Chemo Failed

My partner was diagnosed with small cell rectal cancer in January, and it had spread somewhat to the liver at that point.  Two different regimens of chemo (carboplatin/Etoposide, and Topotecan) both failed and it has spread to his lymph nodes and some to his lung.  We're terrified and the doctors in Kansas City say no hope. 

Does anyone know of something that we don't know of or haven't tried?  Our oncologist was "less than aggressive" in his treatments I believe, and now time is of the essence.  We're going to Cancer Treatment Centers of America on Monday but we don't know what, if anything, they may have to offer.  Please help if you can, and God Bless all of you.

Bruce

On 6/26/2008 Beauchev wrote:

My partner was diagnosed with small cell rectal cancer in January, and it had spread somewhat to the liver at that point.  Two different regimens of chemo (carboplatin/Etoposide, and Topotecan) both failed and it has spread to his lymph nodes and some to his lung.  We're terrified and the doctors in Kansas City say no hope. 

Does anyone know of something that we don't know of or haven't tried?  Our oncologist was "less than aggressive" in his treatments I believe, and now time is of the essence.  We're going to Cancer Treatment Centers of America on Monday but we don't know what, if anything, they may have to offer.  Please help if you can, and God Bless all of you.

 

Bruce

 

 

Bruce, I think you're doing the right thing by going to Cancer Treatment Centers of America.  We called them, but because they are out of network for our insurance, we couldn't go.  If we need further treatment for my husband's small cell lc I'm going to call Huntsman Cancer Institute which I believe is in Utah.  They are non-profit.  When my husband's cancer spread to his bones, the doctor told him he has 6--9 months.  We've passed the 6 month mark and my husband's last PET showed no new growth.  We'll have another PET in September.  I get so angry at doctors putting a time limit on life, but I think they just go by statistics, so try to ignore those numbers.  It's my understanding the Cancer Institute of America does wonderful things and when we talked to them, they don't give up.  I just wish they were a non-profit also as they have one in Chicago which is closer to us than Utah.  Keep us posted.

My mom had small cell lung cancer metastacized to the liver.  Her second line of treatment was very effective for ten cycles and it was a trial drug called amrubicin.  Go to clinicaltrials.gov and look for research studies involving that drug. Very few side effects compared to her first round with cisplatin and etoposide.  It is in in the third phase of the trials which is the last phase before it gets approved  by the FDA....so it is helping a lot of people and has passed several tests already. 

Hope you can find something that helps........I would advise doing your own reseach at clinicaltrials.gov because the clinicians you meet at any research facility will definitely be looking for people that "fit" the guidelines for their particular studies.  So if you have more info about other trials out there, you can ask the right questions and consider trials that may be currently being offered by other clinicians in the same facility.