On 5/11/2008 JKBEANS wrote:
My father had Stage IV colon cancer, had it resected, has a colostomy, and went through six months of chemo. He finished in Dec. of 2007. In January they did a PET/CT scan which showed some minimal cancer in his pelvic area and a little around the ostomy site. They wanted to leave him off of chemo for two months and then get another PET scan. Medicare wouldn't let him get a PET scan March (because it hadn't been 90 days), They moved it to April and then they declined it again saying there wasn't enough reason to have it done. They finally got a CAT scan instead the last of April and it showed metastasis to the liver and one spot on his lung (all of which were not there in January). The question is this: they gave him less than six months if he doesn't have more chemo. They said 1 - 6 years if he had chemo. My dad doesn't really want to go through it again. He is 76 years old. Should I encourage him to do it or not. What are the odds really of him lasting 6 years????
Hi JK My husband was dianozed with stage 3 colon cancer in June 2001... He had surgery and 6 months of 5FU after the surgery healed....
The cancer returned in 2005 .... Stage 4 ... with meds to his liver & lungs....
He started CPT-11 & 5FU....From March 2005 until May 2005...... Didn't help ....
Then he started Oxaliplatin in June 2005..... Until Oct. 2005 when he had a very serious reaction..... He had 8 cycles....
He was off chemo from Oct. 2005 until Oct. 2006 when the cancer started to grow again.... Yes off chemo for a year..... The Oxaliplatin had held the cancer from growing all that time....
He started Erbitux and CPT-11 in Buffalo { Oct. 2006 until Jan 2007 } Didn't help.....
Then he started a VEGF trial from Feb. 2007 until Jan. 2008 ..... When it stopped working....
Now he's started a new clinical trial { FAK } since March 2008 ..... He had a PET-SCAN and it showed stable.....
My husband was given 2 years to live in 2005..... He has good days and bad days..... He now weighs 155 lbs from 214 lbs.... He is able to drive our van somedays and sometimes not..... My husband is 54 years old.....
You & your family are in our thoughts & prayers..... Your dad should seek treatment..... Doctors are wrong..... And everyone reponds differently....