Stage 4 Colon Cancer And Living The Dream

I was diagnosed with Colon Cancer and operated on in July of '01. The Oncologist told me I have stage 4 cancer and there was a lesion on my liver when they opened me up. I was told by the surgeon that he removed it during surgery.

I was convinced I was going to die so I kept my distance from people. I couldn't stand the thought of them crying over me as I got worse. I also couldn't stand the thought of the pain they would experience once I left this world. They being my husband, my 5 children, my father, 2 brothers and 3 sisters, my friends and the people I serve with at my church.

In '05 my Oncologist said I was ready to get my mediport removed but first he wanted me to have a PET scan. The scan showed a tumor at the original sight of the metastacy on the liver. So, more chemo of course!  The chemo shrunk the tumor out of exsistence.

At that news I had an epiphany. I could have died in a car accident during those past 3 years. I could have developed an illness (besides cancer) that could have killed me. I could have had a stroke, a heart attack, anything could have taken my life during those 3 years besides the cancer. I decided I was going to live everyday as if it were my last day here on earth. I was going to embrace the world, my world, my family, friends and co-workers, the little boys next door, the cashier at the grocery store, everyone, everyday, to the fullest.

Sloan-Kettering was following my metastacy sight. Last week they found something growing at the original sight again. They're talking liver resection and chemo. I was told about the HAI chemo pump implantation and it sounds right to me. My surgeon is 50/50 about the treatment, my Oncologist isn't very supportive of it (why should he be? chemo pump - no biweekly treatments.) I understand the side effects are minimal in comparison to the year I slept (because of chemo treatment).

I'll let you know how things pan out. I'll keep a post here once a week to update you on my treatment and progress. Should be interesting - No?

Peace Out

Good morning,

My daughter was just diagnosed with colon cancer.   We are seeing the doctor tomorrow to see all of the results.

We are so confused on what to do,where should we go, which Doctor should we get to do the surgery and treatment.  And what is the best treatment?

I want to get her the very best and latest treatments available.    

Very discouraging... I am not finding any success stories on the internet  

Any suggestions?  Any hope?

please help. 

Good for you!  My husband was diagnosed 5 weeks ago with Stage IV esophageal cancer and given 6 mos. to 1 year.  He is choosing to ignore the prognosis and live like he is going to be around 10 years from now, not moping and whining about dying.  He is awesome to watch - I only hope and pray he makes it through his positive outlook on life.  You sound like a very caring, giving person with much to live for.  Even if the cancer ends up taking your life, you will have won in the long run with the lasting memories you are making for other in the here and now.  God Bless You and your family.

 

 

On 7/20/2008 Georgiapeach wrote:

Good morning,

My daughter was just diagnosed with colon cancer.   We are seeing the doctor tomorrow to see all of the results.

We are so confused on what to do,where should we go, which Doctor should we get to do the surgery and treatment.  And what is the best treatment?

I want to get her the very best and latest treatments available.    

Very discouraging... I am not finding any success stories on the internet  

Any suggestions?  Any hope?

please help. 

First, I hope you have found a good oncologist.  Your oncologist will recommend, if necessary, a good surgeon.

Please don't be discouraged.  There is hope and lots of it.  I was diagnosed in 2005 with stage 4 colon cancer with mets to the liver and lungs.  I have fought tooth and nail since then with different regimens of chemo, surgery and radiation.  I've also been fortunate to have my body respond positively to all of it.  I refuse to live in the "dark places".  Life is too short for that.  Enjoy life, see places, visit friends, etc.  Your daughter will be okay.  I leave you with this favorite quote of mine by Jim Wallis:

"Hope is believing in spite of the evidence

and watching the evidence change".

LiveStrong,

Lisa 

 

 

On 7/20/2008 sjems7 wrote:

I was diagnosed with Colon Cancer and operated on in July of '01. The Oncologist told me I have stage 4 cancer and there was a lesion on my liver when they opened me up. I was told by the surgeon that he removed it during surgery.

I was convinced I was going to die so I kept my distance from people. I couldn't stand the thought of them crying over me as I got worse. I also couldn't stand the thought of the pain they would experience once I left this world. They being my husband, my 5 children, my father, 2 brothers and 3 sisters, my friends and the people I serve with at my church.

In '05 my Oncologist said I was ready to get my mediport removed but first he wanted me to have a PET scan. The scan showed a tumor at the original sight of the metastacy on the liver. So, more chemo of course!  The chemo shrunk the tumor out of exsistence.

At that news I had an epiphany. I could have died in a car accident during those past 3 years. I could have developed an illness (besides cancer) that could have killed me. I could have had a stroke, a heart attack, anything could have taken my life during those 3 years besides the cancer. I decided I was going to live everyday as if it were my last day here on earth. I was going to embrace the world, my world, my family, friends and co-workers, the little boys next door, the cashier at the grocery store, everyone, everyday, to the fullest.

Sloan-Kettering was following my metastacy sight. Last week they found something growing at the original sight again. They're talking liver resection and chemo. I was told about the HAI chemo pump implantation and it sounds right to me. My surgeon is 50/50 about the treatment, my Oncologist isn't very supportive of it (why should he be? chemo pump - no biweekly treatments.) I understand the side effects are minimal in comparison to the year I slept (because of chemo treatment).

I'll let you know how things pan out. I'll keep a post here once a week to update you on my treatment and progress. Should be interesting - No?

Peace Out

I like you and I like what you have to say.  Sounds like you and I have the same kind of attitude.  Good, strong and positive.  I was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer w/mets to the liver and lungs back in 2005.  Prognosis was not good and I was one sick puppy.  I had lost over 50 pounds and continuing to lose weight.  I finally decided it was something I couldn't fix at home and made an appt. with the internist.  The Colonoscopy showed it all and it was the most devasting news our family has ever been delivered.

We found a good oncologist who immediately started me on chemo. I was told that the tumor in my colon was unoperable.  This was in August.  Well, by Jan. 2006, that baby was out.....every last bit of it.  Of course, I still had the mets to tend with and that's what I've been doing for the last 3+years. I've pretty much exhausted all the traditional therapies and we are now looking at alternative treatments.  You mentioned this pump thing?  What exactly is that?

I'd like to keep in touch with you if you don't mind.  I have a funny feeling that we might have lots to share.

LiveStrong,

Lisa 

 

 

On 7/20/2008 Georgiapeach wrote:

Good morning,

My daughter was just diagnosed with colon cancer.   We are seeing the doctor tomorrow to see all of the results.

We are so confused on what to do,where should we go, which Doctor should we get to do the surgery and treatment.  And what is the best treatment?

I want to get her the very best and latest treatments available.    

Very discouraging... I am not finding any success stories on the internet  

Any suggestions?  Any hope?

please help. 

First I would suggest not to make your daughter feel nervous or rushed. A great doctor and friend used to use the express, "Rush Slowly". Yes, every minutes counts but try not to waste them getting frazzled. Call the Cancer Center of America, call the Cancer Resource Center, call Sloan-Kettering. (All these phone numbers can be found on the internet). Before you call make a list of ALL the questions you have. I'm certain they'll all be more than helpful and informative. After you obtain the information you want and need you'll be able to make some wise and educational choices.

As far as not finding any success stories on the internet all I have to say is anyone who's still breathing with cancer is a success story. It's not over until the fat lady sings! or as Yogi would say, "It's not over 'til it's over".

 Good Luck and Godspeed

 

On 7/20/2008 jimmys wife wrote:

Good for you!  My husband was diagnosed 5 weeks ago with Stage IV esophageal cancer and given 6 mos. to 1 year.  He is choosing to ignore the prognosis and live like he is going to be around 10 years from now, not moping and whining about dying.  He is awesome to watch - I only hope and pray he makes it through his positive outlook on life.  You sound like a very caring, giving person with much to live for.  Even if the cancer ends up taking your life, you will have won in the long run with the lasting memories you are making for other in the here and now.  God Bless You and your family.

 

Thank you for the supportive and incouraging words. It sounds like your hubbies got it. It sounds like you're not so sure. Believe as he believes and God will bless you I'm sure.

 

 

On 7/20/2008 LuckyLisa wrote:

 

On 7/20/2008 sjems7 wrote:

I was diagnosed with Colon Cancer and operated on in July of '01. The Oncologist told me I have stage 4 cancer and there was a lesion on my liver when they opened me up. I was told by the surgeon that he removed it during surgery.

I was convinced I was going to die so I kept my distance from people. I couldn't stand the thought of them crying over me as I got worse. I also couldn't stand the thought of the pain they would experience once I left this world. They being my husband, my 5 children, my father, 2 brothers and 3 sisters, my friends and the people I serve with at my church.

In '05 my Oncologist said I was ready to get my mediport removed but first he wanted me to have a PET scan. The scan showed a tumor at the original sight of the metastacy on the liver. So, more chemo of course!  The chemo shrunk the tumor out of exsistence.

At that news I had an epiphany. I could have died in a car accident during those past 3 years. I could have developed an illness (besides cancer) that could have killed me. I could have had a stroke, a heart attack, anything could have taken my life during those 3 years besides the cancer. I decided I was going to live everyday as if it were my last day here on earth. I was going to embrace the world, my world, my family, friends and co-workers, the little boys next door, the cashier at the grocery store, everyone, everyday, to the fullest.

Sloan-Kettering was following my metastacy sight. Last week they found something growing at the original sight again. They're talking liver resection and chemo. I was told about the HAI chemo pump implantation and it sounds right to me. My surgeon is 50/50 about the treatment, my Oncologist isn't very supportive of it (why should he be? chemo pump - no biweekly treatments.) I understand the side effects are minimal in comparison to the year I slept (because of chemo treatment).

I'll let you know how things pan out. I'll keep a post here once a week to update you on my treatment and progress. Should be interesting - No?

Peace Out

I like you and I like what you have to say.  Sounds like you and I have the same kind of attitude.  Good, strong and positive.  I was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer w/mets to the liver and lungs back in 2005.  Prognosis was not good and I was one sick puppy.  I had lost over 50 pounds and continuing to lose weight.  I finally decided it was something I couldn't fix at home and made an appt. with the internist.  The Colonoscopy showed it all and it was the most devasting news our family has ever been delivered.

We found a good oncologist who immediately started me on chemo. I was told that the tumor in my colon was unoperable.  This was in August.  Well, by Jan. 2006, that baby was out.....every last bit of it.  Of course, I still had the mets to tend with and that's what I've been doing for the last 3+years. I've pretty much exhausted all the traditional therapies and we are now looking at alternative treatments.  You mentioned this pump thing?  What exactly is that?

I'd like to keep in touch with you if you don't mind.  I have a funny feeling that we might have lots to share.

LiveStrong,

Lisa 

 

Lisa,

If you want to email me personally that would be fine. I believe there's a link for that. I know you can't give email addresses in this forum.

I'm just becoming educated about the pump but to my understanding it's implanted during liver surgery.( I don't know if you'll be undergoing liver surgery. It doesn't sound like it.) Again, this is to my understanding...the pump is the size of a pacemaker. It is implanted on/or into the liver. It releases the chemo over a period of 2 years. The side effects are minimal compared to intraveinious chemo. Research claims it has shown a little longer life span and a little higher rate of survivors. That's about all I know as of now. Keep reading the my weekly post and I'll be up-dating my knowledge gained and experiences each week. Also, if you write me personally we'll talk more.

Godspeed

 

My the current treatment for Stage IV colon cancer includes a hepatic arterial infusion pump.  It was installed during my surgery for colon resection.  I believe that it is used only when metastasis is limited to the liver.  The argument in favor of HAI is that the chemo is delivered directly where needed and in strength that could not be tolerated systemically.  The argument against HAI is that it may cause greated incidence of liver damage from the chemo because the chemo is so concentrated.  It appears to be very helpful to me in attacking the cancer.  Without doubt, it allows for better quality of life; I have none of the 5-FU side effects.  Aftr 3 1/2+ months of chemo, there has not yet been an adverse impact on my liver function.

I've done something similar with great results.

I was dx'd with CC and mets to the liver on July 22, 2004.  I was told I had 18 months to live with treatment, but that I could die at any minute. 

I went out of state to docs who gave me better odds.

I signed up for a stage II clinical trial which involved,

Having my colon resected on 8/13/04

Having my liver resected and an HAI pump installed on 9/13/04

I have been ned since that time.

I used Irinotecan as systemic chemo every other week.  For my HAI I used FUDR for two weeks, then two weeks of heparin.

During chemo I worked over 10 hours a day to make up for the 2 days off every other week I needed for treatment.  The drive was 16 hours roundtrip.  So, obviously, Ithe chemo didn't affect my energy levels

I stopped all chemo in June of '05

I have come through with flying colors. 

Good luck and let us know how we can help.