Early Age Onset Stage IV CRC

Hi, sorry to have you join us on a down note, but we will try to be helpful.

I was not diagnosed when I first started experiencing problems because I had not turned 50. too young for colon cancer! Don't need a colonoscopy. I might possibly have avoided a lot of drama and pain if they'd listened to me, but that's neither here nor there now.

You can check my about page for the details but I am like many, IV and had some liver mets. I've had three surgeries (partial colectomy, liver ablation and partial resection). I had several months of FOLFOX. FOLFOX was the worst. At first I treated it like it was nothing and then within a couple of months all manner of bad things started to affect me. It has been 9 months since the last dose of 5-FU (got off Oxy early). My neuropathy in the hands went away within a few months, but I am still a little numb between the toes.

Given that my next visit to the scary old scanner is in January, I will hit the two year mark at that point. I'm hoping that the last resection did the trick but it's all a roll of the dice innit.

I didn't know when I was diagnosed but my father's side of the family has a significant history of cancer, colon cancer specifically. His oldest sister had the most similar diagnosis, CRC spread to liver. She's still alive after 9 years, one more and it will be deemed a cure. Some people are out there making it. I think perhaps we can hang on until they discover a cure. New things are happening on the immunotherapy front faster than ever.

Again, welcome.

Welcome to the forum, my stories on it's page, but I was 49 when it went down, no symptoms, save little traces of blood in my stools, 2 months before diagnosis. The only other thing was my appendix acting up. I didn't know what is was, but the seatbelt was irritating me when I drove. That's it. My dad was 80 and had been diagnosed that 2 months before, but his was caught at stage 2. Mine was just one big mass in the sigmoid section, they got it, the appendix, and a bellybutton hernia I didn't register at all.  I did the FOLFOX, came through fairly well, and had 3 masses show up a couple years after. The rest is in my story, but I'm 6 years plus NED and 13 beyond diagnosis, if it helps to hear. You have bigger fight, but the stories are here about folks with many mets in their liver, who are now NED and living way beyond that awful 5% catagory, give it no heed. Just keep the faith, and listen to the good stories. That, and love got me through an awful lot.....................................Dave

If you look at my posts, you'll see (in a nutshell) my wife was dx'd with CRC at 39 yrs old. Had tumour removed. Then after 4 few chemos, discovered two liver mets. They removed the two mets and she did 8 more chemo sessions (FOLFOX). Here we are 1 yr after the liver surgery and last chemo in May 2020 and she is NED thanks Gd. She has had 4 scans in 2020 and all clear. We recognize it's just year 1 and want to get to year 5 (and more!) but what I've discovered, is that the small statistic includes ALL ppl in stage 4 category, regardless of age, lifestyle, pre-existing conditions, number and size of tumours and #/size liver mets. At your age and given your otherwise healthy lifestyle, know that the statistics may be WAY higher in your favour than the "small statistic" you mention in your post, which represents ALL cases. Stage 4 is NOT a death sentence. So many people on this site who have recovered and now living normal lives (the mental part isn't easy) are not posting often b/c many just want to go on and "forget" the nightmare. I am one of them. My wife doesn't even know I post on this site. it's my private escape for support. I've learned to compartimentalize the ordeal and escape, but of course it will always be on my mind. Point is there are wonderful stories of survival out there. More than you think - especially as it seems you have many factors going for you. A positive attitude DOES make a difference - whether it's 1% or 10% better chances, it absolutely makes a difference. Be well, and always rely on this board for support. It continues to help me all the time.