stage iv survivors?
john
Comments
-
This graph may give you some hope
mCRC Survival by Year of DX
It tracks survival by year of diagnoses. The study was in 2009, and at the moment, is the most up to date report I have come across.
You should hear from Phil and Craig, among others, who have made it well past the five year mark.
There are other factors that can improve those odds, or reduce them, but none of us are doctors and we should not be giving you a prognosis.
Good luck,
Blake0 -
Hi John,
I am writing you
Hi John,
I am writing you from the hospital,my husband just had liver resection last Wednesday in Madison Wi. When first dxed in our small town the doc was quick to tell us that it was terminal and that it would be two years (some less, some more). I want you too know that I sat in the post surgery room with my husband's children and one of the best liver surgeons I know of and she told us that we could see a cure. I almost jumped out of my chair when she said it. I was sort of in shock but then again since dx I have had the gall to dream of a cure for him even when we were told it wouldn't happen, that we need a miracle.
I do the same thing you are doing now from time to time... I try to imagine what the future might bring. The thing you need to be able to do is regognize when it's a time of feeling down and know that there will an "up" before you know it. I know what it feels like to be afraid, the thing that helps me is prayer. Sometimes I feel like I am so afraid that I forget to pray but that is alright, I believe GOD knows my heart and knows what I need.
I don't know what your faith is but I will be saying a prayer for you to find comfort and strength. Sometimes I wonder why I let myself go to the dark places I go but then again it just makes me realize how much I have, that I don't want to lose. It sounds like you have a lot to live for, I pray that you do just that everyday.
God's blessing to you!
Brenda0 -
Preparing to do Battle
John,
Everyone who has been diagnosed with cancer feel just as you are feeling today. But Fear is not our friend. For me I needed to reach deep and muster all the courage, and hope I could, in order to prepare for chemo. Also for me it was preparing for all possibilities. My husband and I completed our wills, trusts, estate planning, and medical directives and then I was ready to do battle. I also had the priest give me the anointing of the sick with the words; courage, hope, and health. These became my prayer words. I used these prayerful words all through chemo anytime I felt the fear. I imagined those pacman eating the cancer cells when I felt the worst during chemo. I used these prayer words with each scan.
Now I try to take it one step at a time. I learned from those on this board how to take one step at a time, one test at a time, one scan at a time with hope.
Sending my prayers: Courage, Hope, and Health.
NB0 -
John -
Overall, cancer (all types of cancer combined), has a 25% survival rate.
That statistic has not changed in nearly 40 years. Stage four colon
cancer is usually considered to provide us with a 2% survival rate.
Diagnosis is being made earlier thanks to modern technology,
but medical treatment (chemo, etc) has not advanced enough to
be of serious value.
It's great to have folks telling us that there is great renewed hope
for longevity, and how far the industry has advanced in the fight
against cancer, but the facts simply do not bear their beliefs out.
The statistics have not changed, although the time from first
diagnosis to one's final hours, has. As a Norweigian study
had once pointed out.... we're not "living longer", we're just
being diagnosed sooner.
Although a search through the archives here will indicate the
amount of individuals that are no longer able to post.... And
although the percentages of those that have died, versus those
that remain, should be noted and compared to the real statistics..
It should not be reason to give up hope; it should be reason to
plan ahead for what is considered to be the inevitable, but never
to dispel hope!
Most of us had not considered writing a will prior to our diagnosis.
Having an attorney lead you through the all the legal tangles of
real-estate transfer, motor vehicle, bank and credit contracts, etc,
will make life easier for your survivors during their difficult time
of sorrow and grief.
Insuring that our loved ones are well provided for, is something that
we usually overlook doing until we have little time left, so do it now!
As far as building confidence and hope for your own longevity?
Click on the names of those that have been here the longest
and read their profiles and what course of action they've taken
for survival.
A lot has to do with "luck"....... and.... a lot has to do with proper
treatment. Some long-timers here have oncologists that are treating
their cancer as a "chronic disease", and they have lived long lives
thanks to the knowledge and expertise of those oncologists.
Others here have taken "alternate routes"......
You have to have to have the will to survive against all odds;
you were given that will and ability at birth.... You have to learn
to listen carefully to your inner being and common sense; it is
your survival instinct talking to you. Only -you- can hear it's
words, and only -you- should make your choices accordingly.
You'll do OK, John. Take a real deep breath and believe in
yourself to make the right choices.
My best wishes to you,
John230 -
So many factors come intoJohn23 said:John -
Overall, cancer (all types of cancer combined), has a 25% survival rate.
That statistic has not changed in nearly 40 years. Stage four colon
cancer is usually considered to provide us with a 2% survival rate.
Diagnosis is being made earlier thanks to modern technology,
but medical treatment (chemo, etc) has not advanced enough to
be of serious value.
It's great to have folks telling us that there is great renewed hope
for longevity, and how far the industry has advanced in the fight
against cancer, but the facts simply do not bear their beliefs out.
The statistics have not changed, although the time from first
diagnosis to one's final hours, has. As a Norweigian study
had once pointed out.... we're not "living longer", we're just
being diagnosed sooner.
Although a search through the archives here will indicate the
amount of individuals that are no longer able to post.... And
although the percentages of those that have died, versus those
that remain, should be noted and compared to the real statistics..
It should not be reason to give up hope; it should be reason to
plan ahead for what is considered to be the inevitable, but never
to dispel hope!
Most of us had not considered writing a will prior to our diagnosis.
Having an attorney lead you through the all the legal tangles of
real-estate transfer, motor vehicle, bank and credit contracts, etc,
will make life easier for your survivors during their difficult time
of sorrow and grief.
Insuring that our loved ones are well provided for, is something that
we usually overlook doing until we have little time left, so do it now!
As far as building confidence and hope for your own longevity?
Click on the names of those that have been here the longest
and read their profiles and what course of action they've taken
for survival.
A lot has to do with "luck"....... and.... a lot has to do with proper
treatment. Some long-timers here have oncologists that are treating
their cancer as a "chronic disease", and they have lived long lives
thanks to the knowledge and expertise of those oncologists.
Others here have taken "alternate routes"......
You have to have to have the will to survive against all odds;
you were given that will and ability at birth.... You have to learn
to listen carefully to your inner being and common sense; it is
your survival instinct talking to you. Only -you- can hear it's
words, and only -you- should make your choices accordingly.
You'll do OK, John. Take a real deep breath and believe in
yourself to make the right choices.
My best wishes to you,
John23
So many factors come into play....luck, yes....some are very lucky finding a doctor who will perform all kinds of procedures, giving a variety of drugs to battle, luck in how your body responds to these treatments is a huge factor. Phil is a great example of someone who has a great doc. and good response to the treatments. Others have done alternatives and have a great response. Who knows. Wishing you all the best.0 -
WTF (Where's The Facts?)John23 said:John -
Overall, cancer (all types of cancer combined), has a 25% survival rate.
That statistic has not changed in nearly 40 years. Stage four colon
cancer is usually considered to provide us with a 2% survival rate.
Diagnosis is being made earlier thanks to modern technology,
but medical treatment (chemo, etc) has not advanced enough to
be of serious value.
It's great to have folks telling us that there is great renewed hope
for longevity, and how far the industry has advanced in the fight
against cancer, but the facts simply do not bear their beliefs out.
The statistics have not changed, although the time from first
diagnosis to one's final hours, has. As a Norweigian study
had once pointed out.... we're not "living longer", we're just
being diagnosed sooner.
Although a search through the archives here will indicate the
amount of individuals that are no longer able to post.... And
although the percentages of those that have died, versus those
that remain, should be noted and compared to the real statistics..
It should not be reason to give up hope; it should be reason to
plan ahead for what is considered to be the inevitable, but never
to dispel hope!
Most of us had not considered writing a will prior to our diagnosis.
Having an attorney lead you through the all the legal tangles of
real-estate transfer, motor vehicle, bank and credit contracts, etc,
will make life easier for your survivors during their difficult time
of sorrow and grief.
Insuring that our loved ones are well provided for, is something that
we usually overlook doing until we have little time left, so do it now!
As far as building confidence and hope for your own longevity?
Click on the names of those that have been here the longest
and read their profiles and what course of action they've taken
for survival.
A lot has to do with "luck"....... and.... a lot has to do with proper
treatment. Some long-timers here have oncologists that are treating
their cancer as a "chronic disease", and they have lived long lives
thanks to the knowledge and expertise of those oncologists.
Others here have taken "alternate routes"......
You have to have to have the will to survive against all odds;
you were given that will and ability at birth.... You have to learn
to listen carefully to your inner being and common sense; it is
your survival instinct talking to you. Only -you- can hear it's
words, and only -you- should make your choices accordingly.
You'll do OK, John. Take a real deep breath and believe in
yourself to make the right choices.
My best wishes to you,
John23
People have done VERY WELL with advances in medicine...
John23, How/where/why do you post incorrect information?
P0 -
Okay, so after being on thisPhillieG said:WTF (Where's The Facts?)
People have done VERY WELL with advances in medicine...
John23, How/where/why do you post incorrect information?
P
Okay, so after being on this site I went on to the Colon Club Forum to read...someone posted an article from The Toronto Star....hey this is in my neck of the woods...goes on to talk about liver surgeons....there is a man they highlight his story, he had liver cancer, told it's terminal months to live, he did chemo. the tumor didn't shrink, it didn't grow, his wife incorporated diet changes....9 years later, YES 9 YEARS, he came across a surgeon who could cut out his terminal tumor in his liver.....so what came into play here....the surgeon cannot explain if it was residual effects of the chemo, whether diet played into it. Anyhow you can go to Colon Club forum and read it for yourself, quite interesting. I'm glad I found it, I needed this lift.0 -
Loveya', Phil. You knowPhillieG said:WTF (Where's The Facts?)
People have done VERY WELL with advances in medicine...
John23, How/where/why do you post incorrect information?
P
Loveya', Phil. You know that.
Those statistics I posted are as accurate and as up-to-date
as possible. I had posted links to the sites (.org, .net) numerous
times, and I'll opt to let you dig them out.
It's easy to get carried away with "statistics", Phil. It's like religion
or politics, there are facts, and there are "embellished facts", as
well as total fabrications.....
The industry would like patients to believe that there have
been remarkable advances and much reason to continue to
support the sciences involved ($$$). But lately the oncologists's
associations are speaking out and denouncing the industry's
fabricated "statistics".
To give false hope to individuals by telling them that
cancer is curable, and that new chemicals will provide them with
some profound amount of survival time, is more careless and
thoughtless than providing them with truth and insight.
People; cancer patients, need to know the real odds. Cancer
patients need to know what they're up against. This isn't some
sort of an adventure that romantic, comforting notions should
lead one down their path.
Yes, It's swell to give hope: "everything's going to be fine";
"there's a new cure for this any day now"...... but it's false hope.
This disease kills, Phil. It kills on a daily basis, and so far there
is no known cure.
A diagnosis should be sobering and a time to come to one's
senses regarding mortality.
I prefer to provide that sobering event, than pat the victim's head
and smile reassuringly.
Life is short; shorter for some of us, than others.... Being aware
of our own mortality may not be easy to face, but there comes
a time when it must be done.
My very best wishes for your continued good health.
John0 -
chiming in...John23 said:Loveya', Phil. You know
Loveya', Phil. You know that.
Those statistics I posted are as accurate and as up-to-date
as possible. I had posted links to the sites (.org, .net) numerous
times, and I'll opt to let you dig them out.
It's easy to get carried away with "statistics", Phil. It's like religion
or politics, there are facts, and there are "embellished facts", as
well as total fabrications.....
The industry would like patients to believe that there have
been remarkable advances and much reason to continue to
support the sciences involved ($$$). But lately the oncologists's
associations are speaking out and denouncing the industry's
fabricated "statistics".
To give false hope to individuals by telling them that
cancer is curable, and that new chemicals will provide them with
some profound amount of survival time, is more careless and
thoughtless than providing them with truth and insight.
People; cancer patients, need to know the real odds. Cancer
patients need to know what they're up against. This isn't some
sort of an adventure that romantic, comforting notions should
lead one down their path.
Yes, It's swell to give hope: "everything's going to be fine";
"there's a new cure for this any day now"...... but it's false hope.
This disease kills, Phil. It kills on a daily basis, and so far there
is no known cure.
A diagnosis should be sobering and a time to come to one's
senses regarding mortality.
I prefer to provide that sobering event, than pat the victim's head
and smile reassuringly.
Life is short; shorter for some of us, than others.... Being aware
of our own mortality may not be easy to face, but there comes
a time when it must be done.
My very best wishes for your continued good health.
John
I dunno John...I've seen enough empirical evidence to prove that cancer does not always win. More than 25 percent...and enough to give me 100% hope.0 -
tommycattommycat said:chiming in...
I dunno John...I've seen enough empirical evidence to prove that cancer does not always win. More than 25 percent...and enough to give me 100% hope.
None of us should ever lose any amount of hope; this isn't
about striking intense fear and causing lost hope.
We can not -ever- win -any- fight against -any- enemy, if we grossly
underestimate the power of that enemy.
We can do more knowing what the real facts are, than burying
our heads in the industrial sand and pretending that cancer is
fully treatable if not "beat-able".
When a DX of cancer is received, we should make our plans
for all those that will remain in our absence. Getting our papers
in order doesn't equate to giving up hope, it's just preparation
for a worse-case scenario, and something that should have
been done long before it smacked us between the eyes.
Make the plans, then fight the fight. Fighting anything is easier
when one's personal situation is organized.
The bottom line? Never, ever, lose hope.
I see individuals here giving up because they were told by their
physicians that there was nothing left to provide. No trials,
and no hope.......?
The fight shouldn't end with the failure of drugs, or herbs,
or anything else..... Hope should always remain....
Very often, it's only that hope; that drive to stay alive, that
keeps one alive.
Stay well!
John0 -
BUT....smokeyjoe said:Okay, so after being on this
Okay, so after being on this site I went on to the Colon Club Forum to read...someone posted an article from The Toronto Star....hey this is in my neck of the woods...goes on to talk about liver surgeons....there is a man they highlight his story, he had liver cancer, told it's terminal months to live, he did chemo. the tumor didn't shrink, it didn't grow, his wife incorporated diet changes....9 years later, YES 9 YEARS, he came across a surgeon who could cut out his terminal tumor in his liver.....so what came into play here....the surgeon cannot explain if it was residual effects of the chemo, whether diet played into it. Anyhow you can go to Colon Club forum and read it for yourself, quite interesting. I'm glad I found it, I needed this lift.
One day that man will die and John23 will be proven right.... PEOPLE DIE
SmokeyJoe, I'm 8 years out of my diagnosis for Stage IV CC, with a side of liver & lung mets, also lymph node involvement.
Get a good doctor at a good facility. Ask questions, get 2nd opinions.
Use your head. Enjoy life... Someday I may die from this, or get hit by a bus, or run over by some angry guy with cancer. You don't know. I DO know that after 8 years, worrying about what may or may not happen is a total waste of (my) time.
You're only a victim if you want to be one, no one can pin that turd on you but you....0 -
October 2007John23 said:tommycat
None of us should ever lose any amount of hope; this isn't
about striking intense fear and causing lost hope.
We can not -ever- win -any- fight against -any- enemy, if we grossly
underestimate the power of that enemy.
We can do more knowing what the real facts are, than burying
our heads in the industrial sand and pretending that cancer is
fully treatable if not "beat-able".
When a DX of cancer is received, we should make our plans
for all those that will remain in our absence. Getting our papers
in order doesn't equate to giving up hope, it's just preparation
for a worse-case scenario, and something that should have
been done long before it smacked us between the eyes.
Make the plans, then fight the fight. Fighting anything is easier
when one's personal situation is organized.
The bottom line? Never, ever, lose hope.
I see individuals here giving up because they were told by their
physicians that there was nothing left to provide. No trials,
and no hope.......?
The fight shouldn't end with the failure of drugs, or herbs,
or anything else..... Hope should always remain....
Very often, it's only that hope; that drive to stay alive, that
keeps one alive.
Stay well!
John
Hi John
I was diagnosed Stage 4 in October of 2007...so that was 4 years and 4 months ago. I am currently no evidence of disease and striving to enjoy each and every day. I am keeping my fingers crossed and praying that I am lucky, blessed, fortunate enough to get to my 5 year mark in good shape. Dont give up on that hope! I havent
Dawn0 -
Another Stage 4 survivor
I wanted to wait until after today's CT scan to respond to this thread. I was dx'ed with stage 4 rectal cancer with metastatis to liver in Sept/Oct 2009. I was operable and had FOLFOX regimen, radiation, 2 surgeries, more FOLFOX, ending Sept 2010. As of today, NED. Prepare for the worse, but have hope and give it your best shot with exercise & modification of diet. Control blood sugar, control inflammation, boost immunity. Get to a top-level institution. It's possible it's just luck, but these seem to have made a difference for me.0 -
Another long term here
John,
I am an 8 year survivor of Stage 4 CC diagnosed in February 2004 at age 41. Afetr surgery, RFA and chemo I was NED for 6+ years with a recuurence in my liver in 2010. I had a liver resection in January of 2011 and finished my second round of chemo in Oct. 2011. I am very fortunate to once again be NED. BTW - in February 2004 I was given 1 1/2 to 2 years, but here it is 8 years later and I will be here to see my oldest son graduate from high school in June!
Take care John.
Mike1 -
Why such a big difference between 2003-2004?Buckwirth said:This graph may give you some hope
mCRC Survival by Year of DX
It tracks survival by year of diagnoses. The study was in 2009, and at the moment, is the most up to date report I have come across.
You should hear from Phil and Craig, among others, who have made it well past the five year mark.
There are other factors that can improve those odds, or reduce them, but none of us are doctors and we should not be giving you a prognosis.
Good luck,
Blake
Hugs.0 -
phillieg.... great post!PhillieG said:BUT....
One day that man will die and John23 will be proven right.... PEOPLE DIE
SmokeyJoe, I'm 8 years out of my diagnosis for Stage IV CC, with a side of liver & lung mets, also lymph node involvement.
Get a good doctor at a good facility. Ask questions, get 2nd opinions.
Use your head. Enjoy life... Someday I may die from this, or get hit by a bus, or run over by some angry guy with cancer. You don't know. I DO know that after 8 years, worrying about what may or may not happen is a total waste of (my) time.
You're only a victim if you want to be one, no one can pin that turd on you but you....
Thanks Phillieg!
Excellent post.
congrats on 8 years. You are inspiration for me and others.
I'm only 8 weeks into this, but after comparable CT scan last week, things are looking up.
No NEW cancer. And, current mets in liver have reduced greatly.
For my first time, i have VERY uplifting and encouraging news.
Others... Phillieg is right, be positive. Take control of you health and don't forget to have fun and pull your family and fiends closer to you.
and... lastly, build your faith.
I never thought i'd say this, but my life is better today than it was 6 months ago... even though now i have (or know i have) Cancer, and am in the battle.
Let's all fight and encourage each other.
yes, that John guy is right... it never hurts to have a wil and be prepared... but healthy people do that.
my best
Joe0 -
Mike --- UdaMan!mikew42 said:Another long term here
John,
I am an 8 year survivor of Stage 4 CC diagnosed in February 2004 at age 41. Afetr surgery, RFA and chemo I was NED for 6+ years with a recuurence in my liver in 2010. I had a liver resection in January of 2011 and finished my second round of chemo in Oct. 2011. I am very fortunate to once again be NED. BTW - in February 2004 I was given 1 1/2 to 2 years, but here it is 8 years later and I will be here to see my oldest son graduate from high school in June!
Take care John.
Mike
Mike
thanks for sharing your note.
you are inspiration.
thanks for being here, you made my day!
THANK YOU!
joe0 -
Interesting graph...Buckwirth said:This graph may give you some hope
mCRC Survival by Year of DX
It tracks survival by year of diagnoses. The study was in 2009, and at the moment, is the most up to date report I have come across.
You should hear from Phil and Craig, among others, who have made it well past the five year mark.
There are other factors that can improve those odds, or reduce them, but none of us are doctors and we should not be giving you a prognosis.
Good luck,
Blake
Blake, the graph is interesting, but does not include people who have had liver resection. Including them would make a dramatic and favorable difference for stage IV cc patients.0 -
liver resectionVarmint5 said:Interesting graph...
Blake, the graph is interesting, but does not include people who have had liver resection. Including them would make a dramatic and favorable difference for stage IV cc patients.
true, but only a fraction of Stage IV get resection, so it needs to be separated out as its own graph. My wif as a stage IV does no yet know if she will be a candidate for surgery..0
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