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Hello -

I am a newbie to this so I hope you all are patient with me...I am a very frightened wife of a husband who has metastatic rectal cancer to the liver and now lung.

In 11/2005, 3 months after my mother passed away from breast cancer and ultimately pancreatic cancer, my husband was diagnosed with rectal cancer.  He underwent 25 treatments of continuous 5FU with radiation therapy.  That was a long haul.  The tiredness, sluggishness, lack of eating, etc. but he got through that. 

In 2/2006, he had removal of the rectum which was not an easy surgery in that the tumor had gone through the rectal wall and the surgeon had to basically hollow out his pelvis down to the bone.  He had a permanent colostomy placed.  He also lost 6 units of blood during the surgery.  He was hospitalized for 16 days and we were told that it was in 16 lymph nodes.  At the time, we were not told by our surgeon that the first possible place for rectal cancer to spread was the liver. 

I brought him home to care for him and had visiting nurses coming in to do dressing changes as he had an open rectal wound.

In 4/2006, he was found to be dehydrated and was admitted and had a antibiotic resistant infection in the wound.  The infectious disease doctors came up with basically a new drug for him to use and that seemed to clear the infection up. But while undergoing CT scanning on this hospital stay, he was found to have liver METs.

The oncologist that we were seeing suggested going to Memorial Sloan-Kettering for a second opinion.  That we did.  However, we were very disappointed in the way that the physician was handling his disease and we found another more caring oncologist to continue with his care. 

The two physicians (oncologist and Sloan doctor) spoke and came up with a plan of action for the liver treatment.  He has been through FOLFOX, FOLFURI with Avastin and Camptosar.  There was improvement with the Avastin, however, he had pulmonary embolus in the right lung and they stopped the Avastin and he had a Greenfield Filter put in to prevent further clots from passing through.  He was having good results with the oxaliplatin however the neuropathy was starting and the doctor felt that if continued it could cause long term problems. 

In April, 2007, he underwent intraarterial hepatic pump placement.  He had 3 months of 5-week cycles of FUDR, Heparin, 3-weeks of 5FU.

On 8/15/07, we just found out that there was slight improvment in the liver tumors but now he has tiny tumors in the right lower lobe of the lung. 

We are seeing our oncologist on 8/28/07 and from what I understand they are going to do systemic chemotherapy alternating with the liver pump using heparin and FUDR.

I am really scared.  If you looked at him, you wouldn't even think he was ill.  He feels good.  His stamina is up and he wants to return to work. 

Is there anyone out there that can shed some light on this for me.  I don't have much in the way of close family except for a brother and he is 2 hours away.  We have neighbors and a few friends that come by from time-to-time but we feel like people just don't want to bother with us becaue of him.

Sorry to go on and on but it actually felt pretty good just getting it off my chest.

Thank you.

Kathy

I have Stage IV colon cancer with mets to the liver.  I found out in July of '04. 

I had an HAI pump installed from Medtronic to pump FUDR/Heparin same as your husband.  I love my pump.  It had little side effects.  It bothered me, not in pain, but bothered me when it was pressed.  Since it was by my appendix, I learned to turn slightly when someone hugged me.  I had to watch when I got out of a car that my pump didn't hit the steering wheel.

Anyway, I had no side effects from the pump.  It worked great for me.  I've had no evidence of disease since my liver resection in September of '04. 

I'm glad you went to Sloan.  I went to the best doctors in my city, and they gave me no hope.  I went to a top cancer hospital, and ta da, I'm here.   

>Is there anyone out there that can shed some light on this for me.

What would you like to know specifically.  I am very verbose and love to talk about my cancer.  So, if you could narrow it down for me, that would be great.   

Hello -

I guess what I meant to say is besides the obvious treatments such as 5FU, FUDR, FOLFOX, FOLFURI are there any new medications that are known to give a better result.  I have been reading up on Xeloda do you know much about that drug?

You mentioned you had a liver resection - how extensive was your liver disease.  My husband's is in both lobes of the liver some tumors measuring more than an 1" in size.  We were told that ablation wouldn't be of benefit now since he has the disease in the lung.

 I know there is no miracle cure for this it is just that we have been through so much in the past 3-4 years with my mom and now my husband that we need a break.  Do you know what I mean?

I am very glad to hear that you have had success with the pump.  Do you only get FUDR and Heparin.  My husband was on a 5-week cycle of FUDR, Heparin, and then 3 weeks of 5FU.  He has done relatively well with the pump with the exception of the weeks that he gets 5FU then the diarrhea sets in.  Other than that, he has been okay with it.  Concise of bumping, the heat, and you are absolutely right about the pain while being pressed on.  Today was a good example of that he had to get Heparin in his pump and it took 3 nurses and 5 needle sticks to get in to fill.  That is the worst part.

 Thanks for replying - I really didn't know what to expect I have never "chatted" before.  But it is very good to know that people are out there with the same situation and that we are not alone in this.

Thank you.

Dear KATHY,

Please read my reply to Terry concerning fatigue after chemo,  I think it could help all.  I am so saddened to hear of your husband and others.  My husband was diagnosed at 34 with stage 3 rectal cancer.  He is just completing the radiation and chemo.  I will pray for you.  One of the worst things about cancer is that the treatments are poison.  Please read my message.  I believe it will offer some hope. 

Arielle