Stage IV prognosis

My 45 year old brother was recently diagnosed with Stage IV colon cancer with mets to the liver and bone.  We are completely devestated because he had no symptoms.  During a routine physical, he was found to have elevated liver enzymes and "masses on his liver" on an ultrasound.  He subsequently is under the care of an Oncologist, has been receiving the FOLFOX chemo, Avastin and a "clinical trial drug" for 8 weeks now.  He is having side effects of diarrhea, hand and foot syndrome and peristhesias, as well as tremendous weight loss and fatigue.  He will do anything to continue the chemo but had to stop it for 2 weeks due to side effects and low WBC.  He was told that surgery is out of the question for now because chemo is the mainstay treatment. 

Does this sound right to you and if so, any words of encouragement for him and his family (wife and 11 and 13 year old sons).  We are desparately seeking a "miracle" that will give him much more quality time....any assistance is appreciated.

 

 

I had no symptoms.  As a fluke, or an error, and against a GI docs and my insurance companies advice, I had a colonoscopy.  Afterwards, at 43, I found out I had Stage IV colon cancer with mets to the liver in July of 2004.   

Docs in my state gave me no hope.  Said I had 6 to 9 months tops, but that I could die at any minute.  I went to one of the top hospitals in the US found here

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

Found the right place for me, signed up for a stage II clinical trail and am real close to hitting my 5 year all clear mark. 

It is standard protocal now to do chemo first and then surgery.  One reason is to shrink the tumors as much as possible so that they can take less of the organ out during surgery.  Another reason is to ensure that the body will react positively to chemo.  Another reason is to take the chemo while you are the most healthy. 

I took two shots of atropene that got my BM's under control and I drank coca cola for my nausea. 

Ask here, ask at the colonclub.com to find out what worked for us. 

I wish you and your family the best. 

HI

 So sorry to hear about your brother, my wife has  stage 1V colon cancer and being fighting since 2002,  Is your brother not also having radation treatment along side chemo?

He needs to ask oncologist about

 1/ radation treatment..

  2/  How long willchemo last?

  3/  Ask what is his CEA  count .. this is a cancer marker in a normal person it is normally 3....  at moment my wifes is 18...

  4/  If he has sickness ask for compazine....

  For his diareah ,,, get from wallmart... Immodium.... works good

  Has he got tingling in hands and if things are cold does it effect him? If that is the case, thats nuoropathy... and whats best for that is LYRICA,,  it takes  edge off.

  Check out these on internet ...  Type into google..

   Cancer and Sugar....

  Cancer and Asparagus,

  Cancer and Iron,

  Cancer and Linseed oil.

  Body and Alkline and Acidic

 Because of my wifes cancer in 2002, I have read lots of books on cancer and body and spent many many hours researching it all.

  He really needs to eat  fish, tuna, chicken salads, lots of veg, mixed nuts, grains rice .pasta.

 and maybe get him a protein drink  or weight gain, can get from wallmart..

  Get him to take a good multi vitamin also...

If you have any questions on any above or need any more advice and not sure. you can contact me at ... bj2004rf@yahoo.com

  Make sure your brother remains positive and tell him this can be beaten and Prayer is very powerful also..God created him and knows his inside and he can heal him.

Your brother is on a journey with thousands of others and we are all here together, encourging, sharing, supporting each other.

  Wishing your brother and his family all the best with prayer..

                                 Rob and Barb

 

 

 

Thank you both for responding to me so quickly.  The physician told us that the first line treatment right now is the chemotherapy.....not radiation or surgery.  And if he can tolerate the chemo, it is indefinate every 2 weeks.  He has had 8 treatments so far but had 2 of them cancelled due to diarrhea and neutropenia.  His colon was completely inflammed so they put him on antibiotics, neupogen and a drug called sandostatin for the diarrhea (the Immodium and Lomotil didn't help much).  His diarrhea has improved, his WBCs have increased so he will most likely begin the chemo again tomorrow.  I'm not sure how long he will be able to undergo this chemotherapy again without another "break".  His follow-up 8 week CT scan showed that the liver lesions were slightly smaller but we want to see much more improvement in the future.

 We are trying to keep his spirits up but, as you all know better than I, it is very difficult for him at this point.  He isn't ready to talk about all that is certainly going through his mind.....but with our family support and prayers, we are hoping for a miracle. 

God bless all of you!

I am very sorry to hear about your brother. We are in a bit similar situation with my husband, he's 38. Our kids are not in school yet.

Please read the following article from this site: on efficiency of current chemo & antibody treatments:

http://www.cancercompass.com/cancer-news/1,15813,00.htm

I hope it gives you some useful info.

For side effects, hard to say as it is so individual, but do remember the saltwater baths and good creams for feet and hands, Emend is good for nausea, atropine (as a shot during and after the IV) and immodium for cramps and diarrhea.

Please give my regards to your brother and his family, all the best, and please keep up the hope! MIracles do happen, and if not, the chemo often works quite well too :)

Mousey

Chemo is a systemic treatment as it goes throughout the body. While radiation may kill the cancer cells, it will not kill the cancer; the cancer will just pop up somewhere else. If immodium is not working for the runs he can ask about tincture of opium which works very well. And small meals helps throughout the day. 

My husband has recurrent stage iv colon cancer and the last six months of treatments have not worked. Now the medicines that are suggested to work with Avastin, while covered by our insurance company, they are not covered for colon cancer. 

Are you at a major cancer center? This helps, or if not getting a second opinion is useful. 

Tommy in Pinehurst, NC

 

On 6/23/2009 floridadeb wrote:

Thank you both for responding to me so quickly.  The physician told us that the first line treatment right now is the chemotherapy.....not radiation or surgery.  And if he can tolerate the chemo, it is indefinate every 2 weeks.  He has had 8 treatments so far but had 2 of them cancelled due to diarrhea and neutropenia.  His colon was completely inflammed so they put him on antibiotics, neupogen and a drug called sandostatin for the diarrhea (the Immodium and Lomotil didn't help much).  His diarrhea has improved, his WBCs have increased so he will most likely begin the chemo again tomorrow.  I'm not sure how long he will be able to undergo this chemotherapy again without another "break".  His follow-up 8 week CT scan showed that the liver lesions were slightly smaller but we want to see much more improvement in the future.

 We are trying to keep his spirits up but, as you all know better than I, it is very difficult for him at this point.  He isn't ready to talk about all that is certainly going through his mind.....but with our family support and prayers, we are hoping for a miracle. 

God bless all of you!

 

I, too, am a male in his 40's (43) with stage IV colon cancer.  I was diagnosed February 2006.  Presently in my 4th year of fighting.  The advice you have received from some of the other responders is informed and on target.  The neuropathy to the feet and hands is a side effect of the Oxaliplatin he is receiving as part of the FOLFOX chemo regimen.

 Any improvement via PET Scan or other diagnostic should be viewed as a 'win', even if temporary.  Cancer is a roller coaster ride where there are significant lows...making it that much more important to enjoy the 'highs'. 

As to the oncologist's statement that this protocol is indefinite, he/she is speaking in terms of the degree of response your relative is getting.  If there comes a time there is a lack of response, another protocol will likely be prescribed.  FOLFURI is usually the next line of treatment.  I am presently on my 5th different protocol after starting with FOLFOX. 

Aside from the treatment your family member is receiving the best 'medicine' he can receive is the love and support of his family and making sure he finds the mindset to enjoy the moments...especially the simple ones. 

While my oncologists have given me statistics and expected life expectancies (at my request), they are simply group statistics.  For every story you hear where someone doesn't survive or passes suddenly, there is another story of extended life, fulfillment and remission. 

This fight is as much mental as it is physical.  A nice car ride, a trip to a favorite restaurant, good friends visiting the home.  All these things will help your family member not feel isolated and consumed by the disease and will help him both mentally and physically.

 Prayers and thoughts to you and feel free to respond if you have any questions.

I am sorry to hear about your brother.  My significant other of many years was diagnosed 6 months ago with Stage IV colon cancer and has mets in his liver.  It has been the biggest journey.  As a caregiver and the one who loves him the most it is important for you and family to remain positive even when it seems impossible.  Nutrition is key too.  Larry's CEA's started out over 700 and after 6 months are down to 7.5!  We celebrate everyday with the simple things in life that have really turned out to be the greatest things.  I think the person with cancer wants to be treated normal and live life as normal as possible.  This helps with a feeling of control that can get lost with all the treatments and with the disease.  Sending cards, emails and well wishes are great too.  I give him Ensure and that has helped with his weight.  He had 33 radiation sessions on his tumor and have been on IV chemo and Zeloda and was told he would be on chemo for the rest of his life.  He takes Immodium as needed and the diaharrea has gotten better over time.  It is so important to take this disease one day at a time and surround yourself with positive, loving people.  Surgery is down the road to resection the colon after the tumor has been cut out but more rounds of chemo are needed to kill more cancer.  God bless you and your family and just remember to take things one day at a time and celebrate all the positive milestones that will come your brother's way during this journey.