CancerCompass message board discussion started by nj39yomale on 5/14/2008 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,24016,0.htm Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ Hi.. I am a 39 year old male just recently diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer with metasis to the liver.. I had major surgery to remove the section of the colon which was diseased, however now I am on chemotherapy using FOLFOX6  which is combo of 3 drugs.. I will correspond with anyone on this....   nj39yomale Wed, 14 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT Hi there,My dad was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer with malignant cells in the peritoneal fluid of his abdomen back at the end of March. The sigmoid section of his colon was removed which contained a fairly large tumor which some of the malignancy had spread to the lymph nodes. He began his Folfox therapy at the end of April and took his 2nd treatment yesterday.  The first day he's given oxaliplatin and leucovorin; then he's sent home with the 5 FU which is administered through the pump for the next 48 hours.  He'll go back in tomorrow to get disconnected.  The first treatment he was "lifeless" for 1 day but he bounced back and didn't feel any other side effects. He does feel somewhat fatigued today but he's doing okay.   He will start Avastin on the next treatment because of the malignant cells in the abdomen fluid but I'm not sure how this will affect him.  Hopefully, he'l be okay.  He is also taking IP-6 with Inosistol which is an immune system booster.  I've heard many good things about this supplement. I've heard that you bounce back faster from chemo when you are taking it.  The only negative is that you have to take 8 pills in the morning and 8 pills in the evening but if it does what it's supposed to do, then it's worth it.  It also differentiates between the healthy cells and the cancer cells and it attacks the cancer cells while leaving the healthy cells alone. I would be glad to talk with you more.  Just send me an email or reply to my message anytime. I wish you the best.God Bless! Amy  AustinsDaughter Wed, 14 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT Where do you get your IP6 from? myhubby Wed, 14 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT Hi, You are not alone. I was just diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer on March 28 after surgery for an hysterectomy and removal of part of my intestine. A shock. not happy about it. this whole world of talking about various drugs and treatments. the prognosis. started chemo last week. not fun. pretty normal this week though, to my relief. I wish all the best, I'm just starting this too. I have read there are some people out there that have been clear after treatment for a good length of time, so there's hope. cancerfree2 Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT My name is Ron.  I live in Denver, Colorado.  I was Stage IIIb with resection surgery in Nov 2004 and Folfox 6 chemo from Dec 2004 through May 2005.  I am still here living a good life and cancer free.  You all can get through this chemo thing.  I rememeber how scary it was and thought it would never end.  Be strong and look long-term.  The chemo is just a necessary nuisance that will soon be over for you. Ron1norma2 Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT I wa diagnosed with Stage IV colon cancer with mets to the liver in December 2005.  I started on a regimen of Folfox with avastin to try and shrink the tumors- one rectal and three liver but acheived only stability.  We then switched to Folfiri with avastin for two treatments and I opted for full surgical resection of all tumors at once.  This occurred in May 2006.  Because 23 of 25 lymph nodes were positive I underwent radiation and continuous chemotherapy with 5-FU for six weeks during the summer of 2006.  I had surgery to take down my ileostomy in October 2006 and was diagnosed with a new liver tumor in late November 2006.  I then went on a regimen of Folfiri with erbitux which did shrink the tumor which was then ultimately removed in May 2007.  I started on irinotecan with erbitux during the summer of 2007 and found three new tumors in August 2007.  I wnderwent chemoembolization and radio frequency ablation to treat these tumors in September.  I had internal bleeding after these procedures that caused me to hospitalized three times and remain off chemo for over 6 weeks.  A subsequent PET scan showed several "hot" spots so I started on irinotecan, erbitux and avastin.  In December a CT scan showed tumor growth so we switched chemo to irinotecan, 5-FU, oxaliplatin, and avastin.  A scan in April showed shrinkage of the tumors of about 20%.  In order to avoid long term neuropathy from the oxaliplatin my chemo was recently switched to Xeloda with irinotecan and avastin.  Hopefully it continues to keep things in check.Through all of this I have been able to maintain a pretty good quality of life and would not have chosen to avoid any of the methods I have tried.  They have all worked to bring some people into long term remission.  It seems my cancer is too stubborn to stop coming back but I wanted you to know that I have still have had 2 1/2 good years and hopefully more.Sally Sallyw48 Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT hello,my husband is also 39 and was dx. with stage 4 colon cancer with liver mets. wow you both are so young. God bless you. My husband is not eligible for surgery just yet as his liver is almost replaced with tumors they say. So first its chemo for him he is on his second round, He has done very well, and has tolerated the chemo with very little side effects. How is your liver?  My husbands primary tumor is in his transverse colon. They may do surgery after they get the cancer under control. I wish you the best.....and stay strong and positive, you and my husband are young and strong, you both can beat this.cheri cheri885 Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT I was diagnosed with Stage IV colon cancer with mets to the liver on July 22, 2004.  My 43rd birthday.  The doctors in my city said I had 18 months to live but that I could die at any moment.  I hopped on a plane and went to the U of Minnesota, where I got better odds and signed up for a Stage II clinical trial.  I have been cancer free since September of 2004.  I stopped chemo in June of '05 and am on no medications.My doctors has let it slip that he thinks they've cured me.  And I still have a year and a half to hit my five year mark....There is hope.  Let us know how we can help.    Cptmac Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT We bought a bottle at one of the local vitamin stores but you can purchase IP6 with Inosistol online.  I purchased a bottle for my dad through www.vitaminlife.com. They are significantly cheaper than at a local health/vitamin store. Thanks, Amy AustinsDaughter Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT Thanks!We have a Mother Earth Foods. Maybe they have it there. If not I will try the website. Thanks again!  myhubby Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT I had stage iv colon cancer in 1992.  Was expected to live a maximum of 3 years.  I'm still here 16 years later.  No more colon cancer, but had small bowel cancer 2 years ago.  It's not mets or a recurrence - it's a 2nd primary.  Lynn 2ndtimer Sat, 17 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT FOLFOX is made of Leucovorin - 5FU - OxyplatinThe thing that is wrong with this therapy as any therapy is the side effects.  Your going to get "sick and tired"  The reason for this is that the chemo kills good and bad cells indiscriminantly.  The good news is that there is a targetted therapy colon cancer trial.  Its basically the same stuff with a twist.  They add a drug, if you can call it that - DAVANAT to 5FU, Lecovorin and AVASTIN.  The DAVANAT latches on to the 5FU and transports it only to cancer cells.  Because it only goes to cancer cells you won't get side effects.I have a friend that was way worse off get compassionate use of DAVANAT and her turnaround is amazing.  She went from being doped up and bedridden from the bone metastis to shopping and driving in 6 weeks.  The jury is still out on what happened.  PET scan is due for first week of JuneI don't know if you realize but this DAVANAT targetted therapy has been in clinical trials for colon cancer for 3 years.  See if you can get into the trial.  Go to clinicaltrials.gov and type in key word DAVANAT.  I can tell you first hand that DAVANAT added to the mix targets the chemo and eliminates any side effects.  This isn't just my observation - look at the clinical trial results.  Hang in there and we hope to hear some good news in the coming weeks.Mike  Topgun Sat, 17 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT