Stage 4 survival tips

It's great to hear so many stories of Stage 4 survivors. I'm 39 and was diagnosed with Stage 4 colorectal cancer 5 months ago - not a candidate for liver surgery (but, last scan showed tumors on liver shrinking).

There's lots that we're doing in addition to chemo - meditation, supplements, exercise, low sugar diet, alkali diet. What I was wondering is if any Stage 4 survivors (i.e. cancer free for more than 1 year) had any advice on additional steps that they took e.g. What supplements (if any) did you take? Did you engage in other activities such as visualization? Did you change your diet, if so, how?

Many thanks for all replies. And best wishes to everyone out there. Reading all your posts continues to give me hope and strength.

Hi John,

The one thing you may want to consider adding is a Vitamin D3 supplement to your diet.  Being from England, you probably don't get enough Vitamin D through sunlight.  Do a search on Vitamin D and Dana Farber in Boston, MA and you'll find a study about low levels of Vitamin D and colon cancer metastases.  It isn't definitive but I think maintaining a normal to high level can't hurt.

Jack

On 9/28/2009 JohnInEngland wrote:

It's great to hear so many stories of Stage 4 survivors. I'm 39 and was diagnosed with Stage 4 colorectal cancer 5 months ago - not a candidate for liver surgery (but, last scan showed tumors on liver shrinking).

There's lots that we're doing in addition to chemo - meditation, supplements, exercise, low sugar diet, alkali diet. What I was wondering is if any Stage 4 survivors (i.e. cancer free for more than 1 year) had any advice on additional steps that they took e.g. What supplements (if any) did you take? Did you engage in other activities such as visualization? Did you change your diet, if so, how?

Many thanks for all replies. And best wishes to everyone out there. Reading all your posts continues to give me hope and strength.

Did they tell you why you were not a candidate for liver surgery? It is important to get all the cancer out of your body. My surgeon told me that just a couple of blood cells left in your body and the cancer could be right back. I am not telling you this to scare you but this is what he told me.

I would talk to another surgeon to see if they could possibliy burn your liver. My liver surgeon told me that they can actually use some type of hot probe and burn the spots. It is common after liver surgery for some spots to show back up in the first two years according to him.

I wish you the best with your journey of this terrible disease.

When I was diagnosed with Stage IV colon cancer in 2004 my doctors told me I had great blood, to not do anything to change my diet.  Except that after my liver surgery, it was important that I eat as much protein as possible.  Turns out I don't eat enough fat either.  They told me, that they don't tell this to a lot of patients, but, fast food would be the best thing for me.  Something I usally don't eat.  So I had to up the intake of those.  I asked if they were concerned about my cholesterol.  They told me if I lived, they would worry about my cholesterol then.  I've always had low blood pressure and cholesterol.  They both went up now that I have this bad diet, but I don't have high cholesterol or high blood pressure.

So far, so good.  I have been ned since September 2004.  Been off all treatment since June of 05.   

Hi, I am stage 4, been NED over a year. In addition to std chemo and surgery I took L-glutamine, 81 mg aspirin, multivitamin. I also had massages, Accupuncture, Reiki, Healing Touch.

I try to meditate daily and use music for relaxation and stress relief. I swim 3 times a week. Sometimes I walk.

Our cancer center gave me a visualization CD. I think it helped me to sleep better. Belle Ruth Naperstak I believe is one I liked a lot.

I began watching my diet a few months ago. I have lost 16 pounds. I eat 5 small meals a day now. I try to eat more lean protein (fish, chicken) and more complex carbs (like whole wheat, brown rice, sweet potatos). No sugar, limit salt.

It goes back to what my Grandma used to say. Everything in moderation.

On 9/28/2009 JohnInEngland wrote:

It's great to hear so many stories of Stage 4 survivors. I'm 39 and was diagnosed with Stage 4 colorectal cancer 5 months ago - not a candidate for liver surgery (but, last scan showed tumors on liver shrinking).

There's lots that we're doing in addition to chemo - meditation, supplements, exercise, low sugar diet, alkali diet. What I was wondering is if any Stage 4 survivors (i.e. cancer free for more than 1 year) had any advice on additional steps that they took e.g. What supplements (if any) did you take? Did you engage in other activities such as visualization? Did you change your diet, if so, how?

Many thanks for all replies. And best wishes to everyone out there. Reading all your posts continues to give me hope and strength.

Hi John,

 I too am a stage 4 colorectal cancer victim having beed diagnosed in April, 2007.  Since that time I have had numerous chemo treatments, no radiation and have had colon surgery, 2 liver RFA's and a lung surgery.  I am currently on a "maintenance" drug called Xeloda and have had an increase in my CEA levels.  We are not sure if the increase is due to Xeloda or if there is something still in my system we are unable to pinpoint.  I will be going back to IV chemotherapy for a month or two to see if my CEA levels come down.  Have you, or do you know of anyone with a similar situation, i.e., the rising of CEA levels.  I am not in the category you are looking for, but have remained optimistic about my survival by living with my 3F's+H, Faith, Family, Friends and Humor.  I wish the best for you and know that we can both be true survivors.