I was diagnosed with stage 3 rectal cancer in January of 2010. I had 25 rounds of radiation with a 5FU pump to shrink the 6 cm tumor before it was removed in May 2010. As part of the rectal surgery, I had a temporary ileostomy put in that was reversed in July 2010 at the same time that I had surgery to remove 2 tumors in my liver (at that point I became stage 4). Then I had 6 rounds of FOLFOX, which we stopped because the FOLFOX was giving me interstitial lung disease, which is rapidly fatal. Stopping the FOLFOX reversed the interstitial lung disease (thank goodness!). Then I went on maintenance Xeloda for 6 months and had progression. I was diagnosed with peritoneal cancer in May 2011. I also have tumors in my lung, liver and chest wall. I am currently on palliative chemo (FOLFIRI + avastin). I stopped working in May 2011 and am feeling pretty good despite the chemo. Hopefully the chemo will hold off the peritoneal cancer for several months, but the overall prognosis is poor.