3 options left for me

Zach, I hope you'll have peace with whatever you decide to do ... I just wanted you to know that I am thinking about you and your wife - and praying for you both.

Hi Zach,

So sad to hear this. I am new in this Journey. But I feel that you should give a little more time for the Chemo to work. If it doesn't work, then think of other options & I agree with what John says.

You are so young & don't ever give up. Have faith. Miracles do happen. Our prayers are with you.

Gavin 

hippiechicks said:

I also agree with maybe

I also agree with maybe giving things a little more time before that big of a decision.  

However, you are the only one who can make the right decision for your particular situation and how you are feeling.  Chemo is no picnic, but they give us 12 cycles for a reason ... I wanted to give up both times around tx 3, then 6, then 9 .. and fortunately my docs pushed me through.  

I am glad they did and every day off I am feeling a bit better, and know I gave it my all.  

I also agree with the alternatives and am researching TCM now that I have done the western.  I believe in hitting it from all avenues.  

Lastly, have you heard of the tests being talked about on this forum regarding testing your particular tumor to see what chemo's will work and which ones won't?  It seems very very interesting, and may be something for you to check out. It is known as Tumor Molecular Profiling.

My best to you and yours.  

Zach.....I haven't been on this board much either, wow a lot has been going on in the past couple of weeks.   Which chemo.'s have you been on so far???   If you've gone though all the standard chemo's you may qualify for Stivarga, there are programms Bayer has to give it to you on a compassionate basis.   Perhaps you could talk to your oncologist about it.    I'm into my 3rd month of Stivarga, provided by Bayer ..... 4 pills per day,   I have not experienced any bad side effects.   While on the pill it raises my blood pressure and I have to take some blood presssure meds, but on the blood pressure meds it's fine.   I have not experienced any of the nasty chemo. side effects that I got with infusions.    I do not know if it's controlling my cancer yet, as I have scans next week to see.    But seriously I would ask about this .... on Stivarga I've been feeling really well the past couple of months.    Everyone is different on this drug,  others I know of are having some issues with hand foot syndrome etc. so your experience may be different from mine.     

I just wanted to mention that all chemo's aren't alike, you may try a different chemo and find it's a lot easier then the one you were on.  My "favorite" so far has been Irenotican and Erbitux, very easy chemo's for me although I had lost my hair.  

As for trials, the one you might try might be the one that works for you.  I know when all chemo's stop working for me I will attempt a trial, not in the belief that it will "cure" me, but in the hope that my going through the trial may help others in the end, the people that do the trials are my personal hero's, because without them my own life would have ended a lot sooner if they hadn't gone through the drug trials in order to try and help themselves or others, finding chemo's and chemo mixes that have extended many of our lives.

I'm hoping a different chemo will help you out a lot.  My heart goes out to you, these type of decisions are never easy.

Winter Marie

renw said:

I have been turned down for

I have been turned down for surgery at least 4 times, but ran into a doctor doing ALPPS in Europe. he found a 7% section of my liver  in the left lobe that appears cancer free next to an artery that he feels confident that he can work with and my surgery is in 10 days. My liver is almost entirely cancer now with less than 15% left, and I am starting to turn yellow from liver failure. I have lung mets as well.

Again an option that turned up when I thought I had none. Thank god for a fourth second opinion. If the procedure goes well, within 2 months I should end up with a fully regenerated liver, hopefully cancer free, which will buy me time to deal with the rest.

Good luck Ren!  I wish you luck with the procedure and look forward to you telling us they got it all! 

Zach - I'm thinking of you everyday, hoping you are feeling well and can come back and update us and let us know how we could help you.

Zach, I wish you peace with whatever decisions you make... Love and Peace and Hugs!!

Seattle Cancer Care is a great place. I startred treatment there in 2008. go!!!!!