10 year old colon cancer survivor

msccolon
msccolon Member Posts: 1,917
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Yea, is that not the WORST thing you have ever heard? My daughter is doing a sociology internship and was at a children's hospital cancer ward. The onc's didn't know what to do with this poor child at first, treatments for colon cancer are designed for adults! So far he's hanging in there, but I cried when I heard.

mary

Comments

  • lcarper2
    lcarper2 Member Posts: 635
    #2
    10 yr old
    OMG what are they going to treat him with...I never heard of anyone that young with colon cancer...
  • geotina
    geotina Member Posts: 2,111
    #3
    10 years old
    Mary that is so sad, only 10 years old. There is a caring bridge site I check in on and that young gal is only 20 with Stage IV colorectal cancer, mets to liver, is having an awful time, in and out of the hospital and the chemo is sooo bad on her. When her mom writes that Ashley is having a good day, went out with friends, you can just see her tears in her writing that she is so happy Ashley can do things her friends are doing, that is usually followed a few days later by "had to take Ashley to the hospital again." Tina
  • dianetavegia
    dianetavegia Member Posts: 1,942
    #4
    geotina said:

    10 years old
    Mary that is so sad, only 10 years old. There is a caring bridge site I check in on and that young gal is only 20 with Stage IV colorectal cancer, mets to liver, is having an awful time, in and out of the hospital and the chemo is sooo bad on her. When her mom writes that Ashley is having a good day, went out with friends, you can just see her tears in her writing that she is so happy Ashley can do things her friends are doing, that is usually followed a few days later by "had to take Ashley to the hospital again." Tina

    7th Grader at the local middle school
    The gym teacher told me about her.
  • kristasplace
    kristasplace Member Posts: 955
    #5
    Wow!
    This illness used to only strike the very old. Now we're getting younger and younger. I wonder if it's striking us younger because of all the cooking we do in aluminum? Maybe it's just the over polluted environment in general? I wish they'd figure it out! This is just so sad.
  • dianetavegia
    dianetavegia Member Posts: 1,942
    #6
    Folic Acid
    I suspect it's folic acid. Folic acid, not FOLATE which is found naturally in foods, has been shown to cause cc tumors and polyps to grow. Pregnant? Here, take this folic acid for 10 months to prevent spina bifida! Cereals and breads are 'fortified'. Energy bars contain 'folic acid'....

    Spina Bifida: United States, the average incidence is 0.7 per 1000 live births.
  • dianetavegia
    dianetavegia Member Posts: 1,942
    #7
    Info folic acid
    Written by Heinz-Josef Lenz, MD.

    Only about five years ago, every patient of mine who finished chemotherapy was given a vitamin cocktail to further reduce colon cancer risk. It was calcium, selenium, vitamin E and folic acid.

    Over the last three years, folic acid has been shown to increase growth of polyps, and in patients with metastatic disease it may shorten life. The protective value of vitamin E has been questioned, and there was evidence that it might increase prostate cancer risk. Selenium did not show benefit.

  • geotina
    geotina Member Posts: 2,111
    #8
    dianetavegia said:

    Info folic acid
    Written by Heinz-Josef Lenz, MD.

    Only about five years ago, every patient of mine who finished chemotherapy was given a vitamin cocktail to further reduce colon cancer risk. It was calcium, selenium, vitamin E and folic acid.

    Over the last three years, folic acid has been shown to increase growth of polyps, and in patients with metastatic disease it may shorten life. The protective value of vitamin E has been questioned, and there was evidence that it might increase prostate cancer risk. Selenium did not show benefit.

    Leucovorin
    I thought Leucovorin was a form of folic acid? It was/is part of George's chemo cocktail so now I am really confused. Tina
  • dianetavegia
    dianetavegia Member Posts: 1,942
    #9
    geotina said:

    Leucovorin
    I thought Leucovorin was a form of folic acid? It was/is part of George's chemo cocktail so now I am really confused. Tina

    Yes but....
    Folate is found in foods and is very good for us.
    Folinic acid (INN) or leucovorin (USAN), generally administered as calcium or sodium folinate (or leucovorin calcium/sodium), is an adjuvant used in cancer chemotherapy involving the drug methotrexate.[1] It is also used in synergistic combination with the chemotherapy agent 5-fluorouracil.

    Levofolinic acid and its salts are the enantiopure drugs. They are configurated S at the remaining asymmetric carbon atom (see below).

    Folinic acid should be distinguished from folic acid.

  • msccolon
    msccolon Member Posts: 1,917
    #10
    and stage IV
    sorry, I forgot to post that as well. Unbelievable. My daughter didn't have any treatment details, as she isn't part of the treatment team.
  • tootsie1
    tootsie1 Member Posts: 5,044 Member
    #11
    Oh, no.
    Oh, my God. That is terrible. Please let us know how this goes, although I fear I know the outcome.

    *hugs*
    Gail
  • k1
    k1 Member Posts: 220
    #12
    dianetavegia said:

    Info folic acid
    Written by Heinz-Josef Lenz, MD.

    Only about five years ago, every patient of mine who finished chemotherapy was given a vitamin cocktail to further reduce colon cancer risk. It was calcium, selenium, vitamin E and folic acid.

    Over the last three years, folic acid has been shown to increase growth of polyps, and in patients with metastatic disease it may shorten life. The protective value of vitamin E has been questioned, and there was evidence that it might increase prostate cancer risk. Selenium did not show benefit.

    the day I read that . . .
    The day I read that info that you quoted on the C-3 site I threw out two bottles of folic acid supplements. They had been recommended as a protection against heart disease.... There is a lot of good information on the C 3 site for colon cancer patients!

    K1
  • dorookie
    dorookie Member Posts: 1,731
    #13
    I cant believe it
    How horrible, I couldnt handle it at 38, what this poor child must have gone through.

    BTW, How are you Msccolon?

    *HUG*
    Beth
  • Nana b
    Nana b Member Posts: 3,030
    #14
    dorookie said:

    I cant believe it
    How horrible, I couldnt handle it at 38, what this poor child must have gone through.

    BTW, How are you Msccolon?

    *HUG*
    Beth

    Diet, Excercise?? Genes?
    The book I'm listening to talks about children with cancer. He says that studies show that there is too much fat in formula and the milk from cows who aren't grazed on grass is a culprit too. The cows aren't that healthy. Then throw in the bad diet of some children...a lot of then are raised on Taco Bell and McDonalds. No fruits, no vegetables, no exercise, no sun light......the list goes on.

    This is really sad!!
  • msccolon
    msccolon Member Posts: 1,917
    #15
    Nana b said:

    Diet, Excercise?? Genes?
    The book I'm listening to talks about children with cancer. He says that studies show that there is too much fat in formula and the milk from cows who aren't grazed on grass is a culprit too. The cows aren't that healthy. Then throw in the bad diet of some children...a lot of then are raised on Taco Bell and McDonalds. No fruits, no vegetables, no exercise, no sun light......the list goes on.

    This is really sad!!

    Taco Bell and McDonalds
    What are you saying? Taco Bell and McDonalds aren't good for you? ;) I don't eat fast food very often, but when I do it's either taco bell or a big mac! :) My younguns NEVER ate fast food, however, cause I was very OCD about what I let them eat and what I DIDN'T let them eat! They had no idea what a little debbie snack was when they first started into after school care and all the other kids were eating them! In fact I was very OCD about my diet and exercise until after my 2nd recurrence of the beast! Now I don't beat myself up over what I allow myself to eat or what I don't allow myself to eat! Thankfully a life time of avoiding fast food has left me rarely even considering that stuff even mildly consumable! For that matter, I'm not a big fan of meat either, although hardly a vegetarian! I remember the first time my youngest got some steak, she was chewing and chewing and chewing. Finally I had to explain that meat doesn't dissolve in the mouth the way other foods do; she had to chew at it the best she could then just swallow and hope for the best! AAAGGGGHHH!!!! Needless to say, it wasn't served again for quite some time!

    I have to agree with you, for the MAJORITY of people, what we put into our bodies and have for our entire lives, can affect our likelihood of getting a multitude of diseases. HOWEVER, you have to also admit that despite some of our best efforts, some of us get these diseases anyhow and we have to stop the madness now! We have to stop telling ourselves that IF ONLY we had done better, IF ONLY we do better, IF ONLY ... There are some things we can do to make our bodies stronger, and it just makes sense. But just as in the application of traditional western medicine, there has to be a balance.

    mary
  • victory10
    victory10 Member Posts: 75
    #16
    k1 said:

    the day I read that . . .
    The day I read that info that you quoted on the C-3 site I threw out two bottles of folic acid supplements. They had been recommended as a protection against heart disease.... There is a lot of good information on the C 3 site for colon cancer patients!

    K1

    c 3 site
    where is the c-3 site link? I would like to read it. Thanks!
  • sfmarie
    sfmarie Member Posts: 602
    #17
    msccolon said:

    Taco Bell and McDonalds
    What are you saying? Taco Bell and McDonalds aren't good for you? ;) I don't eat fast food very often, but when I do it's either taco bell or a big mac! :) My younguns NEVER ate fast food, however, cause I was very OCD about what I let them eat and what I DIDN'T let them eat! They had no idea what a little debbie snack was when they first started into after school care and all the other kids were eating them! In fact I was very OCD about my diet and exercise until after my 2nd recurrence of the beast! Now I don't beat myself up over what I allow myself to eat or what I don't allow myself to eat! Thankfully a life time of avoiding fast food has left me rarely even considering that stuff even mildly consumable! For that matter, I'm not a big fan of meat either, although hardly a vegetarian! I remember the first time my youngest got some steak, she was chewing and chewing and chewing. Finally I had to explain that meat doesn't dissolve in the mouth the way other foods do; she had to chew at it the best she could then just swallow and hope for the best! AAAGGGGHHH!!!! Needless to say, it wasn't served again for quite some time!

    I have to agree with you, for the MAJORITY of people, what we put into our bodies and have for our entire lives, can affect our likelihood of getting a multitude of diseases. HOWEVER, you have to also admit that despite some of our best efforts, some of us get these diseases anyhow and we have to stop the madness now! We have to stop telling ourselves that IF ONLY we had done better, IF ONLY we do better, IF ONLY ... There are some things we can do to make our bodies stronger, and it just makes sense. But just as in the application of traditional western medicine, there has to be a balance.

    mary

    Let me add
    That my sister was a marathon runner, non-smoker, non-drinker, ate organic everything and had a VERY healthy diet. She is battling stage IV cc, age 39. And yet, you see smokers, drinkers and overweight people that do not have cancer.
  • dorookie
    dorookie Member Posts: 1,731
    #18
    sfmarie said:

    Let me add
    That my sister was a marathon runner, non-smoker, non-drinker, ate organic everything and had a VERY healthy diet. She is battling stage IV cc, age 39. And yet, you see smokers, drinkers and overweight people that do not have cancer.

    I just dont understand
    But I guess we have to stop the WHAT IF's! I have struggled alot with the why me's too, its a nasty cycle. I dont think we will ever really know why or how one person gets the cancer or not.

    Beth

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