Calling All 4's..

Not sure if this post is still active..but anyway..my husband was dx'd June/04 with stage 3 CRC and after 6 mos adjuvant therapy after bowel re-section "graduated" to stage 4 (liver and lungs)...since then
folfiri/avastin (mixed results)
xeloda/oxaliplatin (excellent results for a time)
after some progression will be starting irinotecan/erbitux
SURVIVAL...over 32 months overall and 19 mos as stage 4..AND COUNTING!!!!!!
Bev

Nanuk, sorry I am late. I have been in the valley for a while.
I am class IV.
Diagnosed 03/11/02 large tumor in cecum, mets to liver positive lymph nodes.
Rt. hemocollectomy 03/21/02
Liver resection 05/21/02 with hepatic pump placement(for direct chemo) 60% of liver removed.
PortACath placement 07/05/025FU/LV started infused over 5 days 10 treatments
FuDr Direct HA over 16 days at least two months rest between treatments, six treatments
NED 8/3/03
I celebrated with three weeks in Hawaii.NED was wonderful.
0903 I had pump & port a cath removed.
I had whole body PET scan, CT scan, lab every 3 months. I was also on Liver friendly diet plus no sugar.
January 26 07 CANCER reappeared, four tumors, within the interaortocaval region at the level of renal arteries.
I took three weeks, really thinking about what I wanted to do. I felt led to try chemo once more. If it doesn't help me, I pray I help others.
I am on FOLFOX6 plus Avastin, research drug
XALIPRODEN.
I have had three treatments, two weeks apart.
I will have fourth treatment on 04/09/07
one week later I will have scans to see if it is working. I have had difficult side effects. My ONC
does exam, and lab prior to each treatment. I also have consult with research nurse each treatment, as well as Pump off day.
Thanks for keeping up with us!

scouty said:

Currently NED

Colon perforated Oct 03', cancer missed but given tempy colostomy bag. Rectal cancer with 3 liver mets and 1 lung met found March 04', 16 treatments of Oxil w/leucovorin, 5FU, and Avastin. Chemo stopped working, stopped it on my own and completely changed my diet and started with some alternatives 11/04'. First heard NED 8/05', kept doing alternatives. Surgery Jan 06' to reverse colostomy along with a foot of colon/rectum, lymph nodes, and to check out liver; lymph nodes all clear, liver clean but a tiny tumor was found where the original rectal tumor had been but surgeon got great margins.

My oncologist says I am now 2 years and 5 months NED (dating back to when chemo was stopped with not recurrances).

Lisa P.

The glass IS half full!!
Hi Lisa P,

I was very happy to read your profile - you have an amazing and inspiring story...

My neighbor was recently diagnosed with S4 colon cancer. He is an amazing person as well and his positivity/ will to survive inspired me to write you. Since it seems you have been thru what my neighbor is going thru, would you mind sending me a note?

If ANYONE has been thru something similar to what my neighbor is going thru, please feel free to share anything one can do to help, both medically and as a friend to a survivor...

jesse@fusionstorm.com

Thank you so much - Have a great day!
-Jesse

NeighborJesse said:

Calling All 4's..
My neighbor was recently diagnosed with S4 colon cancer.

He is an amazing person and his positivity/ will to survive inspired me to write you.

If ANYONE has been thru something similar to what my neighbor is going thru, please feel free to share anything one can do to help, both medically and as a friend to a survivor...

jesse@fusionstorm.com

Thank you so much - Have a great day!
-Jesse

Stage IV
Hello - I am new to this site. I was diagnosed in 2/08 with Stage IV colon cancer, with mets to my liver. I had colon resection and installation of HAI pump 3 weeks later. I have been receiving chemo since the beginning of April. My CEA has decreased from just under 7,000 to just under 50. I am waiting to learn whether my liver tumors have become resectable (the surgeons who must review my info are on vacation) My diagnosis was advanced metastatic disease, a shock since I had limited symptoms, pretty normal liver function and consistently worked as many 10-12 hour days as I needed to. The local doctors who diagnosed me and referred me to a large cancer center could hardly look at me (I am 51 and the mother of 2 daughters who need me) and I don't believe anyone expected me to have the response to chemo that I have had. I have stayed positive (assisted by blissful ignorance in first couple months), exercised consistently, refused to be a victim, and given my cancer treatment the priority that it deserves. While it is still too early for me to declare a victory for the miracles of modern medicine, I am impressed and grateful for the progress that I have made so far. As I struggle to remain positive while waiting to learn whether or not I am eligible for curative surgery, I am also grateful for online communities such as this.

mom stage 4
Mom DX Nov '07, colon resection, omentectomy, ovaries removed, gall bladder removed, tumors debulked. Currently receiving folfox + avastin. Last scan shows disease stable.

another 4 here
Hi guys, recap: dx at 32 in nov 03. Had colon resection, liver resection, chemo (oxaliplatin, 5fu, leucovorin), rads followed by 13 mos of NED during which time i was taking xeloda. Returned in Jan 06 so second liver resection more chemo (cpt-11, avastin). I have been NED since that surgery in 06 but I also continue to take avastin every two weeks for rest of life i've been told.

Calling All 4's
I was dx'd 10-07 Stage IV cc with mets to my ovaries. Had surgery 10-30-07 for what was thought to be ovarian cancer; pathology showed colon cancer. Dec 3, 07, back for surgery again for second primary, adenocarcinoma. Began FOLFOX in Jan 08 and finished in June. I am currently NED!!! I have scans in 2 weeks and am praying for more NED time.

Thanks to all of you for your posts--it is such a source of hope and strength to hear so many survivor stories. I would love to hear if any of you have nutrition, exercise, adjuvant treatments, etc., that you feel have helped. Keep on fighting!

Rebecca

Calling all stage 4's
I was diagnosed June 30 2011 with stage 4 rectal, colon, and 3 mets to liver that dr/surgeon said I had 12 months or so maybe a bit more with treatment. After a few more sessions and questions and then researching him on the grapevine and Internet I then asked my oncologist for another opinion and another dr, I found out that he was old school. The surgeon I went to then was Damien Petersen whom I hold high respect for. He was tuned up with the latest techniques and was extremely knowledgeable, I then found out that I had familial polyposis which is thousands of polyps, I had about 5 tumours in the bowel to rectum and 2 tumours in the liver, prior to this we settled on a house to renovate in may, I was very fit, (I raced a pushbike) I thought I had a hemmaroid and maybe ibs my gp who I cycle with thought it may be a good idea to have a check as I'm nearly at the age they reccomend it. I was 38. I went on oxalyplatin xeloda for 3 mths then had a break for surgery after much debate between my oncologist, bowel surgeon and recommended nick o'rourke (who's father was a brilliant dr) they did the liver surgery first. I kept riding up to this point and had a week in hospital in late sept then in mid dec I had my whole bowel removed and now have an ileo bag they did all this via lap surgery. Went back on chemo oxalyplatin xeloda and now avastin I got back on my bike in feb finding I had lost some fitness....can't work out why.... must be chemo brain.
I ride when I feel ok which is 1-5 times a month I'm able to do my favorite ride on sat which is about 50k and includes a coffee shop visit the others are about 30k. My fiancé to which I'm eternally grateful to who has supported me through all of this and cried nearly every day ( if I ever saw it I would say my head hurts from the shovel and I'm suffocating from the dirt... Stop it I'm not going to die this is just like a bad flu) Katie has got me up on water skis at Easter. I got NED in may and am having another scan next month.. I still don't think I will die and am almost fully recovered. Ps we finished our Reno and have sold ( I did what I could between chemo sickness and surgery we had some help and i slept a lot, we did a full makeover kitchen, bathroom, floor, paint and I built a deck, I started on that after surgery) DON'T GIVE UP ON ANYTHING!!! FIND YOUR INSPIRATION AND KEEP YOUR MOJO!!

Stage 4
Dx Stage 4 April 2009 with metasastic disease to colon, liver and lungs. Had primary tumour removed. Completed chemo -oxil,zeloda, avastin and erbiutx. Kept tumours under control but from Nov 2011 increased met disease evident. No further treatment and enjoying quality life, having symptom management. Currently under Silver chain home nursing and NO MORE hospitals. Have decided to die at home under peaceful settings and with loved ones around me...

Best wishes to all....Andrew

There is nothing worse......

Than answering a post to those that are deceased.

This is an old, old thread....... Please check dates before responding?

Best wishes,

John