Stage IV with clear PET and CT results today!

Dx with Stage IV colon cancer March '06 I have been on most of the chemo treatments - FOLFOX, FOLFIRI, Avastin, Xeloda ... my cancer would respond and then come back. I have 13 liver mets. but no lung. I most recently had the SIRT therapy Y90 radioactive beads put directly into the liver and went onto Erbitux about the same time.

I got a clear PET and CT scan results today. No tumor activity was found AND as icing on the cake - the blood clot they found in my lung in July was gone! Great great day!

I am so glad to hear that. it is encourging to hear that someone has beat this. my dad was diagnoced with stage 4 colon cancer just a little over a month ago. they have taken the tumors on his colon but cant do surgery for the ones on his liver. he will start cemo in december but his longterm prognoice is grim. they dont give him long at all. any advice? please tell me something about your treatment. thank you. sunny

Wow!!! congratuation. Keep up the good work.

I, myself, like you got a clear Pet scan last week. I also had been through all treatments same like yours for two years. When I received my  clear PET report, I felt like receiving a new birth certificate. Thanks God, this cancer beast was finally under control. I know we still have long way to go, cancer cells are not totally gone yet, but do feel great, waaalaaa......hurray!!!!.

If you don't mind, I like to know in your case, which chemo drugs help you most? How long have you been on Erbitux and xeloda? Do you take any supplements vitamins? Do you have any special diet like Budwig or grape diet?

Be good and strong. Keep on kicking till 100+  Birthday.

Mimi

Congratulations on your clear scans!!!My husband was dx in Oct 07 and has also been on most all chemo meds. He will start liver treatment in the next few weeks hopefully he will have the same out come. Best wishes.

My Dad has just been dx with colon cancer his first treatment is tommorrow 11/8/09 just scared what can we expect with first treatment of folfox

Thats great news!!!!  Thanks so much for sharing your story.  My dad also was diaginosed with stage IV colon cancer with multiple lesions to his liver and nothing lung in March  so hearing your story of success has broght me some new hope.  Like you as well he also has a clot in his lung.

God bless you,

Christine

Did you take erbitux because my husband had a serious reaction on initial dose and now will not be able to take this drug and is colon cancer has moved to his lungs.  What is the deal with xeloda?  I am thinking they may try him back on fu's together with avastin again.  He has not had chemo since June 09.  Any assitance would be so helpful.  Congrads to you on your ned - peace to you and your family - Kelly

Hi Sunny

My liver tumors were also inoperable. The Y90 treatment is radioactive beads that they go in through the groin and put directly into the tumors. I don't know for sure if that is what caused the tumors to go or if it was Erbitux. I was put on both within a few weeks of each other. You have to have a certain gene mutation to be a candidate for Erbitux and the initial reaction may be more intolerable than for some others drugs (severe skin rash and itching) my reaction didn't last too long and responded to antibiotics and some of the creams they gave me. I am still taking it and would do it again knowing what I know now. Take heart - there are better results than ever before. I hope this is the information you wanted. I am being treated in Seattle WA

Hi Mimi

Thank you! and same to you as well - keep kicking!! I started with FOLFOX and had a bad reaction to that. Was changed to the FOLFIRI (both with Avastin) I had a postitive response and was put on a high dose of Xeloda with Avastin for about 2 years. I just started on Erbitux the first part of July. I will be continuing with it until they rescan in January and then can go back to maintanence dose of Xeloda for another 8 or so months if my scans are clear. My oncologist has me taking Vit D but I don't do any other supplementation now - I probably will when chemos are done. Never tried any of the diets.

Don't be too worried. Many people do very well with these chemos. There are also many different drugs to try if the first ones aren't working or have bad reactions. Just stay strong and hang in there. It is doable.