Adenocarcinoma in the liver from colon cancer

Hello to all who have been so helpful on the message board. I finally have decided to write our story for hopes that someone may be able to offer some insight to a better way...or tell me we are doing everything we can. My mother at 52 was diagnosed with colon cancer in October of 2008. She has been given the chemotherapy FOLFOX up until 6 weeks ago then her oncologist switched her to FOLFIRI. Originally the FOLFOX was working very well and with the exception of neoropathy in her limbs she had no side affects. Unfortunately due to fevers and issues with her white blood cell count she missed 3 treatments (6weeks) and all of our good news quickly turned to concern. It was at that point she was put on the FOLFIRI. She has pain in her right side, fluid building up that is drained every 1 1/2 weeks, & sensitivity to her naval due to the pressure from the first build up of fluid (mistaken for constipation so it became unbearable before she had it drained). In the past 2 weeks she has had a sharp pain moving through her pelvic area and her tongue is experiencing some numbness causing her speech to slurr. We see a neurologist tomorrow because the oncologist feels the above is a result of some nerve damage from the chemo. I am struggling to believe that this regiment of chemotherapy is the only treatment available for her. When I mention other treatments to her oncologist the answer is always that her condition is not like others' because the cancer in her liver are in the form of legions and not tumors. However, I hear of so many different treatments even on this message board and see people here that have either beat the stage IV illness or have a great quality of life even many years into it. The purpose of finally posting this message is to possibly determine if I should be researching other methods as I am or just let it go and be supportive til the end. We just lost her mother last week to the same illness so the hope is dwindling. I would be overly appreciative to anyone that can offer real advice if you have encountered Adenocarcinoma in the liver from colon cancer.

  HI  So sorry to hear about what your mother is going through, it seems the side effects  are having an effect on your mother, it was same on my wife, Do you know what your Moms  CEA count is?  she should be having blood work and the Cea is a marker to see what the cancer is doing in her body. You can ask to see blood work reports, so I would ask for them and ask about her CEA count is. in a person with out cancer it is ...1--3  ... if not sure google it ...CEA AND CANCER..

 It is so important to be proactive in your Moms treatment,, you can get a second opinion, so if not happy go for that as after all IT IS YOUR MOMS HEALTH .. and thats  important...

   Also check out on google ...Milk Thistle ... good for liver ...

   Does your Mom take a good Multi VitImin?? make sure she drinks lots and lots of water .... and  plenty of veg and fruits all good cancer fighters...  google  ....CANCER  FIGHTING FOODS....

 Keep her positive and take one day at a time and never give up, thousands on same journey and we are all with you and Mom ...

  God Bless You Both ...............Rob

On 9/12/2009 barbrob wrote:

  HI  So sorry to hear about what your mother is going through, it seems the side effects  are having an effect on your mother, it was same on my wife, Do you know what your Moms  CEA count is?  she should be having blood work and the Cea is a marker to see what the cancer is doing in her body. You can ask to see blood work reports, so I would ask for them and ask about her CEA count is. in a person with out cancer it is ...1--3  ... if not sure google it ...CEA AND CANCER..

 It is so important to be proactive in your Moms treatment,, you can get a second opinion, so if not happy go for that as after all IT IS YOUR MOMS HEALTH .. and thats  important...

   Also check out on google ...Milk Thistle ... good for liver ...

   Does your Mom take a good Multi VitImin?? make sure she drinks lots and lots of water .... and  plenty of veg and fruits all good cancer fighters...  google  ....CANCER  FIGHTING FOODS....

 Keep her positive and take one day at a time and never give up, thousands on same journey and we are all with you and Mom ...

  God Bless You Both ...............Rob

Thanks Rob! She is considering a liver detox. It is a combination of olive oil, epsom salts, grapefruit and applejuice. I am concerned that it might make her extremely weak. My grandmother before she passed last week (from the exact diagnoses) was doing detox through foot baths and it completely took any amount of energy she had left. I don't think we can afford that. AND...I'd like to know if there is anyone out there that has undergone a detox like this. Is it painful? She has been keeping up with her CEA # but I can't remember now where she stands. It dropped significantly at one time then began to climb again. As for supplements, she is taken some elactic acid tablets but not really a multi-vitamin to my knowledge.

 I appreciate your feedback! Take Care!

 Hi   Its so important to make sure your mother has nutrients in her body, thats why she needs a good multi vitimin, also the body cannott store Vit C so its very important that she gets plenty of Vit C every day... either through fruit and veg or fruit drink, even then would be worth getting a 1,000mg  Vit C  to take each day....   detoxing liver can sap the energy so she has to be careful, if she eats veg and fruit every day the liver can cleanse it self ...but the body really really needs the nutrients as this is what fights the cancer ... as many as you can get into her...

  Check out on google ...Cancer and nutrients ....

   Keep going ...  one day ata time and Rise uo and have Hope every day.

                               Best Wishes   Rob