new here

karee
karee Member Posts: 6
in Colorectal Cancer #1

I am new here My husband has been given a report of stage 4 colon cancer, part colon removed, in 4 lymph nodes and spot on liver. Please give me hope and advice

We are with the Veternans Hospital, please give me advice and  experience of treatment from the Va

We are being scheduled to see an onocolougist,

Thank you,

Karen

«1

Comments

  • jen2012
    jen2012 Member Posts: 1,607 Member
    #2
    HI Karen,
    Sorry to hear about

    HI Karen,

    Sorry to hear about your husband.  Sounds like a spot on the liver is pretty good for pronosis.   I don't know a lot about the VA, but honestly have heard more bad than good.  Can he get treatment elsewhere?  

    Have hope - folks will be welcoming you and posting with their experience with liver mets.

  • Chelsea71
    Chelsea71 Member Posts: 1,169 Member
    #3
    My husband passed away two

    My husband passed away two months ago from MCRC.  I know what your going through.  Try and stay positive. He will need chemo.  It will likely be Folfox or Folfiri with Avastin.  Many people live a full life while being on chemo.  The liver metastasis will likely shrink.  Once this happens he will want to find a good surgeon for liver resection surgery.  The liver is a "good" organ for metastasis.  There are many ways to treat it.  It can be targeted directly with TACE, Theraspheres, HAI pump.  Many options.  A lot will depend on how well you husband responds to the chemo.  They should send off a piece of his tumor to determine if he has the k RAS mutation.  If he doesn't this means he is the wild type.  This is good as there will be several additional chemo option available to him.  Certain chemos (EGFR's) are ineffective to the k RAS mutations.

    If he is in good shape he will have an easier time.  It's crucial he have a positive attitude and focus on being healthy and getting well. He will need a lot of support from you.  Take everything one day at a time.  Don't think a head.   You will feel panicky.  Accept that life is now uncertain.  You don't know what the future will bring.  Take advantage of all the times where he feels good.  Go on trips or fun outings when you can.  Live for the day.  Every time you get positive medical news - celebrate.  Some days he will be grumpy as he isn't feeling well.  Just bite your tongue.  Come here to CSN, you will get lots of support.  Emotional and practical.

    There are people here who have had tumors removed from their liver and went on to be fine.  The cancer affects us all very individually.

    Also, please remember that doctors are just people.  There opinions will vary.  Never be too discouraged by what any one doctor tells you.  The next doctor could have a completely different opinion.  They make mistakes.  Pay lots of attention.  Educate yourselves.  Be in the drivers seat.  Your doctor should work for you.  You both have long roads ahead.  CSN will be here for you.  Stay involved.  I would have completely lost my mind without this group.

     

    Best of luck

    Chelsea

    And remember it could always be worse.  

     

  • janderson1964
    janderson1964 Member Posts: 2,215 Member
    #4
    Sorry you have to be her but

    Sorry you have to be her but welcome. You have found a very supportive community. I was diagnosed stage IV 8 years ago this month  and still going strong. I had a single met on my liver which  they removed. It sounds like your usband is operable as well. Please feel free to ask any questions.

  • UncleBuddy
    UncleBuddy Member Posts: 1,019 Member
    #5
    sorry

    Chelsea gave you some sound advice. I hope all goes well. I don't know anything about the VA and how they handle cancer. My brother is blessed to be working with a group of doctors who are kind and supportive. Is the VA your only option? Does he have medicare/medicaid? It's a shame that we even have to think about which insurance is better than another or what hospital/group is better. Anyway, the people on this site have been very supportive to me. I am a sister of a rectal cancer patient who was originally diagnosed as stage 2a and is now 4 with metasis on the liver and lungs. We are learning to take it one day at a time, but it's not easy. He beat Non-hodgkins lymphoma 13 years ago when others had him dead and buried, so I am hoping that he keeps fighting the fight. Well, best wishes and let us know how things go with your husband. :)

  • lp1964
    lp1964 Member Posts: 1,239 Member
    #6
    The patients and caregivers...

    ...gave you a lot of good information here and there is not much I can add but one thing. Your husband has to be active in this and you are gonna have to be a strong team. A caregiver can do a lot, but can't do everything. Your husband has to build his own toughness, he has to particippate as a primary in decision making with your help. He has to own his illness and you can support his fight. Every marriage has it's own dinamics,but in critical situations it may have to change. It is different to make a decision about buying a car or a house and fighting cancer. Get him involved in research, the consultations and the treatment. Owning your problems and believing in your doctors and treatments is half the success.

    I wish you two good luck with everything.

    Laz

  • karguy
    karguy Member Posts: 1,020 Member
    #7
    So sorry

    So sorry you have to be here,but aliver tumor is operable most of the time.I had one removed from my tumor last year,and part of my colon removed in 2008 and so far I am NED.There is hope.I so far won't go to the va hospital,and a friend of mine who is retired military won't go to the va nor his wife,but the va hospital here is very old,and a new one is being built.Another friend is going to the va hospital,and it seems he is getting the same treatment as me.I guess the stigma from the military doctors is still in my mind.One of the surgens I had trained at a naval hospital,and he is very good.So I don't think you have any worries.We are here if you have any questions.They did shrink my tumor with chemo before surgery.Good luck.

  • danker
    danker Member Posts: 1,276 Member
    #8
    karee

    Welcome to the forum.  Sorry you have to be here but you will get much information. support, hope, and love. Just hang in there and take it a day at a time.  Might be bumpy but it is doable.  Good Luck !!!

  • LivinginNH
    LivinginNH Member Posts: 1,456 Member
    #9
    Hi

    Hi Karen

    Welcome to the board!  I also was a caregiver, so I can kind of relate to what you're currently going through right now. Hang tough, it's going to be a rough ride.  But we'll be here for you to answer your questions.  And I can't offer you any advice on VA hospitals -- but is there a cancer center in your area that you can go to for treatment instead? 

    Take care,

    Cyn

  • annalexandria
    annalexandria Member Posts: 2,571 Member
    #10
    Hi Karen,

    and welcome to the forum.  I'm very sorry you have to join us, but if you've got to go through this challenge, at least we can give you a little support as you walk this path.  It's not easy, that's for sure, but there are a lot of folks here who have plenty of experience and widsom to share.

    I am not familiar with the VA, but I think it's always a good idea to get a 2nd opinion if you can, no matter where you get your care.  When you are stage 4, getting an extra pair of eyes on the case can't hurt.

    And as others have said, 4 nodes and one spot in the liver isn't bad for stage 4.  I realize that probably sounds ridiculous at this point, that anything might be the slightest bit "good", but it really is, in this case.  If the colon has already been resected, and the liver can be resected, then your husband has a shot at a cure.  They have some special name for stage 4ers with a single met in a different organ (can't remember what it's called, of course), but studies have shown that they have a much better prognosis.

    Keep us posted.  We'll be thinking of both of you!

    Ann Alexandria (aka AA)

    PS  I was dx'ed stage 4 in 2009, reached remission via surgery, have been NED (no evidence of disease) since Dec 2011.

  • annalexandria
    annalexandria Member Posts: 2,571 Member
    #11
    Chelsea71 said:

    My husband passed away two

    My husband passed away two months ago from MCRC.  I know what your going through.  Try and stay positive. He will need chemo.  It will likely be Folfox or Folfiri with Avastin.  Many people live a full life while being on chemo.  The liver metastasis will likely shrink.  Once this happens he will want to find a good surgeon for liver resection surgery.  The liver is a "good" organ for metastasis.  There are many ways to treat it.  It can be targeted directly with TACE, Theraspheres, HAI pump.  Many options.  A lot will depend on how well you husband responds to the chemo.  They should send off a piece of his tumor to determine if he has the k RAS mutation.  If he doesn't this means he is the wild type.  This is good as there will be several additional chemo option available to him.  Certain chemos (EGFR's) are ineffective to the k RAS mutations.

    If he is in good shape he will have an easier time.  It's crucial he have a positive attitude and focus on being healthy and getting well. He will need a lot of support from you.  Take everything one day at a time.  Don't think a head.   You will feel panicky.  Accept that life is now uncertain.  You don't know what the future will bring.  Take advantage of all the times where he feels good.  Go on trips or fun outings when you can.  Live for the day.  Every time you get positive medical news - celebrate.  Some days he will be grumpy as he isn't feeling well.  Just bite your tongue.  Come here to CSN, you will get lots of support.  Emotional and practical.

    There are people here who have had tumors removed from their liver and went on to be fine.  The cancer affects us all very individually.

    Also, please remember that doctors are just people.  There opinions will vary.  Never be too discouraged by what any one doctor tells you.  The next doctor could have a completely different opinion.  They make mistakes.  Pay lots of attention.  Educate yourselves.  Be in the drivers seat.  Your doctor should work for you.  You both have long roads ahead.  CSN will be here for you.  Stay involved.  I would have completely lost my mind without this group.

     

    Best of luck

    Chelsea

    And remember it could always be worse.  

     

    That's some excellent advice, Chels...

    worth sharing with all of us, whether caregiver or patient.

  • Dumbfounded
    Dumbfounded Member Posts: 25
    #12
    So sorry to hear about your

    So sorry to hear about your husband. I too do not know much about VA hospitals but I do know that choosing to come to this site is a wise decision. I just joined this site recently and it has helped me tremendously. The care, love, and support from everyone is amazing! It's nice to be able to talk to people who know what you are going through. I hope and pray everything works out for you.

    D

  • So Worried
    So Worried Member Posts: 111 Member
    #13
    Chelsea71 said:

    My husband passed away two

    My husband passed away two months ago from MCRC.  I know what your going through.  Try and stay positive. He will need chemo.  It will likely be Folfox or Folfiri with Avastin.  Many people live a full life while being on chemo.  The liver metastasis will likely shrink.  Once this happens he will want to find a good surgeon for liver resection surgery.  The liver is a "good" organ for metastasis.  There are many ways to treat it.  It can be targeted directly with TACE, Theraspheres, HAI pump.  Many options.  A lot will depend on how well you husband responds to the chemo.  They should send off a piece of his tumor to determine if he has the k RAS mutation.  If he doesn't this means he is the wild type.  This is good as there will be several additional chemo option available to him.  Certain chemos (EGFR's) are ineffective to the k RAS mutations.

    If he is in good shape he will have an easier time.  It's crucial he have a positive attitude and focus on being healthy and getting well. He will need a lot of support from you.  Take everything one day at a time.  Don't think a head.   You will feel panicky.  Accept that life is now uncertain.  You don't know what the future will bring.  Take advantage of all the times where he feels good.  Go on trips or fun outings when you can.  Live for the day.  Every time you get positive medical news - celebrate.  Some days he will be grumpy as he isn't feeling well.  Just bite your tongue.  Come here to CSN, you will get lots of support.  Emotional and practical.

    There are people here who have had tumors removed from their liver and went on to be fine.  The cancer affects us all very individually.

    Also, please remember that doctors are just people.  There opinions will vary.  Never be too discouraged by what any one doctor tells you.  The next doctor could have a completely different opinion.  They make mistakes.  Pay lots of attention.  Educate yourselves.  Be in the drivers seat.  Your doctor should work for you.  You both have long roads ahead.  CSN will be here for you.  Stay involved.  I would have completely lost my mind without this group.

     

    Best of luck

    Chelsea

    And remember it could always be worse.  

     

    Perfect...

    Chelsea,

    I wish I would have had the pleasure of reading your reply/post a year a half ago. You sure summed it up perfectly. Of course I didn't know it back then. Thank you. I will come back daily to read your answer/post. 

     

    To the original Poster, 

    My prayers are with you and I hope you find the strength to get through this. So sorry you have to be here. 

  • BigMike
    BigMike Member Posts: 17
    #14
    Stay positive...

    I was dignosed with the same thing, stage 4 colon cancer with mets to liver... 12 cycles of chemo, 15 radiation sessions 2 surgeries and one year later I am cancer free and feeling great.  I appriciate everything in life more than I could have ever thought possible and if it wasn't for my wifes great attitude from the very beginning it would have been a lot harder to deal with.  She was my rock when I felt like giving up, there is always hope.

  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    #15
    Welcome

    Welcome to the board but sorry you had to find us.  There is always hope as cancer treatment has come a long way in just the past 10 years.  Please don't go searching on the internet because it is filled with misinformation and old data.  Good luck at the doctor's and please let us know how he is doing.  We are always here to help you get through this.

    Kim

  • PatchAdams
    PatchAdams Member Posts: 271
    #16
    one of our old members

    One of our old members (dianetavegia)  just posted on Facebook today that her PET/ CT and CEA came back perfect today.  She was dx'd almost 5 years ago.  

    See a liver surgeon to have that met surgically removed.  Surgery is with curative intent.  Chemo will only shrink, etc. 

     

    Good luck,

    Patch

  • karee
    karee Member Posts: 6
    #17
    new here update

    Thank you, to all of you who responded to my post, I am new to this so here I go.Your comments have helped me and my husband very much.We are

    going to fight this battle as hard as we can with God  and alot of prayer..I guess after the initial shock this is the attitude one settles into. My husband is very optimistic in general that is the way he has always been, that I am sure is a plus. 

    He has had an appointment with onculogy Dr. ,he has had an ultrasound and an MRI of the liver, it has shown app a 2cm by 3 tumor on the right lobe and he is being referred to

     the team of liver specialist at Pitts, Va so we are awaiting for the appointment. The oncul Dr does not know how they will want to proceed either with surgery or a new procedure of small incision and freezing the tumor or if they will want chemo first or later. There has not been a pet scan yet as the Dr say it would show all kinds of red places after the recent colon recection.But the Dr. said Pitts, Drs might want one done. So I guess some of my concerns now are, how rought is the liver surgery if that is the choice and any one had any experience with the freezing procedure? Any help, advice and comments are appreciated ,thank you all so much.

    Karen

  • YoVita
    YoVita Member Posts: 590 Member
    #18
    Chelsea71 said:

    My husband passed away two

    My husband passed away two months ago from MCRC.  I know what your going through.  Try and stay positive. He will need chemo.  It will likely be Folfox or Folfiri with Avastin.  Many people live a full life while being on chemo.  The liver metastasis will likely shrink.  Once this happens he will want to find a good surgeon for liver resection surgery.  The liver is a "good" organ for metastasis.  There are many ways to treat it.  It can be targeted directly with TACE, Theraspheres, HAI pump.  Many options.  A lot will depend on how well you husband responds to the chemo.  They should send off a piece of his tumor to determine if he has the k RAS mutation.  If he doesn't this means he is the wild type.  This is good as there will be several additional chemo option available to him.  Certain chemos (EGFR's) are ineffective to the k RAS mutations.

    If he is in good shape he will have an easier time.  It's crucial he have a positive attitude and focus on being healthy and getting well. He will need a lot of support from you.  Take everything one day at a time.  Don't think a head.   You will feel panicky.  Accept that life is now uncertain.  You don't know what the future will bring.  Take advantage of all the times where he feels good.  Go on trips or fun outings when you can.  Live for the day.  Every time you get positive medical news - celebrate.  Some days he will be grumpy as he isn't feeling well.  Just bite your tongue.  Come here to CSN, you will get lots of support.  Emotional and practical.

    There are people here who have had tumors removed from their liver and went on to be fine.  The cancer affects us all very individually.

    Also, please remember that doctors are just people.  There opinions will vary.  Never be too discouraged by what any one doctor tells you.  The next doctor could have a completely different opinion.  They make mistakes.  Pay lots of attention.  Educate yourselves.  Be in the drivers seat.  Your doctor should work for you.  You both have long roads ahead.  CSN will be here for you.  Stay involved.  I would have completely lost my mind without this group.

     

    Best of luck

    Chelsea

    And remember it could always be worse.  

     

    Great advice, Chelsea

    I'm sure this advice is helpful for many.  My thoughts and prayers are with you.

  • YoVita
    YoVita Member Posts: 590 Member
    #19
    Welcome to a very supportive group

    You've gotten some great advice with more to come, I'm sure.  I can't give you direct advice because my diagnosis was different.  However, there are many stage 4 colon cancer survivors on this message board, and I'm sure you'll hear from them.  I feel for you and your husband.  The time of initial diagnosis is so challenging.  Things will settle down for you both as you get a plan.  My best wishes to you both.  

  • YoVita
    YoVita Member Posts: 590 Member
    #20
    annalexandria said:

    Hi Karen,

    and welcome to the forum.  I'm very sorry you have to join us, but if you've got to go through this challenge, at least we can give you a little support as you walk this path.  It's not easy, that's for sure, but there are a lot of folks here who have plenty of experience and widsom to share.

    I am not familiar with the VA, but I think it's always a good idea to get a 2nd opinion if you can, no matter where you get your care.  When you are stage 4, getting an extra pair of eyes on the case can't hurt.

    And as others have said, 4 nodes and one spot in the liver isn't bad for stage 4.  I realize that probably sounds ridiculous at this point, that anything might be the slightest bit "good", but it really is, in this case.  If the colon has already been resected, and the liver can be resected, then your husband has a shot at a cure.  They have some special name for stage 4ers with a single met in a different organ (can't remember what it's called, of course), but studies have shown that they have a much better prognosis.

    Keep us posted.  We'll be thinking of both of you!

    Ann Alexandria (aka AA)

    PS  I was dx'ed stage 4 in 2009, reached remission via surgery, have been NED (no evidence of disease) since Dec 2011.

    Single met in a different organ

    ... is often called oligometastases or oligo-recurrence - although technically the terms refer to 1-5 distant metastases and you're right AA, prognosis is much better.  From one fellow librarian to another.  Best.

    http://www.hindawi.com/journals/pm/2013/438236/

    Recent article on the topic referring to lung cancer as primary but also mentions others including colon and rectal.  

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20047860

    Nice brief article defining the difference between the two terms.

     

     

     

  • janderson1964
    janderson1964 Member Posts: 2,215 Member
    #21
    karee said:

    new here update

    Thank you, to all of you who responded to my post, I am new to this so here I go.Your comments have helped me and my husband very much.We are

    going to fight this battle as hard as we can with God  and alot of prayer..I guess after the initial shock this is the attitude one settles into. My husband is very optimistic in general that is the way he has always been, that I am sure is a plus. 

    He has had an appointment with onculogy Dr. ,he has had an ultrasound and an MRI of the liver, it has shown app a 2cm by 3 tumor on the right lobe and he is being referred to

     the team of liver specialist at Pitts, Va so we are awaiting for the appointment. The oncul Dr does not know how they will want to proceed either with surgery or a new procedure of small incision and freezing the tumor or if they will want chemo first or later. There has not been a pet scan yet as the Dr say it would show all kinds of red places after the recent colon recection.But the Dr. said Pitts, Drs might want one done. So I guess some of my concerns now are, how rought is the liver surgery if that is the choice and any one had any experience with the freezing procedure? Any help, advice and comments are appreciated ,thank you all so much.

    Karen

    Hi karee. I have had 3 liver

    Hi karee. I have had 3 liver surgeries. They are harder but manageable. I would push for surgery rather than cryoablation.

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