Stage IV, 18 tumors gone..now NED

ahamilton2
ahamilton2 Member Posts: 32
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Dear Friends: I just wanted to send a quick update, hopefully to encourage anyone out there who has been recently diagnosed with Stage IV colorectal cancer.

After 18 evil tumors - I'm NED. My CEA is the lowest ever. (less than 1.0) I was diagnosed in May 05. Took chemo and a miracle happened: my rectal tumor completely resolved with chemo. So then I had a liver resection in Nov. 05 at MDAnderson. Then a lung resection in Feb. 07. (The lung tumors were so tiny and had always been present. And we finally decided to go after them & they turned out to be cancerous.)

Whew! The statistics are: nearly 2 years in the clear for primary tumor area, 15 months clear in the liver, and two months clear in the lungs.

Stage IV isn't the end! If you get top-notch medical care and second opinions, you have the best chance of beating this ugly disease. And attitude counts!!

Comments

  • Betsydoglover
    Betsydoglover Member Posts: 1,248 Member
    #2
    See my email, Aileen. This is great news!

    Betsy
  • jams67
    jams67 Member Posts: 925 Member
    #3
    We were diagnosed about the same time with iv, and I too am NED so there is hope. Good to hear you are doing so fantabulous!
    Jo Ann
  • alta29
    alta29 Member Posts: 435 Member
    #4
    wow ! That is great news...!!!
    Its just what we need to see...
    God bless
  • hopefulone
    hopefulone Member Posts: 1,043 Member
    #5
    Terrific news . Thank you for sharing . I did in fact email another prominent surgeon and professor here on Saturday to ask for another opinion. He actually responded to my email (much to my surprise on a saturday no less) and said he would be happy to review my husbands next ct images to see if we can pursue surgical options or rfa etc. I believe in persistance and second and third and fourth opinions if necessary. You just HAVE to be your own advocate sometimes. Thanks for confirming that with your post! Good luck and prayers for continued NED . God Bless.
  • spongebob
    spongebob Member Posts: 2,565 Member
    #6
    Aileen -

    What can I say but... WOW! That is so inspiring for people! Way to go gurl!

    Woo-Hoo!!!
  • JADot
    JADot Member Posts: 709 Member
    #7
    Wow, what a great post!

    Those 18 tumors, they picked the wrong host body!!!

    Congratulations to you and thanks so much for sharing your great news!

    Cheers,
    Ying
  • ahamilton2
    ahamilton2 Member Posts: 32
    #8
    hopefulone said:

    Terrific news . Thank you for sharing . I did in fact email another prominent surgeon and professor here on Saturday to ask for another opinion. He actually responded to my email (much to my surprise on a saturday no less) and said he would be happy to review my husbands next ct images to see if we can pursue surgical options or rfa etc. I believe in persistance and second and third and fourth opinions if necessary. You just HAVE to be your own advocate sometimes. Thanks for confirming that with your post! Good luck and prayers for continued NED . God Bless.

    Dear Hopeful One:
    IF you need it, I would be most happy to send you the email address of one of the best liver surgeons in the world! My liver surgeon, who took out 12 tumors in my liver, and is the world-renowned authority/inventor of rfa, is Dr. Steven A. Curley at MD Anderson (Houston, TX). He is my favorite doctor & I like to think I'm one of his favorite patients. He said "yes" to surgery when the Johns Hopkins surgeons said "no". His work speaks for itself.
    Let me know if you'd like to email him, and I'll send you his personal email address. And I'll tell him that you'll be writing to him.
    Otherwise, best of luck to you and your husband! Yes, you're right, you must be your own advocate!
    Sincerely,
    Aileen Hamilton
  • kerry
    kerry Member Posts: 1,313 Member
    #9
    Contratulations!! I'm also a stage iv survivor and patient at MD Anderson!! Can't say enough good things about my treatment there. Who is your oncologist??

    Kerry
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #10
    YEA YEA YEA YEA YEA YEA YEA!!!

    NAKED HAPPY DANCE!!!!!

    I Love to hear good news, and from you, well, you are SUCH a brave fighter!!!

    Hugs, Kathi

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