New Diagnosed Stage 4 - 28 yo

Ugur · March 2018

Hello everyone,

I have just found this amazing community, and wanted to hear some opinions.
I was diagnosed as S4 Colon Cancer with mets on my liver, on both side around 23 mm(sorry I'm from Europe).

I am waiting for biopsy report to learn which kind of chemo I'll have.

I'm 28 yo, and I feel generally healthy except the pain in my abdomens, and both sides of flanks.

I'm not too much worried, just a bit scared.

Now I'm having painkiller to avoid the unpleasant pain attacks.

I would like to hear from you about what to expect in near future, and what should I add/avoid in my lifestyle from now on.

Thank you all in advance.

U.

Woodytele · March 2018

Stage 4

im in the same boat as you, started chemo about a year ago. The regime they put me on was FOLFOXIRI, this is what thy call “the kitchen sink”, basically throwing everything at it. You are young, so this may be what they start you on. They give infusion every two weeks, so it’s a lot to handle. Takes a lot out of you. Good luck, god bless.

kyolcu · March 2018

Ugur

Hi Ugur,

Your nane looks like Turkish, like mine Kadir. I live in Houston, TX, and also have Stage IV colon cancer mets to liver and lungs. Having chemo at MD Anderson Cancer center for 2 years now. As Woodytele mentioned above most probably they will put you on first line chemo of Folfiri until it stops working.

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis but be strong and stay positive all the time. Good luck with your treatment.

Kadir

JanJan63 · March 2018

You're so young...
Twenty eight is so young, wow. I was 49 and felt too young. I'm so sorry for your diagnosis but being on here will definitely help you. There are so many varieties of treatment that it's hard to say what's next. Chemo for sure, maybe radiation, surgery I'd assume. Please keep coming back to let us know what's happening. We'll help as much as we're able to.
Jan

tmckelve · March 2018

Keep Fighting never give up

Ugur,

I have stage 4 colorectal cancer diagnosed at 51. I go for my 12th round from chemo in two weeks like the others said it takes a lot out of you but keep yourself busy don't give yourself time for self-pity. I got lost in that hole for two weeks it makes you weaker. Remember keep your head up and your mind sharp. A positive attitude and kick cancers **** attitude will make the burden you and I and everyone else who has this disease much easier. Remember if you start to feel alone we are all here to help.

2018-03-31

Mikenh · March 2018

Sorry that you had to come

Sorry that you had to come here and at such a young age (I'm over twice your age). The options are typically chemo, surgery and/or radiation. There are some other exotic options like an implanted chemo pump, or laser surgery that is used in a few places.

The chemo drugs can do a number on you and there's a lot of experience here on which drugs have which side-effects. So folks can tell you what to expect when you get your plan of treatment. Surgery can be used to remove tumors but chemo is often used to shrink tumors so that it makes the surgery easier. There are also targeted therapies for people with certain genetic traits - the targeted therapies go after the tumor whereas traditional chemo hit all of your cells. I do not know if chemo is used for colon cancer.

Learning about it is quite a shock and it can take a little time to get over the shock and into what the treatment program will be like.

Annabelle41415 · April 2018

Treatment

Treatment all depends on your country first off. I'm sorry to hear of your diagnosis at such an early age. That has to be a shock in a major way. Depending on where the cancer is located mostly depends on the treatment they will give you. If it is colon, it can be different than if it is rectal. Treating other organs also depends on how and where the mets are located. When you have more information, please come back on this board and share with us. We can help you get through this.

Kim

Ugur · April 2018

Woodytele said:
Stage 4
im in the same boat as you, started chemo about a year ago. The regime they put me on was FOLFOXIRI, this is what thy call “the kitchen sink”, basically throwing everything at it. You are young, so this may be what they start you on. They give infusion every two weeks, so it’s a lot to handle. Takes a lot out of you. Good luck, god bless.

Thanks!

Thank you Woodytele. I am not afraid of chemo for now, I hope it will work. Hopefully we will both get over it soon! Good luck to you too...

Ugur · April 2018

kyolcu said:
Ugur
Hi Ugur,

Your nane looks like Turkish, like mine Kadir. I live in Houston, TX, and also have Stage IV colon cancer mets to liver and lungs. Having chemo at MD Anderson Cancer center for 2 years now. As Woodytele mentioned above most probably they will put you on first line chemo of Folfiri until it stops working.

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis but be strong and stay positive all the time. Good luck with your treatment.

Kadir

Sad to hear ...

İyi günler Kadir Hocam, geçmiş olsun.

I hope you will get better soon. I don't feel like I am so ill or anything different than usual. I am trying to be positive about all this, and I know I will get cleaned soon.

I only have this pain attacks, other than that I am living my life as I used to. I am going to my job, I am caring the daily works. There is no need to whine and be sad.

We will see what the future bring.

Thank you and I hope I will hear good news from you soon.

Ugur · April 2018

JanJan63 said:
You're so young...
Twenty eight is so young, wow. I was 49 and felt too young. I'm so sorry for your diagnosis but being on here will definitely help you. There are so many varieties of treatment that it's hard to say what's next. Chemo for sure, maybe radiation, surgery I'd assume. Please keep coming back to let us know what's happening. We'll help as much as we're able to.
Jan

We are all so young for this crap

Thanks Jan.

I know I will have to go thru a lot but I am not worried so much.

It is just a disease and we have to fight against, and so will I.

I will keep my status updated as much as I can.

Ugur · April 2018

tmckelve said:
Keep Fighting never give up

Ugur,

I have stage 4 colorectal cancer diagnosed at 51. I go for my 12th round from chemo in two weeks like the others said it takes a lot out of you but keep yourself busy don't give yourself time for self-pity. I got lost in that hole for two weeks it makes you weaker. Remember keep your head up and your mind sharp. A positive attitude and kick cancers **** attitude will make the burden you and I and everyone else who has this disease much easier. Remember if you start to feel alone we are all here to help.

2018-03-31

Hello tmckelve,

Hello tmckelve,

Giving up is never an option. I feel same as before I was diagnosed, and I will never let this thing effect my life more than necessary.

We got married on April 2016 and we just bought our house with my beautiful wife. So, I got a lot in my future, and this cancer is just a challenge in my life that I gladly take it.

Thank you for your encourageus message and attitude.

We will have more discussions in the future I believe.

I hope your chemo will make you better and you will get over all this soon, fingers crossed.

Ugur · April 2018

Mikenh said:
Sorry that you had to come
Sorry that you had to come here and at such a young age (I'm over twice your age). The options are typically chemo, surgery and/or radiation. There are some other exotic options like an implanted chemo pump, or laser surgery that is used in a few places.

The chemo drugs can do a number on you and there's a lot of experience here on which drugs have which side-effects. So folks can tell you what to expect when you get your plan of treatment. Surgery can be used to remove tumors but chemo is often used to shrink tumors so that it makes the surgery easier. There are also targeted therapies for people with certain genetic traits - the targeted therapies go after the tumor whereas traditional chemo hit all of your cells. I do not know if chemo is used for colon cancer.

Learning about it is quite a shock and it can take a little time to get over the shock and into what the treatment program will be like.

Thanks Mikenh

Hi Mikenh,

Thanks for your message and for all the info.
I guess, I am already over the shock phase and now I am just looking for the best practices to get this done for good.
We will see what the doctors will tell me next week.

I hope you will get better soon, and I am also sorry to meet you guys in this platform. However, I am glad that I found here.

Take a good care of yourself,

Uğur

Ugur · April 2018

Annabelle41415 said:
Treatment
Treatment all depends on your country first off. I'm sorry to hear of your diagnosis at such an early age. That has to be a shock in a major way. Depending on where the cancer is located mostly depends on the treatment they will give you. If it is colon, it can be different than if it is rectal. Treating other organs also depends on how and where the mets are located. When you have more information, please come back on this board and share with us. We can help you get through this.

Kim

Thanks Kim!

First, I am in Czech Republic, and my friends ensured me that here the hospitals are good facilitized and the doctors are well experienced with colon cancer. So, at the moment, I will trust the doctors here and we will see.

At first it was quite a shock for me and especially for my family and friends. After the moment I learnt the news, I asked to my doctor "so what next", and they explained me the next steps.
So far I know, the tumour is located in my large intestine around 20 cm inside and it is 6 cm long, little more than 2 cm tick. Mets are located on both sides of my liver, they were not so big as the doctors said, around 23 mm each.

The first step for me will be chemo after the biopsy. Probably I will start next week, but I don't know for sure.

Now I and my wife are already fine, and researching how to get this over soon.

Thanks for your message again Kim,
Uğur

kyolcu · April 2018

Ugur said:
Sad to hear ...
İyi günler Kadir Hocam, geçmiş olsun.

I hope you will get better soon. I don't feel like I am so ill or anything different than usual. I am trying to be positive about all this, and I know I will get cleaned soon.

I only have this pain attacks, other than that I am living my life as I used to. I am going to my job, I am caring the daily works. There is no need to whine and be sad.

We will see what the future bring.

Thank you and I hope I will hear good news from you soon.

Selam Ugur

Merhaba Ugur, 54y dayim isminle hitap ediyorum yanlis anlama.

I hope you will have get rid of asap by having surgery and chemotheapy.2 years ago, I was told with my initial diagnosis I was told colon colon cancer chemo treatment has good quality of life with minimum side effects and it came through so far Although everybodies response to chemo might be different than the others. Some of friends in this forum mentioned that they had difficult times.

Good Luck and please update us.

Kadir

beaumontdave · April 2018

Welcome Ugur, as to your

Welcome Ugur, as to your question about what to do and not do, I take a baby aspirin[81mg] every day. I believe it helps with inflamation and potentially with reccurances. The other basic stuff is less red meat, very little cured/processed meats, more fruits and vegetables, no smoking, and moderate alcohol use. Others have a number of natural/organic supplements they take, and as you read you'll discover them. I just follow the basic rules and am 10 years out from diagnosis[basically a stage 4] and 3+ years since the last removal of a met in my liver. Best of luck to you.....................................Dave

ron50 · April 2018

Hi Ugur,

I was stage3c at diagnosis at age 48. My cancer whilst not overly large was very aggressive and had spread quickly thru 6 lymph nodes. My surgeon gave me three years maximum. I have just gone past 20 years still cancer free. You seem to have a strong will to live and overcome your cancer. I believe mental attitude has a bearing on survival. My attitude at the time of dx was to do whatever was suggested and as much as I hated chemo I insisted on the full regime. In my day that consisted of 48 weekly bags of 5Flourouricil and over two hundred tablets of levamisole. I still have regular scopes and they still find and remove polyps regularly. I wish you and your wife the best of luck and that you will overcome this cancer. Ron. PS idon't smoke of drink and at 68 I still work four days a week.

optimist777 · April 2018

Stay positive Ugur

Hi Ugur, I was diagnosed with stage4 colon cancer in 2009, and still fighting this disease. First, don't listen to the statistics, because the statistics are mostly based on people much older then yourself, so it can appear more dire then it actually is. Remember you're a unique individual not a statistic. There is always hope, and better, newer treatments are coming along all the time. My best advice for you, is try to stay postive, just take things one day at a time, always trying to get stronger, eat lots of fruits and vegetables, exercise as much as is possible, take time to relax, get lots of natural sunshine and or vitamin D supplements. Try to create a good support network. Listen to your doctors, but don't be afraid to question them as well. While these cancer message boards have lots of support and good information, I personally also find these message boards depressing at times-- so I don't spend much time on them, so that is just something to consider. I think keeping a postiive attitude is so important, don't forget that, and miracles do happen. Wishing you the best.

Ugur · April 2018

beaumontdave said:
Welcome Ugur, as to your
Welcome Ugur, as to your question about what to do and not do, I take a baby aspirin[81mg] every day. I believe it helps with inflamation and potentially with reccurances. The other basic stuff is less red meat, very little cured/processed meats, more fruits and vegetables, no smoking, and moderate alcohol use. Others have a number of natural/organic supplements they take, and as you read you'll discover them. I just follow the basic rules and am 10 years out from diagnosis[basically a stage 4] and 3+ years since the last removal of a met in my liver. Best of luck to you.....................................Dave

Thanks Dave!

Hi Dave,

Thanks for all the info.

I think I will keep generally as what you wrote and will pass the most of the alternatives. I am sure there are a lot of things what might be helpful, but first I want to deal with this by the doctors' way.
If I would feel like I need more support, I saw many discussions about diets, supplements, alternative meds etc in this forum.

I wish you best of luck as well. Keep clean!

Ugur

Ugur · April 2018

ron50 said:
Hi Ugur,
I was stage3c at diagnosis at age 48. My cancer whilst not overly large was very aggressive and had spread quickly thru 6 lymph nodes. My surgeon gave me three years maximum. I have just gone past 20 years still cancer free. You seem to have a strong will to live and overcome your cancer. I believe mental attitude has a bearing on survival. My attitude at the time of dx was to do whatever was suggested and as much as I hated chemo I insisted on the full regime. In my day that consisted of 48 weekly bags of 5Flourouricil and over two hundred tablets of levamisole. I still have regular scopes and they still find and remove polyps regularly. I wish you and your wife the best of luck and that you will overcome this cancer. Ron. PS idon't smoke of drink and at 68 I still work four days a week.

Hello Ron,

First of all, thank you for your message and sharing your story.

I am really happy to hear that you are well and healthy. As you said, I have no doubt that I will get over with this, I know it will take much from me, but I will do it.
I am not afraid of treatments or the surgeries. I don't even mind that I will live with a hole on my chess for possibly a long time. The only thing that I know, when all of this will end, I will be happy with my family and friends.

I wish you won't have to deal with any of this ever again, and will enjoy the life.

Thanks again,
Ugur

Ugur · April 2018

optimist777 said:
Stay positive Ugur
Hi Ugur, I was diagnosed with stage4 colon cancer in 2009, and still fighting this disease. First, don't listen to the statistics, because the statistics are mostly based on people much older then yourself, so it can appear more dire then it actually is. Remember you're a unique individual not a statistic. There is always hope, and better, newer treatments are coming along all the time. My best advice for you, is try to stay postive, just take things one day at a time, always trying to get stronger, eat lots of fruits and vegetables, exercise as much as is possible, take time to relax, get lots of natural sunshine and or vitamin D supplements. Try to create a good support network. Listen to your doctors, but don't be afraid to question them as well. While these cancer message boards have lots of support and good information, I personally also find these message boards depressing at times-- so I don't spend much time on them, so that is just something to consider. I think keeping a postiive attitude is so important, don't forget that, and miracles do happen. Wishing you the best.

Hey there!

Thanks for your message and I am deeply sorry for you that we are in the same boat.

I really don't bother to see the statistics. I did it at first when I had learnt about my situation, and I was freaking out nearly. But, I told myself "hey calm down, I am not going to die, I feel fine".
That was the moment, I knew this will over, hopefully soon. I am trying to keep myself busy with different worries. I could not tell my family back in home yet, because I don't want to worry them more than necessary, this is my biggest concern for now. I invited them and told them I need them. I hope they will be with me soon.

I am glad that I have found here. I don't think anyone else would understand what I am going thru than the most of the people here.

Wish you best of luck in your fight, and I would be glad if you could keep me updated about your status.

Thanks,
Ugur

Ugur · April 2018

First Update

Hi again,

First of all, kindly thanks for every and each person who replied to my post!

Today I have talked to my oncologist, and she was quite positive and smiling all the time.
Btw, I am really glad that no doctor yet was any trouble-looking about my case.

So, I will have my first chemo on this friday, the day after tomorrow. I heard she was ordering folfox.
She told me that I will have it every 14 days and for 3 months. Then, we will check how my cancer will react to chemo.
On 17th of April, I will get a vein port, so I will be able to get my chemo at home. Till then, I will have to stay at hospital during my chemo.

She also told me some kind of biotherapy will involve into my treatment but I didn't get any details.

The doctors also suggested me to stay at home during chemo, at least this first 3 months, that my body and immunity system would get used to it. For now I don't think it will be necessary but we will see.

That is all from my side for now. I know the doctors will use the strongest drugs on me as I understood, but I still can't believe that I will feel week as they described.

I will keep you updated once I know more.

Keep strong,
Uğur

New Diagnosed Stage 4 - 28 yo

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