  • janderson1964
    janderson1964 Member Posts: 2,215 Member
    #7
    Absolutely fantastic news

    Absolutely fantastic news Phil. I am really happy for you. Enjoy the chemo break.

  • Chelsea71
    Chelsea71 Member Posts: 1,169 Member
    #8
    Best news I've heard in a
    Best news I've heard in a long time. So happy for you and your family.

    Chelsea
  • Goldie1
    Goldie1 Member Posts: 264 Member
    #9
    Go Phil Go!!

    Keep up the good work!

    Ellen

  • fatbob2010
    fatbob2010 Member Posts: 467 Member
    #10
    WOW

    Phil,

    Rockin GREAT news...Thank you for letting us know.

    Art

  • annalexandria
    annalexandria Member Posts: 2,571 Member
    #11
    That's great news!

    Thanks so much for sharing with us.   AA

  • wawaju04976
    wawaju04976 Member Posts: 316 Member
    #12
    So very happy for you!!!

    So very happy for you!!!

  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    #13
    Just One Word

    Awesome!!!!!!!!

    Kim

  • joemetz
    joemetz Member Posts: 493
    #14
    best news all week

    Phil

     

    this is the BEST news all week.

    thanks for sharing. 

     

    It's got to feel so good to be able to share such good news. You've been through so much, and I pray that one day you get to post... "I'm cancer free!"

    I know you will.  

     

    go phil, go!

     

    Joe

     

  • joemetz
    joemetz Member Posts: 493
    #15
    your good news...

    your good news, is inspiration to the rest of us to Keep Fighting!

     

  • jen2012
    jen2012 Member Posts: 1,607 Member
    #16
    Excellent news!
    Excellent news!
  • Phil64
    Phil64 Member Posts: 838 Member
    #17
    Thank You

    All, Thank you for the well-wishes!

    I know Craig once told me that fighting this disease is like running a marathon. And I have a lot of respect for Craig and his wisdom. Therefore I am cautiously optimistic and regjoice in having some chemo-free time with my beloved.

    And, at least for now, I am NED!!!  And it feels GOOD!!! :-)

    I pray for many blessings for all of us fighting this ugly and complex disease!

    And I'm thankful for every day on this great earth!

    Make a great day everyone; IN SPITE OF cancer!

    Phil

     

     

  • tanstaafl
    tanstaafl Member Posts: 1,313 Member
    #18
    filling the gap

    We got my wife's pathology samples stained for CA19-9.  That being positive, with the initially elevated CEA, pretty much means to me lifelong cimetidine is beneficial to her mCRC status, helps prevent more metastases, and may help her immune system rub out a few more spots in conjunction with the other immune supplements.  We also monitor her CA19-9 blood levels.  Any surgery means more cimetidine.

    Oops, my bad.  This reply was meant for Phil64 at http://csn.cancer.org/node/263921 on Oct 24, 2013.

  • joemetz
    joemetz Member Posts: 493
    #19
    Phil64 said:

    Thank You

    All, Thank you for the well-wishes!

    I know Craig once told me that fighting this disease is like running a marathon. And I have a lot of respect for Craig and his wisdom. Therefore I am cautiously optimistic and regjoice in having some chemo-free time with my beloved.

    And, at least for now, I am NED!!!  And it feels GOOD!!! :-)

    I pray for many blessings for all of us fighting this ugly and complex disease!

    And I'm thankful for every day on this great earth!

    Make a great day everyone; IN SPITE OF cancer!

    Phil

     

     

    docs?

    Phil

    can you share the name of your doctors and U of M?

     

    thank you

     

    joe

     

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