Stage 4 Colon Cancer

Hello, I am just looking for some help right now my 39 year old brother was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer ( adenocarcinoma mucinous.)  From his colon the cancer has fully involved his kideny, attacked his liver and in addition attached itself to his mesenteric artery.   Surgery was not a succcess because the tumor was too large to remove and must be shrinked first.  Does anyone know of a good hospital that deals with stage 4 colon cancer? 

Hi, sorry to hear about your brother, I know it's so overwhelming (especially at first).  When my Dad (53 yrs old) was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer a few months ago,we went from our local cancer center in Sioux City, Iowa to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN.  I can't say enough about the Mayo clinic they did all thier own set of tests and then we met with the oncologist to go over the results the next day.  The doctor spent an entire hour sitting calmly in the room with us explaining everything he found and the treatment plan he would have my Dad on.  He was SO patient! I found out what our local treatment center was planning on and compared the two.  Both oncologists had the same chemo regimen.  The Mayo clinic said that they usually start off with Avastin (drug that kills the blood vessels leading to the cancer cells...not a chemo), Oxciplatin (chemo) and 5FU (another chemo) along with Leucovorin (sp?) which is a vitamin that is added to the treatment because for some reason it makes the chemo work better.  Evidently it's been known to be the best option to start off with?!  That's just what we were told.  Anyways, once we knew the Mayo clinic was going to do the same as the local cancer center we just decided to do it here so he could just stay at home.  He is having significant results and although they only gave him a year or two at the most I think he's got more time than that after only 5 treatments and the progress he's made.  The most important thing I can say is to keep focused on the positives, your brother is young and has what seems to be a good support system.  I think it's always a good idea to get a 2nd opinon though too.  I hope this helps you a little?!  Oh, also...my Dad has an inoperable tumor as well so they said that his would also have to be shrunk by chemo.....as frustrating as that is if he responds to the chemo he'll be able to shrink it and hopefully later do surgery.  Good luck and give your brother my best. 

I live in Canada so the health care system is a bit different. I too was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer Nov 07.

I was sent to the Cancer Clinic where I met with a team of Doctors. First I had a five week daily course of radiataion therapy which shrunk my very large tumour. this made it possible for a totally successful removal of the tumour with clean margins. I am now having Chemo, (Cycle 7, cycles every 2 weeks). I am on 5FU and Avastin. MY latest CT revealed that there has been a dramatic reduction in my spread (Liver, lungs, lymph and bones). even the big tumour in my liver has liquidified in the middle which means it is dying off.

Hopefully you too will have some good results as I have. It is a long and difficult road, my Cancer treatment has made all sorts of giant strides in recent years.

Good Luck.

Kiwi

University Louisville....   Dr MacMasters 2007 an 8 cancer surgeon of the year

Bobby

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply in such detail.  Your right, it is very overwhelming-you did help me, thanks again. Best of luck with your father and his fight with this monster of a disease, sounds like he is a strong person!

Dr. Kelly McMasters at the Norton Hospital in Louisville KY. If not for him I wouldn't be here today.

 

On 7/22/2008 HIGH STRUNG DAUGHTER wrote:

Hi, sorry to hear about your brother, I know it's so overwhelming (especially at first).  When my Dad (53 yrs old) was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer a few months ago,we went from our local cancer center in Sioux City, Iowa to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN.  I can't say enough about the Mayo clinic they did all thier own set of tests and then we met with the oncologist to go over the results the next day.  The doctor spent an entire hour sitting calmly in the room with us explaining everything he found and the treatment plan he would have my Dad on.  He was SO patient! I found out what our local treatment center was planning on and compared the two.  Both oncologists had the same chemo regimen.  The Mayo clinic said that they usually start off with Avastin (drug that kills the blood vessels leading to the cancer cells...not a chemo), Oxciplatin (chemo) and 5FU (another chemo) along with Leucovorin (sp?) which is a vitamin that is added to the treatment because for some reason it makes the chemo work better.  Evidently it's been known to be the best option to start off with?!  That's just what we were told.  Anyways, once we knew the Mayo clinic was going to do the same as the local cancer center we just decided to do it here so he could just stay at home.  He is having significant results and although they only gave him a year or two at the most I think he's got more time than that after only 5 treatments and the progress he's made.  The most important thing I can say is to keep focused on the positives, your brother is young and has what seems to be a good support system.  I think it's always a good idea to get a 2nd opinon though too.  I hope this helps you a little?!  Oh, also...my Dad has an inoperable tumor as well so they said that his would also have to be shrunk by chemo.....as frustrating as that is if he responds to the chemo he'll be able to shrink it and hopefully later do surgery.  Good luck and give your brother my best. 

Thank you for this response we all are here to learn and I feel I am blessed to know I can come here to learn more about this horrible cancer. My husband is 56 and his colon cancer returned from 16 yrs ago he now has large tumor on his spine with few lymph nodes involved in near area I was happy to hear that news about the Mayo Clinic research you added in your note because I was praying our Hospital in Ca (HMO Kaiser) was doing the best they could do and they are also giving him the list of Chemo/drugs you brought up, he started this last Monday and already is having some side effects like drinks too cold are unbearable & very run down this is day 3 so far all is ok trying to hold up here in Ca. Question:  is your dad's cancer a re occurance? or new cancer?  and was he a Stage 4 when diagnosed?  I pray my husband has a fighting chance the Dr won't give time frame because he said Cancer is localized in lower spine and only time will tell with Chemo he said we will know more in approx 12 wks. I am trying to take it day at a time but is very hard and stressfull my sweet man is fading away quick wt loss last 2 months was 41 lbs this was because he tried the Clinical Trial which almost did him in but we fought it out and off the Trial and now on meds you mentiond above, I would love to hear possitive but up the the truth too please send more as you get results I will post mine as well.  PS God Bless to all on this message board he only knows what is in store and I pray every day for medications that will work on all.  thx for listening from going crazy here in Ca. :0(        

 

My husband was diagnosed 11/27/07, during an intestinal surgery w/ mets to a lung and throughthe appendix.  His surgeon removed what she could. The oncologist thought he might live 4-12 months without treatment, After healing from the surgery -  He then used the chemo regimen you mentioned.  After a reaction to dose #10 of the Oxal,  the regimen switched to weekly.

Just yesterday he was pronounced No Evidence of Disease.  He will continue with chemo at least 6 more weeks.  I'm just amazed, grateful and thankful.

1st, it would be helpful to know if you're looking in the US. 

 I was intially told that I could die at any moment, but that I had 18 months with treatment tops.  I did a lot of research and there are a lot of great places, but I chose to go to the University of Minnesota.  Dr. Edward Greeno is my oncologist and he is absolutely fabulous.  I always have a lot of questions, one time I had over 100.  Currently I have about 11 pages (they are double spaced). 

He stays after five if need be to answer my questions.  He answers by e-mail and everything. Here is his web site. 

http://www.umphysicians.umn.edu/physicians_detail_objectname

Dr. Rothenburger is often quoted by ACS and both of these doctors helped author a book by the ACS. 

Here is another place you can look for good hospitals. 

 

http://www.usnews.com/directories/hospitals/index_html/specialty+IHQCANC/

Let us know how we can help

 

On 7/23/2008 cathyt wrote:

 

On 7/22/2008 HIGH STRUNG DAUGHTER wrote:

Hi, sorry to hear about your brother, I know it's so overwhelming (especially at first).  When my Dad (53 yrs old) was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer a few months ago,we went from our local cancer center in Sioux City, Iowa to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN.  I can't say enough about the Mayo clinic they did all thier own set of tests and then we met with the oncologist to go over the results the next day.  The doctor spent an entire hour sitting calmly in the room with us explaining everything he found and the treatment plan he would have my Dad on.  He was SO patient! I found out what our local treatment center was planning on and compared the two.  Both oncologists had the same chemo regimen.  The Mayo clinic said that they usually start off with Avastin (drug that kills the blood vessels leading to the cancer cells...not a chemo), Oxciplatin (chemo) and 5FU (another chemo) along with Leucovorin (sp?) which is a vitamin that is added to the treatment because for some reason it makes the chemo work better.  Evidently it's been known to be the best option to start off with?!  That's just what we were told.  Anyways, once we knew the Mayo clinic was going to do the same as the local cancer center we just decided to do it here so he could just stay at home.  He is having significant results and although they only gave him a year or two at the most I think he's got more time than that after only 5 treatments and the progress he's made.  The most important thing I can say is to keep focused on the positives, your brother is young and has what seems to be a good support system.  I think it's always a good idea to get a 2nd opinon though too.  I hope this helps you a little?!  Oh, also...my Dad has an inoperable tumor as well so they said that his would also have to be shrunk by chemo.....as frustrating as that is if he responds to the chemo he'll be able to shrink it and hopefully later do surgery.  Good luck and give your brother my best. 

Thank you for this response we all are here to learn and I feel I am blessed to know I can come here to learn more about this horrible cancer. My husband is 56 and his colon cancer returned from 16 yrs ago he now has large tumor on his spine with few lymph nodes involved in near area I was happy to hear that news about the Mayo Clinic research you added in your note because I was praying our Hospital in Ca (HMO Kaiser) was doing the best they could do and they are also giving him the list of Chemo/drugs you brought up, he started this last Monday and already is having some side effects like drinks too cold are unbearable & very run down this is day 3 so far all is ok trying to hold up here in Ca. Question:  is your dad's cancer a re occurance? or new cancer?  and was he a Stage 4 when diagnosed?  I pray my husband has a fighting chance the Dr won't give time frame because he said Cancer is localized in lower spine and only time will tell with Chemo he said we will know more in approx 12 wks. I am trying to take it day at a time but is very hard and stressfull my sweet man is fading away quick wt loss last 2 months was 41 lbs this was because he tried the Clinical Trial which almost did him in but we fought it out and off the Trial and now on meds you mentiond above, I would love to hear possitive but up the the truth too please send more as you get results I will post mine as well.  PS God Bless to all on this message board he only knows what is in store and I pray every day for medications that will work on all.  thx for listening from going crazy here in Ca. :0(        

 

 

I am also on the oxciliplatin and then take 5fu pills for 14 days. I had difficulty with the pump.

I was in remission for 2 years when my cancer came back in Dec. on 07. They said it was stage 4 reoccurance. That other patients in a similar situtation I only had about 2 years. That really hurt to hear. I can't accept that. My children are 17,16 and 11. I just got married in Feb. of this year.

 I have been doing the chemo treatments since Jan. of 08. After only 4 treatments they did a CT scan and seen it was shrinking.

The side effects make your hands and feet feel numb (i have the hand foot syndrome) the skin peels really bad (I use bag balm what they use on cow's utter). By touch or by drinking. So I drink room temp. drinks.

I have a blood clot on the end of my port and they can't get it off. So I take blood thinners.  I stay extremly tired and have no energy and have no sex drive at all. Any suggestions?

God bless you all and my prayers are with you...to a full and healthy life.