CancerCompass message board discussion started by jayjul on 7/2/2008 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,25649,0.htm Sun, 23 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT Sun, 23 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ my dad was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer which metas to the liver where he had 7 spots spread out threw the liver.  he was diagnosied in april of 07 and started chemo in may. during his year on chemo he had good results with his blood levels and with each petscan, cat scan and mri. they all showed everything was shrinking.. the last pet / cat scan he has was may of 08 and it showed that all the spots in  the liver were gone and the repeat colonoscopy showed that he only had scar tissue left. they said they coulc not do surgery at the beginning because teh fact all tumors where spread threwout teh liver and now they say they can not do surgery cause they would have no area to target to cut out since there is nothing there.. now his dr is advising him to still stay on chemo ( every other week and come home with a pump for 46 hours) he tells him studies have shown peopel who do not get off have a lesser chance of it coming back.. but our thinking is how can he stay on chemo for years without  the chemo effecting his body. the doctors are just leaving him feeling alone like he needs to choose if he should stay on or give his body a break from it. they also mention him taking xeloda.  can anyone give advise on that medicine or if anyone has been on chemo for a long time wheere there more side effects...  thank you jayjul Wed, 02 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT Stay on the chemo, he could have rogue cells that the chemo could not get to. he's a head in his fight, you gotta believe in your doctors. take it from someone who knows. finish the chemo, after chemo, (nutrition)  and pray it will not come back. Bobbygene Wed, 02 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT I am so glad to know the good news of your dad. It is so possitive that for sure give lots of encouragement to other cancer patients. I like to ask what kind of chemo he took and for how long? Same chemo for a Year?I am also a stage 4 colon cancer with mets to lung. But I am not so lucky like your dad.  I have tumor 6x4cm in upper lobe and two small 2x2 cm in lower lobe of lung. After 5 rounds of Folfox with Avestin, these tumors shrunk into half size 3x3cm and 1.4cm. But then they remain unchanged even I had been through another 3 mons of folfox and 3 mons of camptosar. My Onc said only lung surgery is the best option. However, a cancer doc from MD Anderson Cancer center said it is too big to do lung surgery. I am kinda  upset and worry, should I look into lung surgery? I also wonder how life will be if 1/5, 1/4, or 1/2 of lung be removed. What is the consequence? Can any one give me advice? mimi7 Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT Mimi, Find out about cyber knife, it may be an interesting option. I dont know if applies to your case. Good luck. Hibert Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT but that is his fear the dr seems to say he will be on chemo indefinately and we worry that the chemo will effect him more then help// every other week i think is alot we are hoping maybe he can go to once a month or at least lessen it a little jayjul Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT mimii am so sorry to hear about your situation. my dad was on the same chemo for the whole year. i can not remeber the names of the med but i will find out i know he was on the avestin, lucavorin also rings a bell. i know in oct there was one he was on where he could drink anything cold, or even open the freezer they took him off that in oct because he is a mailman and he had to be out in the cold during teh winter..can they change your chemo to see if there is one that can shirnk it small enough for them to do surgery?? i know someone mention cyber knife to you they also did  mention that to my dad and there are websites on that. i def will keep you in my thought and prayers jayjul Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT  On 7/2/2008 jayjul wrote:my dad was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer which metas to the liver where he had 7 spots spread out threw the liver.  he was diagnosied in april of 07 and started chemo in may. during his year on chemo he had good results with his blood levels and with each petscan, cat scan and mri. they all showed everything was shrinking.. the last pet / cat scan he has was may of 08 and it showed that all the spots in  the liver were gone and the repeat colonoscopy showed that he only had scar tissue left. they said they coulc not do surgery at the beginning because teh fact all tumors where spread threwout teh liver and now they say they can not do surgery cause they would have no area to target to cut out since there is nothing there.. now his dr is advising him to still stay on chemo ( every other week and come home with a pump for 46 hours) he tells him studies have shown peopel who do not get off have a lesser chance of it coming back.. but our thinking is how can he stay on chemo for years without  the chemo effecting his body. the doctors are just leaving him feeling alone like he needs to choose if he should stay on or give his body a break from it. they also mention him taking xeloda.  can anyone give advise on that medicine or if anyone has been on chemo for a long time wheere there more side effects...  thank youHello.  My name is Jeff and I am 39.  I was diagnosed with colon cancer in Nov 05.  My cancer has spread to my lungs but the original tumor in my colon has been removed.  I have taken the Xeloda and all it is the same chemo that is in the pump but in a pill form.  The chemo is called 5-fu and it should have the same side effects that he had with the pump.  The difference is that it is easier to take pills that lug the pump around and so it is more convenient.  I had a trouble though with mine because it did affect my stomach somewhat but some people have no problems at all.  I am currently on Vectibix which is one of the newer anti colon cancer drugs out there.  You should check on Vectibix, Eurbitx and Avastin to see if these would be affective along with the xeloda or by them selves.  They are not as toxic as other chemo's and since they are relatively new to the market, so far there have not been noticable long term effects but the jury is still out on that one.  Hope this helps.Jeff Jeffy Mon, 07 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT jeff-thank you for your info i will def look into the other pills you gave me.. did you still have to receive chemo also? they want him to still  go in 2 times a month to get chemo but the pill will eliminate the pump. he will be on the pill 5 days and off 2..  the problem is now the insurance will not cover the whole cost of the pill after both his insurances it will still be 950 a month. jayjul Sat, 12 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT