CAN ANYBODY HELP ME?

I will do my best to give you what information that I have (which is kinda limited). First let me say that you are not alone. My Husband was diagnosed in Sept 2003 with StageIV colon, spread to liver, lung and nodes. Found cancer with surgery. Surgeon said liver was so covered in cancer that couldn't do surgery on it but did remove primary tumor in colon along with 14". He started chemo on Oct 21 taking oxliplatin and Xeloda (oral type of 5FU). He is on chemo two weeks and off for one. The oxliplatin is given by infussion and the xeloda 3000 mg in the am and 4000 in the pm. The nausea is pretty bad. He was given meds for that and it helps some. (Most of his the Dr. says is mental). ANYWAY... After three treatments the cancer was 50% gone! Everyone was shocked. He started #6 yesterday and after this he goes for another CAT scan to see if he has killed the dragon. (fingers crossed).
Everyone says a positive attitude will help as much as the chemo and I think that is true. I also believe that faith and trust also helps. AND my favorite part is the support I find here in this message board and the chat room. Caregivers have it hard too but please keep hanging on and give Mom the most positive attitude that you can muster. We are here for you.

cmcl said:

Thinking postively is absolutely very important. I am on Oxali/5FU/LEV. My schedule is every other week. The nausea was the worst side effect for me, but lots of meds pulled me through.
I had a simiar experience with my mother when a doc told her surgery was out of the question for bladder cancer, she would never make it. She got a second opinion and we were blessed to have her with us for 3 more years. Unfortunately, she had many other obstacles, diabetes, high blood pressure, and melanoma. But my mother never, I mean never, was down about being sick. She was a real trooper. I get a lot of my inner strength from her!
I wish you and your mom lots of POSITIVE luck,
Carolyn

After reading all of the messages in this discussion makes me feel like I'm not alone. But I know there is no hope for my aunt. She was diagnosed with colon cancer stage 3 back in July of 2002. She had surgery to remove 2 tumors that were the size of a small apple and a goose egg. She ended up with a colostomy. Two weeks after her surgery, they found a spot on her liver. It is now a yr and a half later and she has been on every chemo medication and none of them have worked. The Dr did another CT scan and now it has traveled into her lung. The Dr said there is nothing else he can do. For the past month, the pain is settling in. The pain pills are taken daily. If there is anyone who can tell me what to expect next? What other sympotms? The Dr hasn't been that informative. I tried to keep her as active as she will be. But for mos, she has slowly whithered away. I feel she has no more energy to give. She has always stayed positive but I can tell that is fading. Please someone, talk to me! Any comments are helpful. To all the survivors, Congrats and God bless, for all the hard work to get there! It is so impressive to hear all those great messages.

After reading all the other messages that people have posted... mine will only be redundant!! Positive, Positive, Positive & keep your sense of humor... Very Important!! My tumor was in my rectum... Now, how serious could I get about this?? Keep it light when you are with your mom. Cut loose and break into a song when in her presence, or do things that you normally wouldn't do to lighten things up - she needs someone to take her mind off of things.

Nausea - there are great medications out there... talk to your docs about them. Zofran is one that is an amazing drug - don't know if you have that one in Romania - but your doc should have some suggestions.

Hang tough, and get creative. Hugs to you & your mom!