new to this site

marcodp
marcodp Member Posts: 1
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Hi,

I am newly diagnosed and looking to hear some postive stories and maybe chat with other who are going through a similiar treatment.

I am 33 yrd old and have been diagnosed with colon cancer that spread to the liver. My father died from colon cancer 8 years ago and IO know a lot had changed since then. I am little julies cousin and she told me about this site.

Please respond, I start chemo next week. Looking forward to starting the fight!

marco

Comments

  • pamness
    pamness Member Posts: 524 Member
    #2
    I gather since your cancer has spread to the liver you are Stage IV. What treatment will you be starting next week. I am stage III and am awaiting the results of my first 6 mos. scan. There are many great stories here of survivors. Can you give us a little more information. I send you all my prayers and best wishes.

    Pam
  • vinny3
    vinny3 Member Posts: 928 Member
    #3
    Hate to say it on the one hand- one more with our diagnosis- but welcome to the site. There are a number of Stage 4 survivors here. Are you having some surgery too? There are survivors here who have had surgery to remove the liver mets, even some who originally had been told they were not surgical candidates but who responded so well to chemo they became surgical candidates. Ask as many questions as you can- from your doctors and here. You will be in our prayers.

    ****
  • Moesimo
    Moesimo Member Posts: 1,072 Member
    #4
    Welcome to our group. There are many stage 4 survivors. Little Julie has mentioned you. I remember when her mom was diagnosed. I was only stage 3. I would suggest a major cancer center or al least a consult from one. good luck, you will be in my prayers.

    Maureen
  • nudgie
    nudgie Member Posts: 1,478 Member
    #5
    I am not sure what Stage you were DX with but like Pam mentioned if it spread to your liver I am assuming it is Stage IV and yes there are A LOT of Stage IV Survivor Stories on this site.

    I will also assume you will be getting the FLOFOX Chemo Regime which is normally every other week for a total of 12 treatments or 6 months. This is the regime I took.

    I would arrive at the hospital early in the morning and get my blood drawn through my Port-O-Cath to make sure all my counts were good enough to receive treatment. If so, I would begin with a 20-minute IV drip of Calcium and Magensium and then move onto my 6-hour IV drip of Oxiplatain (sp?) and Lecovorin and then receive my 48-hour IV Pump of 5FU.

    With this regime, by Chemo Nurses advised me NOT to drink or eat anything cold due to the side effects of the Oxy drug. Also, I had to wear to golves to use the frig or freezer and depending upon the area you live and temp, you may need to wear gloves outside, socks all the time and sometimes a scarf over your mouth and nose.

    Some of the normal side effects with the Regime area:
    a)Flushing of face and neck
    b)Hand and foot numbness and/or tingling
    c)Headaches
    d)Sores in mouth (they have a special mouth washed that can be used)
    e)Heartburn (I took Nexium)
    f)Nausea and vomiting (my pre-meds helped me and I had no symptons)
    g)Runs
    h)Fatigue (did not affect me)
    i)Slight increase in heat rate
    j)Wrist stiffness (can be caused from the cold)
    k)Red blood cells decreases (shots can be given to increase these)
    l)White blood cells decreases (shots can be given to increase these)
    m)Blood platlates decrease

    Ask questions constantly regardless of how petty they seem. You must take charge of your health care and your body and rely on the doctors for help, assistance and knowledge.
  • apache4
    apache4 Member Posts: 272 Member
    #6
    Welcome to the site although I know that you would prefer not to be here :) Nudgie gave a great synopsis of the standard treatment. I managed to do 16 rounds of it before the onc. decided I had enough. I was in remission for about two months with a PET scan that showed no "activity" and then tumors started again. I was dx. two years ago with the Stage IV...inoperable tumors in liver. I encourage you to just take it one day at a time as each day you will feel better. The bummer is that you will feel not too well after each treatment. It gets easier and you learn to pace yourself and the things you need to do. Two years ago I thought I would be "gone" by now, but doing OK and happy to have the Moffitt Cancer Center now as my caregiver. My little cancer center in Texas did fine, but it seems to have been God's will to have my son transfered to Tampa and we all moved about three months ago. Who would have thought I could have made such a big move now? I still take care of myself and my pets by myself and although I am a bit tired, I am still content with life. Hang in there and think positive thoughts. There is new stuff coming all the time. How extensive are your liver mets?
  • ruggersocks
    ruggersocks Member Posts: 78 Member
    #7
    You are in the right place to get support, encouragement, advice, listen, and chat with.

    I have been diagnosed with Stage IV Rectal Cancer. My cancer moved from being a rectal tumour to 1 tumour in my liver and 1 in my lung.

    I've had 2 different chemo regimes. Folfox and am currently on Folfiri. Surgeries I've had are rectal resection, ablation of the tumour on my liver, lung surgery.

    All of the previous entries gave great advice/insight into what life is like with cancer.

    We are here with you, holding your hand, even if it's not in person.

    Lots of hugs,
    Cheryl
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #8
    Sorry to meet like this, but welcome to the 'family'! I think most things have already been said...we are the best tumor board around-lol!

    Water, water, water...day before, day of, day after chemo....your kidneys don't need any of the chemo...best to flush asap...

    Hugs, Kathi
  • Betsydoglover
    Betsydoglover Member Posts: 1,248 Member
    #9
    Hi Marco -

    I am a relatively new "old timer" - was diagnosed with Stage 4 with liver mets in May 2005. I have been NED (no evidence of disease) since my 3rd cycle of chemo (Xeloda, oxaliplatin and Avastin). Just had clean scans yesterday, in fact.

    So- I just want you to know there is hope for Stage IV disease. Others have had successful liver surgery (I met 2 people who were 10-15 years out from liver resection and doing well.) Meanwhile, some of us have had non-surgical "remission". So, please try to keep your spirits up - let us all know about your chemo and please realize that statistics have nothing to do with you and there are many real people out here who are doing well with your diagnosis.

    Take care,
    Betsy
  • spongebob
    spongebob Member Posts: 2,565 Member
    #10
    Ahoy, Marco -

    Welcome to the board! I have to wonder if you may not be a member of the super-elite HNPCC corps... All that colon cancer and your youthful diagnosis makes me wonder.

    Fight on!
  • butterfly23
    butterfly23 Member Posts: 256
    #11
    Hi I am 38 yrs old with stage 4 colon cancer that has spread to lymph nodes. I have no history in my family, I also had no symptoms besides a swollen lymph node in neck, I do the folfiri 5 reg. then surgery then more chemo, I am half way thru chemo, This website is wonderful for support, I am truly positive of my outcome and I hope you are too, there is so much out there now how can we not have hope!!!!!!!!!
    You are in my thoughts and prayers
    Karyn

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