LCross

I couldn't have said it better. AMEN.

My dad has has a similar story as your mom's. He was Diagnosed with Stage IV colon cancer in September 2010 with mets to the liver, abdomen and lymph nodes.

His oncologist at MSKCC put him on 12 weeks of FOLFOX + an experimental drug, CT011. After 12 weeks, we found the liver mets grew and he now has less than 50 percent function in his liver. 

The oncologist switched from this treatment to FOLFIRI + AVASTIN. After 2 weeks, my dad ended up in the hospital with a blockage in his liver.. they had to put a stent in (his bilirubin levels were 6 (.5-1 is normal!). The following week, the oncologist took him off IRINITECAN because she believed it contributed to the blockage. He is now getting a low does of 5FU, leucovorin + avastin. The doctors are not optimistic and say things are getting worse. I am totally devastated over this. 

The one piece of advice I can give you is to find out if your mom has a KRAS mutation in the cancer. It took my oncologist nearly 3 months for the liver biopsy to come back to reveal he had a KRAS mutation. This means the cancer is rare and will NOT respond to most systemic therapies (i.e., FOLFOX, FOLFIRI, etc.). If we had known this, he would have never been on FOLFOX for 12 weeks.

Do you know if your mom's cancer has a KRAS mutation?

I am praying for your mom. And never give up hope. No matter what the doctors say, you have to be strong for your family. And sometimes, chemotherapy is not always the answer. I would definitely look into alternative treatments as well.

I am here if you ever want to talk. I have done a lot of research about this. I will do anything to save my dad.

Prayerfully,

Laura 

Has anyone ever had Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) Therapy  for colon cancer? (Also known as tumor ablation, performed by interventional radiologists.)

My dad has Stage IV Colon Cancer that has spread to the liver, abdomen and lymph nodes. He is losing liver function rapidly and I would like to ask his oncologist at Sloan Kettering about this procedure. I heard many good things about it online. Here is the website that I found:

http://hepatitiscnewdrugs.blogspot.com/2010/12/liver-cancer-

Has anyone ever had or considered this treatment?

Best,

Laura

Gayle,

Thanks so much for your response. I will try to call Mayo and MD Anderson. I tried Cancer Treatment Center of America in Philadelphia a few months ago, but for whatever reason they claim they don't take Medicare.

Thanks again for your help.

May God bless you always,

Laura

Hi, 

My name is Laura and my dad is going through a similar situation . . . only he is 65 years old.

He was diagnosed with Stage IV colon cancer after a routine colonoscopy in September 2010. A CT Scan soon revealed he had mets in his abdomen, liver and lymph nodes. He has since went through 12 weeks of FOLFOX with an experimental drug called CT011. This was unsuccessful and the tumors in the liver grew.

He has now completed his third treatment of another, more potent chemotherapy regimen called FOLFIRI and avastin. However, after his second treatment, the doctors at Sloan Kettering in NYC took him off Irinotecan because they thought it was contributing to rising bilirubin. His bilirubin went from normal to 1.6 to 5.3 to 6 in a matter of weeks. Once it hit 6 they put him in the ER and found a blockage in his liver. They then put a stent in. The doctors are giving us very little hope. I am desperately searching for a liver specialist. DOES ANYONE KNOW OF ANY?

We are from NJ but willing to travel anywhere for someone to give my dad some hope. 

My only advice to those who are going through a similar situation is to trust in God and believe in miracles. They do happen. 

Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today...the LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still”
(Exodus 14:13–14, NIV)

Hope,

I just wanted to let you know that I just read your message and my thoughts and prayers are with you. Although I do not have cancer, my dad was recently diagnosed with Stage IV colon cancer in September and my heart goes out to all those who are going through a similar situation in their own life. Please know that you are never alone, and if you ever need to chat or vent, feel free to send me a message. If nothing else, I can be a listening ear. Things can be hard, I know this for sure. But with the friends, things can be a little less difficult. And just like your name implies, never EVER give up hope. 

I don't know if you are a spiritual person or not, but these verses have always helped me:

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."

–Philippians 4:6-8

Prayerfully,

Laura