Stage IV (making progress!)

tallorder5793
tallorder5793 Member Posts: 67
edited July 2015 in Anal Cancer #1

After 9 months of chemotherapy, including taxol and avastin, I went for routine cat scan in January. Per MD Anderson, I have no evidence of disease (NED) left in my liver. At diagnosis, I'd been told I had "innumerable" lesions in liver area. And so I am grateful and happy with recent news. 

Doctors originally told me radiation would be too toxic to my liver. But it is amazing how much chemotherapy has done for me. Last September, I was told NED in anal canal.

All that's left is a lymph node in my groin area. As a result of remarkable progress in liver, doctors now consider it safe to radiate the node. I met with MD Anderson the other day to discuss 5 1/2 weeks radiation treatment to node and (as a safe measure) anal canal. 

Receiving Stage IV diagnosis was incredibly scary. But I continue to show progress. 

 

 

Comments

  • z
    z Member Posts: 1,414 Member
    #2
    tallorder

    I am happy your having great success with the chemo and now are able to zap the rest to be rid of it.  Thank you for sharing as this gives us hope.  There is another stage IV survivor who had mets to liver and had chemo with great success, hopefully she will post to your thread.  I wish you continued healing. Lori

  • tallorder5793
    tallorder5793 Member Posts: 67
    #3
    z said:

    tallorder

    I am happy your having great success with the chemo and now are able to zap the rest to be rid of it.  Thank you for sharing as this gives us hope.  There is another stage IV survivor who had mets to liver and had chemo with great success, hopefully she will post to your thread.  I wish you continued healing. Lori

    Thank you Lori

    I am hopeful for a cancer free future.

  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #4
    tallorder5793

    Those are great results on your CT scan and I am so happy for you!  I hope the radiation will get rid of that pesky node and I hope you can begin that treatment ASAP. 

    I have always said that should I have a recurrence or metastases, I will be on my way to MDA.

    I wish you all the best and hope you'll keep us posted on how things go for you.

    Martha

  • tallorder5793
    tallorder5793 Member Posts: 67
    #5
    mp327 said:

    tallorder5793

    Those are great results on your CT scan and I am so happy for you!  I hope the radiation will get rid of that pesky node and I hope you can begin that treatment ASAP. 

    I have always said that should I have a recurrence or metastases, I will be on my way to MDA.

    I wish you all the best and hope you'll keep us posted on how things go for you.

    Martha

    Thank you

    Wishing you all the best!

  • lizdeli
    lizdeli Member Posts: 569 Member
    #6
    tallorder5793 said:

    Thank you

    Wishing you all the best!

    Great News

    So happy to hear your news!  It gives hope to many.  I was also treated at MDA and Dr. Eng is my saving grace.  It has been over 5 years.  They treat very aggressively, but fortunately it works for many.  I was Stage III. Wishing you continued good news and good health.

    Liz

  • eihtak
    eihtak Member Posts: 1,473 Member
    #7
    tallorder5793

    Hi, and congratulations on your successful treatment so far....I will pray this continues for a looooong time!

    I was initially diagnosed and treated for anal cancer Stage 3b about 4 years ago and had had clear scans regarding this until recently. A recurrance was found in my lung of a large mass, and just 2weeks ago I had a thoracotomy. (Removal of entire lower left lobe) Margins and surrounding nodes came back clean, yet my doctor has recommended chemo as insurance/prevention of any "lurking" cells as this mass came on fast with no symptoms. 

    My question is on the chemo drugs you received for your treatment. The NCCN guidelines recommend 5FU/cisplatin, and that is what I am scheduled to receive next week for a course of 12 weeks. Was your cancer in your liver an actual recurrance of anal cancer or was it another primary cancer? I have heard amazing reports of MD Anderson and while my health is of utmost importance to me, travel and treatment there is not possible at this time. I have always received top notch care and am confident in my health care team, yet may suggest a conference call to MDA as now I am curious as to why the difference in choice of drug.

    Again, I wish you continued health as you move forward.

    katheryn

  • Lorikat
    Lorikat Member Posts: 681 Member
    #8
    MD Anderson and Drs. Eng and

    MD Anderson and Drs. Eng and Das saved my life.  I am 3 years post treatment and due for scans the first week of March.  As usual, I am nervous, but not expecting the worst!  Happy you are doing well!  I had invasive SCC so am very happy!  

  • nicotianna
    nicotianna Member Posts: 209
    #9
    tallorder

    Thank you so much for your update & the information!  I may need to F/U with MDA in the near future.

    Nic

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