Reacurance rectal cancer

My recurrance was in the liver.  I had surgery in April 2014 and no follow-up chemo - though it was talked about.  I have been NED (No Evidence of Disease) every since. 

Ask as many questions as you would like. We are all here to answer in our part. 

Tru

I wish I could help but I haven't had that experience, either. I hope you get some answers.

Jan

Tracey1969 said:

Hi.. we have started chemo..

Hi.. we have started chemo.. hes doing the treatment called capox.. tablets and iv

Then surgery

any advice how to cope for the next 3 months 

Tracey:  There are a lot of posts on both these drugs.  There are definately steps one can take to be prepared--things like having anti-nausea drugs ready in advance, having some gloves (for cold sensitivity), and using hand and foot cream through the treatment.  If you seach the posts for these terms, I am confident you will find abundant tips--way more than the doctor will give you.  Good luck on this journey.

Both have their own side effects.  The Xeloda (oral) wasn't too bad for me but the Oxy was really hard.  If there are symptoms of lingering tingling from one infusion to the other without going away you need to address the doctor and let them know.  If not it could be possible there their will be long term side effects from this drug where it causes permanent neuropathy.  Capox is not a term I've heard of but mine was FOLFOX.  Just make sure that if hubby has anything that doesn't feel right during treatment that he contact the doctor.  Wishing him well.

Kim

Tracey1969 said:

itS a kras mutation what

itS a kras mutation what does that mean??

KRAS is a gene that provides the code for making a protein, KRAS, which is involved primarily in controlling cell division. This protein is part of the MAP kinase signaling cascade (RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK) that relays chemical signals from outside the cell to the cell's nucleus and is primarily involved in controlling cell division. KRAS is an enzyme (a GTPase) that converts a molecule called GTP into GDP. When KRAS is attached (bound) to GDP, it's in its "off" position and can't send signals to the nucleus. But when a GTP molecule arrives and binds to KRAS, KRAS is activated and sends its signal, and then it converts the GTP into GDP and returns to the "off" position.

When mutated, KRAS can act as an oncogene, causing normal cells to become cancerous. The mutations can shift the KRAS protein into the "on" position all the time. KRAS mutations are common in pancreatic, lung and colorectal cancers. These KRAS mutations are said to be somatic, because instead of coming from a parent and being present in every cell (hereditary), they are acquired during the course of a person's life and are found only in cells that become cancerous.

Tumor mutation profiling performed clinically at the MGH Cancer Center has identified KRAS mutations across a broad-spectrum of cancer types. The highest incidence of KRAS mutations have been found in pancreatic cancer (70%), colon cancer (30%), lung cancer (25%), cholangiocarcinoma (15-20%), acute myeloid leukemia (15-20%) and endometrial cancer (15-20%). Across the other major tumor types, KRAS mutations have been found in less than 10% of cases that have been tested.

Source: Genetics Home Reference

http://targetedcancercare.massgeneral.org/My-Trial-Guide/Genes/KRAS/G12D-(c-35G-A).aspx

Tracey1969 said:

Thank u... so u think it’s

Thank u... so u think it’s bad... ?  All cancer is bad.. but is this real bad:( I feel the oncologist isnt very hopeful:(

Any recurrence is bad in the sense that if it spread to ptA, then it may have spread to ptB & ptC too.  Recurrence (metastasis) almost always means chemo - if the patient can tolerate it - to addres the systemic spread.   The very good news is that IF the recurrent tumor is resectable (surgery applies) then there is a much better chance for long-term survival.  Any KRAS mutation gives modestly worse odds and dictates the type of treatment, but that's not a  cause for much incremental worry.

>>I feel the oncologist isnt very hopeful:(

Ask, don't read between the lines.

Tracey1969 said:

Thought I’d give u the

Thought I’d give u the lastest 

The chemo didn’t shrink the tumor.. but it didn’t grow.. we went and saw the specialist surgeon yesterday.. what he had to say was scary.. 

there is a 1 in 3 chance of survival in 5 years at this stage.. if we just did surgery next week he would have a life of chronic pain and his foot wouldn't work and still a 33% of survival.. 

if we do radiation then surgery his survival rate is 50/50 and the chance of keeping his foot etc is better

So we are seeing the radiation team on Monday.. to start pretty quickly 

Hopefully like anything no cancer seeds have got out.. fingers crossed 

Try not to think of the stats. I was given the 5 year talk, 5 years eight months ago, and I'm running wild and loving it.  

And what is 50/50? 60/40, 52/48.... do you get what I mean?  His situation is not pretty, but concentrate on the positive and let the negative take care of itself. 

What is wrong with his foot?  Is he diabetic? 

Radiation can be quite the ride, and I'm not talking the 'joy' kind. I wish him luck. I wish you both the best. 

Tru

Tracey1969 said:

Thought I’d give u the

Thought I’d give u the lastest 

The chemo didn’t shrink the tumor.. but it didn’t grow.. we went and saw the specialist surgeon yesterday.. what he had to say was scary.. 

there is a 1 in 3 chance of survival in 5 years at this stage.. if we just did surgery next week he would have a life of chronic pain and his foot wouldn't work and still a 33% of survival.. 

if we do radiation then surgery his survival rate is 50/50 and the chance of keeping his foot etc is better

So we are seeing the radiation team on Monday.. to start pretty quickly 

Hopefully like anything no cancer seeds have got out.. fingers crossed 

The statistics are like a punch in the gut, or at least that is the way I felt when I first researched mine.  But as board members will keep reminding you, your loved one is not a statistic. As for me, I do everything I can do to be in the survival portion of the statistic and to live each day to its fullest.